Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Old Man's Cave, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio

Neal and Patti;  George and Betsy
Continuing our October trip with friends,  NEAL and Patti Treadway,  the next morning we first went to  OLD MAN'S CAVE, the most popular area of the Hocking Hills State Park, near Logan, Ohio.  If you missed any of the other posts from this trip,  click HERE.  Besides this one,  there have been 5 other posts.   Hope you enjoy our photos from this gorgeous place.  If you want to know more about the history of Old Man's Cave,  click HERE.   Be sure to click on the photos to see them larger.

Above is a picture of the four of us taken at Old Man's Cave ---near the Upper Falls.  Speaking of waterfalls,  there is a Lower Falls and an Upper Falls in Old Man's Cave.  We have been there two different times --and there was no water much (other than a trickle) coming over the waterfalls... However,  even without water in the falls,  this is a gorgeous area.




George took this picture of me standing on one of the bridges ---while I was busy taking my own pictures... The trail all along this area is FABULOUS...  It's not a cave ---but you are down in a canyon-like area as you walk, or gorge.




Here is a collage showing more of the beauty in that area...  It's another one of those places you have to visit in order to really know what you are experiencing.  Photos are okay---but being there is much better.




I love the reflection in this photo, taken at Old Man's Cave.




This is a picture of four friends having a great day.  Top:  Betsy,  and  Betsy and Neal;  Bottom: Neal and Patti, and George.




Neal and Patti are climbing the steps after we left the Lower Falls area.




Here is more of the great trail at Old Man's Cave.  Our visit was in October --so you can see many fallen leaves.  AND--in some of the pictures,  you can see the Fall Colors.




Above is a collage  of friends hiking in Old Man's Cave.  Top:  Neal and George;  George and Neal/Patti;  Bottom:  Neal, and Neal/Patti.




Here is a good picture showing some of the left-over Fall Colors inside the Old Man's Cave area.




This shows some of the cliff that we had to come down in order to get to the bottom of the little gorge area.  However,  the trail down was not hard since we obviously did not climb straight up and down a cliff.  As I've said many times, there is a great trail in this area.




Here's another photo of the tiny bit of water in the area --and all of the vegetation.  I love seeing the tree roots like that.  (I'd love to visit here after a huge rain --when the water is flowing through this gorge area.)




You can tell by my smile how much I enjoyed hiking in this area.  Hope you can get there sometime yourself!!!!




Finally,  here's a final picture of four friends enjoying a beautiful area.   Being here and hiking on a gorgeous Fall day was fun ---but being with GREAT friends was even better.

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs,
Hugs,

57 comments:

eileeninmd said...

HI Betsy, wonderful photos of this state park. And a lovely time spent with your friends! The bridge is beautiful and I love the look of the canyon. Very pretty place! Thanks for sharing!

Ramakant Pradhan said...

Some lovely pictures there. And I agree good friends make such trips real memorable

Jeevan said...

The fall leaves seem delighted the entire area, following fabulous rock formations and wet landscape. All photos are impressive Betsy! Absolutely your smile expresses a lot than narrative :)

Catherine said...

Looks like everyone had a great time!
Friends always make it better.
xo Catherine

Elizabeth Edwards said...

looks like a gorgeous place to see. trying to think why it sounds familiar but does not look familiar. i will have to think on that. i wonder??!! gorgeous views. i love fall. ( :

Eat To Live said...

This is beautiful. We were going to stop here last fall on our way to Kentucky. It was a little out of our way and we didn't have much time so ... we decided to make a day of it sometime. Not sure when that will happen.

Shug said...

Gorgeous country up there and I am so thankful that my wonderful friends are able to share it with me. There is just something so special about being out and about with nature...
You two are very special people..
hugs

Shug said...

Gorgeous country up there and I am so thankful that my wonderful friends are able to share it with me. There is just something so special about being out and about with nature...
You two are very special people..
hugs

Karin said...

Such lovely photos - but like you say being there and seeing this with one's own eyes is even more amazing!

Kelly said...

Hi Betsy! I love Hocking Hills and Old Man's Cave...
Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! hugs...Kelly

MadSnapper said...

my first thought was, is there an old lady's cave? har har.. and my favorite is the steps going up and down beside that giant green rock... what a beautiful place.

Arkansas Patti said...

What a pretty place though those steps looked like a challenge to climb up. I can see how you lost all those pounds.
Had to take the side trip to see why it was called Old Man Cave. Interesting. Thanks for the link.

joy said...

Oh.I wish I could learn to make collages like you do. Can you tell me how you do them?
My email ad. Syrin@tele2.no
Very nice pictures:)

Janice K said...

That makes we want to visit there. I kind of reminds me of Turkey Run State Park here in Indiana. Our family used to have such fun there.

TexWisGirl said...

the rocks and trees are beautiful. patti is adorably tiny. :)

imac said...

Great time by all it seems with your wonderful photos Betsy

Donna said...

A pretty area, fresh air, and sharing it all with good friends - wonderful!

Linda said...

Hi Betsy, what a great tour! I absolutely love your collages!

Sylvia K said...

A wonderful day spent in a gorgeous place and with good friends!! Doesn't get any better! Marvelous photos, Betsy, as always!! Hope you're enjoying a great week!

DeniseinVA said...

How neat to experience this fantastic place with good friends.

Lynda said...

I really like how the manmade elements - - stairs & bridge - - blend in so well with the surrounding area. The reflection picture is beautiful. It's not always easy to find water that is still.

Susannah said...

Hi Betsey, These pictures are great. What a wonderful area to visit and it was nice to take friends with you this time. I'm sure it was fun!

Susannah

Grandma Bonnie said...

Everything is so beautiful. I love the photo of the bridge in the gorge. I hope in the spring my hubby and I will visit Hocking Hills. Hope you have a great day.

Serenity Cove said...

I love all your Old Mans Cave posts. It is such a beautiful place!
The next time we go I'm going to make sure it's after a lot of rain.Last year was such a dry year and a little disappointing as far as the waterfalls were concerned.
I love the stone bridges in the area!

Out on the prairie said...

I love all the colors and stone in the area.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Betsy, I always enjoy seeing all the lovely place you all visit. It is like I am there too. When ever we get south I will have to consult with you all on the best places to visit. Hugs Judy

Marie said...

I love those bridges! What a gorgeous area! It's so nice to see all of you together with all those smiles. :) Happy Wednesday to you, Betsy!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

That is a very pretty area! Glad to see you all having such a great time. Have a good week!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Those trails look like fairly easy walking.I would enjoy that.The area is filled with so much beauty.

Ginny Hartzler said...

So did an old man discover it??? I think I like best the one of the two of you walking down the path will all the leaves around...it almost reminds me of a metaphor for life.

Terry and Linda said...

FALL! So much better than winter!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

LV said...

SHOULD THE TIME COME, AND I PRAY IT DOES NOT, JUST THINK HOW MANY GREAT MEMORIES YOU HAVE STORED TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER. YOU ARE SO BLESSED.

Miss Debbie said...

Aren't state parks the best? We love visiting/camping there!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

What a beautiful place Betsy, I really love that stone bridge. Wonderful to share such an outing with good friends.
Hugs
R.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Pretty shot of that little stream with the tree's roots reaching for the moisture. Have a super nice Thursday and bundle up - it just began to snow here in my neighborhood here in Crossville.

Linda G. said...

I hope that we can make it there sometime. I wish we could have joined you in October!

happyone said...

Wow what gorgeous pictures and a great place for hiking.

Pat Hatt said...

Awesome photos and the stone bridge is my favorite I'd say. Sounds like a grand time was had at your pad.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

That stone bridge is gorgeous. Such beautiful scenery in this area.

Unknown said...

Great pics! Beautiful place!

Betty

http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/

Connie said...

It's a gorgeous place to visit and a great place to do a lot of walking and hiking around. I'm sure it was even more fun going with your friends. Great pictures, Betsy!

Krishna/à´•ൃà´·്à´£ said...

beautiful place...

excellent photos...

i liked steps fills with leaves

thanks

Unknown said...

Hi Betsy,

As usual you're sharing lovely pictures with us. I love them all, the one with the stairs is lovely and also the reflection.
Enjoy your day!

Anonymous said...

You find the most beautiful spots! Lovely shots.

Farida said...

These are gorgeous photos and can be made into postcards too! It was really refreshing to have seen those beautiful shots! Take care :)

A Colorful World said...

Amazing photos! What a great place to visit. I know I would love it there! I wonder who the Old Man was, and if he once lived there...

Beth said...

What a lovely place, Betsy! I really like how they integrate the gorgeous stone bridges and walls and winding steps in with the beautiful natural rock formations. So pretty...

Pat Tillett said...

What a beautiful place! It was nice of them to put some steps on the trail to help you out. Great photos Betsy!

Anonymous said...

There's nothing lovelier than roaming the woods with friends and surrounded by Autumn colors.
I'm green with envy Betsy- although those stone steps look mighty steep.
Hugs keep warm ~:)

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

What a great way to spend a day. So many interesting rocks.

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

Such beautiful places that you and George visit! Don't know if I could have walked all those steps. They remind me of Tallulah Gorge....I thought I was going to die walking those steps!

Dee said...

Dear Betsy, during the 1980s--for 10 years--a friend and I camped for two weeks every September in the state and national parks of northern Minnesota. What a wonderful time. I did a lot of walking and being quiet and watching wildlife.

I need to find someone here in Missouri who would like to visit parks as you and your husband do. We could go down to Arkansas too. Oh, it all sounds so wonderful! Peace.

Randall said...

Wow, Awesome shots. A very good eye for compositions. An artists haven for sure Betsy!!

~Randall

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a gorgeous area....and having sweet friends with you makes it all the more fun!!! You and George never stop traveling; I love that!

Neal said...

Great pictures Betsy. You guys are such a treat to be around. We always really enjoy ourselves when we are with you. I hope Mt. Nebo works out next year. :)

Chatty Crone said...

Oh what c;ear and beautiful pictures you have my dear - wonderful.

Betty Manousos said...

what a beautiful area! and what a great way to spend the day.
thanks for the beauty of your photos/posts that keeps me yearning for them.

big hugs~