Tag Archives: Adventure

Still Here

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Greetings, friends. I just wanted to pop in and say I’m still around even if I haven’t been present here for some time. My days are currently more mentally taxing than normal and the thought of writing even one more paragraph feels like too much most of the time.

This is a season and not a permanent way of life even though it does feel like it will never end.

My No Spend Challenge kept me mostly at home, resting, reading and turning inward this winter. That’s officially done now but I unofficially haven’t changed much. It’s an act of self preservation at this point but Adventure Season will start in about six weeks and I’m looking forward to it. There are several day trips I would like to take, some new-to-me bookstores and diners and maybe some longer adventures too.

Life will eventually return to normal and I’ll get back on some kind of writing schedule here too. I actually have a ton of travel stories to tell you from last fall but simply haven’t had the mental energy to do it.

Last November I announced that I wanted to hike as much as possible this winter. I had big plans for hitting the local trails.

And then reality set in.

The weekends were too harsh for hiking with frigid temperatures, icy trails and hazardous road conditions that kept us away. Then the snow melted into mud and ice. And then the wind moved in, making it unsafe to be under trees where a falling limb could land on your head at anytime. And then the rain came, ushering in a period of flooding.

Such is life in Ohio.

I did get to walk the Moonville Rail Trail a few weekends ago and then made it to a nearby trail at Old Man’s Cave in the Hocking Hills yesterday.

Fresh air and a good stretch of the legs will change your outlook on life.

The wind is back today but it’s about 65 degrees right now so I turned off the heat and opened a few windows to air out the house.

Sunday is always a reset day for me. Laundry, a little food preps and some small chores help to make the week go more smoothly. Some rest, reading and lots of hydration will help me feel like facing it.

I like habit and routine to keep me honest. I like adventure days for keeping me happy and fulfilled. I also believe in listening to my body and mind and in giving them what they need especially when in a season of challenges.

Through it all Scout has remained my steadfast companion and perhaps the only one in my life with no demands other than dinner and no judgement of me except when dinner is late.

We all need someone like that in our lives!

Go forth and adventure when you can. Dream of better days when you can’t and remember that rest is importantly to feeling well enough to face your day.

I’ll be here taking it easy and gearing up for better days!

First Hike Of 2026

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Back in December I proclaimed that I wanted to hike a lot this winter.

Cue the polar vortex and the weeks of snow and ice on our trails that made it nearly impossible to safely get in the woods.

BUT, it was fifty degrees and sunny on Saturday so we jumped at the chance to get out for a little saunter through the woods. We chose the Moonville Rail Trail for its proximity to home and all around easiness. After all, we hadn’t been out for months!

We even made a new friend. It seemed a little early and chilly for him but he appeared quite satisfied enjoying the day in the sun.

It was a good choice and a beautiful day for fresh air, exercise and some bonding with nature. I came home feeling refreshed and not worn out. I was calmer, rejuvenated and better.

It was a powerful reminder to keep looking up! Happy Monday, friends. Keeping looking up.

PS- The temperature plummeted and the snow returned yesterday so our timing was great!

Muddy’s Of Wooster

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When I travel, if given a choice I’ll always favor a local restaurant over a chain. Not only is it often a better experience, it’s also a literal taste of the community.

When we were in Wooster last year to shop at this fabulous downtown bookstore, we first needed a bite to eat.

Even a book dragon needs nourishment before setting out to build their book hoard.

So we found this local hangout called Muddy’s which has an extensive menu of sandwiches, pizza, salads and more. It’s in an old Cadillac dealership and has nostalgic garage decor.

The service was terrific and our food came out quickly. I recall enjoying my meal but can’t begin to tell you what I ate. This is why I take pictures of my food when I think it’s a place I’ll someday recommend!

It was some kind of sandwich maybe with tots? All I know is that it was good and quick and we had enough time to scope out that bookstore before heading up the road to the holiday lights at Stan Hywett.

Want to visit Muddy’s? Check out their website.

Pourtales Library

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If you are fortunate enough to be a guest at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs and are a book lover, there’s a very special place to see. It’s called Pourtales Library and it’s located just off the main mezzanine in the resort’s main building. 

I had seen a photo online but was still delighted and enchanted to see it in person for the first time. We were fortunate to be there for the first time when no one else was around.

It’s a small place with big character and an elegance that comes from something that feels both timeless and almost medieval. There’s a massive fireplace with a crest. Floor-to-ceiling shelves are stuffed with books that were donated by a longtime Broadmoor guest.

There are delightful reading nooks built into bookshelves and a warmth that makes you want to sit down and stay. There’s even a ladder!

Time didn’t allow me to sit and stay but I did take time to browse the collection a few times. It’s an eclectic assortment of old and new available to guests on the honor system. Some of the books are truly strange and others are perfect for browsing at a place like this.

I liked everything about this place including the name. Incidentally, it was named for Prussian Count James Pourtales who was a driving force in the development of Colorado Springs and the construction of Broadmoor Casino. That casino no longer exists but was the precursor to the hotel that exists today.

It’s like something from a storybook. If you ever get to stay at the Broadmoor, I hope you will seek out this space and rest a while amongst the books. You will love it!

PS: If you’re into woodworking, you might find this 2020 article about the redo of this library interesting. The woodwork is pretty special!

That Moment

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That moment you realize this seventy year old station wagon is cooler than anything will ever drive. No offense to my White Lightening but this Chevy Beauville is fabulous.

I saw her cruising in the wild in Frankenmuth, Michigan a couple of years ago and it was quite the treat.

Books In Stock Used Books

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For more than thirty years, Wooster, Ohio has been home to a used book store called Books In Stock.

The street view is cute but the inside of this store left me gobsmacked. In fact, my fella and I enjoyed it so much, we went two days in a row! There are books upstairs and downstairs – about 80,000 of them – in all varieties of fiction and nonfiction.

I found a stack of out-of-print Sharyn McCrumb books. Adam barely left the corner with the old west non-fiction during our first trip because the inventory was so rich and this area is one of his favorite genres. He gave off kid in a candy store vibes every time I walked past.

The kids room upstairs features a nice mural. Everything is in good condition, it’s organized, and the prices are fair.

We were barely a mile down the road before I was plotting a summertime return.

How fortunate for the people of Wooster they have such a nice bookstore! Find more about them here!