I still remember what a meteorologists stated about 30 years ago concerning droughts. Is it still true? A simple definition of the word rustic is something made very plain and simple/primitive. Is that accurate? Read on if you want an explanation.
Hocking Hills, Ohio is approximately a 6-hour drive from my farm in Manhattan. Since I rarely want to sit still for more than 3 hours at a time, that meant my vacation in early August was broken up with a 2-night stay straddling the Indiana/Ohio border in the towns of Richmond Indiana and New Paris Ohio.
This provided several opportunities to play in the water in Richmond. A canoe trip in the Middle Fork Reservoir was a nice follow-up to playing in Thistlewait Falls. The hike around the falls was easy; a build-up what awaited us in Hocking Hills.
The real highlight of this first stop was a driving tour of Preble County, Ohio, where I was able to indulge my fascination with covered bridges. Preble County is home to 8 covered bridges and the 2nd oldest bridge of any kind in the United States. The Hueston Woods Bridge was built in 2012, making it the first covered bridge built in over 100 years. I was unaware that they had two-lane, two-way traffic covered bridges until I completed my adventure visiting most of the covered bridges in Preble County.
If you like Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, I suspect you will love Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio. I consider it Starved Rock on steroids. Hikes to Old Man’s Cave and Whispering Cave were easy enough. The water features were nonexistent due to a dry spell. It was also evident that the crops growing on the hills were very stressed from drought-like conditions.
I enjoyed the scenery; you could drive for 10 miles and never go straight for more than 1000’ or exceed 50 mph. We were able to sneak away from the crowds at Cantwell Cliffs trail. This was a very challenging trail with almost no other hikers.
This side trip also allowed the opportunity to stop at the glass blowing shop nearby. I visited with one artisan while he produced multiple items. He made making a beautiful glass pumpkin that would retail for $100 in under 5 minutes look easy.
Hocking Hill State Park Lodge is more modern and pampering than Starved Rock Lodge’ but it certainly does not blend into its surroundings like our gem in Utica, Illinois does. On this trip I was also able to complete three items from my bucket list: ride a zip line, rent a pontoon boat with only a 10-horse motor, and stay in a tree house.
I am a little embarrassed to admit it cost me $550 to spend one night in the “rustic treehouse.” It featured 3 levels of climate-controlled temps, WIFI, Alexa, a 60” projection television, grill, campfire, microwave, full bathroom and a 7-person Jacuzzi. It wasn’t rustic at all; perhaps they use a different dictionary in Ohio than I do in Illinois.
I must come back around to drought comment and include some farming information so I can receive my usual pay for this article. The weatherman stated most of the droughts in the Midwest start in the southeast and spread. Lo and behold, Hocking Hills, Ohio is south and east of my farm. I saw the severity of their drought in early August before it spread to northern Illinois in September.
The recent dry spell for our area has abated with some rains finally arriving. The crops matured very quickly during the heat and dryness of the first 3 weeks of September. There were reports of corn being harvested with moisture as low as 15-16%. I was able to complete an incredible amount of work on my farm with the lack of rain.
Perhaps I should send the farmers to the southeast a Thank You for sending the drought our way.
John Kiefner farms in Manhattan Illinois as the 3rd generation to earn a living off the land in Will County. He believes you are never too old to learn or laugh.
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