Hocking Hills - Part 2

Pastor's Log - Sabbatical Date:  2-2-17 - 22:15
(More of our camping adventures)


Friday we awoke to a cool and overcast day.  In the morning, we went fishing as a family.  Maggie and Josiah wanted to have a try at it.  Afterward, we had brunch and hit the pool.  That evening, Elam and I went fishing again, just the two of us.



On Saturday, we got up early and got ready for a day at Zoombezi Bay (The Columbus Zoo Waterpark).  Beth's sister-in-law arranged for her company to have a family day there and invited us to join in.  For $35, our whole family got admission to the park for the day, lunch, and a refillable pop bottle with free refills all day long! 

It was only about an hour from the camp grounds.  On the way, we went through rain and were worried about what it might mean for the day, but it stopped by the time we arrived at the park.  It remained overcast during the morning and into the early afternoon; but then it cleared up into a beautiful day.  We had our lunch and then hit the water park.

Cyclone Waterslide

 We started in the play area and then took a ride on the lazy river.  Elam, Maggie and I went on the Cyclone waterslide.  Maggie was just tall enough to ride it.  I was very proud of how brave she was.  Her facial expression when we hit the cone part was priceless though.  I wish that I could have gotten a picture of it.  Then we hit the wave pool.  Maggie ended up with a small cut on her foot that needed attention.  On the way to get a band-aide for her, we ran into Beth's brother, Micah, walking around with a security guard.  He had gotten separated from the others and we happened to bump into him.

After a full day, we drove back the campground.  On the way, we stopped to pick up some $5 pizzas for the kids and me and Chipotle for Beth.  We drove part way back and then stopped at a quaint park with a covered bridge to eat our supper.  It was the site of one of the locks along the old canal.  It was a pretty neat accidental find.  When we got back to our campsite, the kids went over to a neighbor's campsite to watch a movie that our neighbors were projecting onto an outdoor screen.



Sunday we went to church at St. John Mennonite Chapel which is literally a quarter mile from the camp entrance.  It is a church plant that is a part of Ohio Mennonite Conference.  There were 6 members present, 6 in our family, another visiting couple, and a guest preacher but we felt very welcome.  Given their size, they don't have a pastor.  The guest preacher had Cerebral Palsy and was difficult to understand at times, but he gave a very meaningful message on prayer. They even had a children's story prepared for our kids, the only ones there.  We also got free pens with lights in the end!

After worship, we went to Nelsonville to ride the train on the Hocking Valley Railway.  We took our lunch along with us and ate it at the half hour stop at Hocking College where they have historic buildings and people in time period dress.  After the train, we toured the Rocky Boot factory outlet.  We stopped to pick up some fresh sweet corn on the way back to our campsite.  Back at camp, we hit the pool and took naps.  Supper was corn and pie irons followed by game night.

Monday we were supposed to pack up and head home, but we decided to stay an extra day.   Elam and I got up early to go fishing.  We had breakfast and then went to hike the Upper Falls at Old Man's Cave.  This was our third waterfall to hike to, and the third one without falling water.  We ate our lunch and hit the pool.  After supper, I took the boys to a local store to get some souvenirs.




Tuesday morning breakfast included a toaster fire.  Thankfully, Beth got it unplugged and poured water on it without anyone getting hurt or any damage beyond the toaster.  We spent most of the morning packing up.  Our plan was to have everything ready and to let the kids swim one more time before pulling out for home.  After everything was packed, I went to hook the van up to the camper, but it wouldn't start. It required a jump start which meant that we needed to leave it running so the kids weren't able to get their swim in afterall.  On the way home, we hit Taco Bell instead.  At home we unpacked and the older three went to VBS across the street at the joint UCC/UMC/Presbyterian VBS.  It was a really GREAT Week!