Visitors are dwarfed by the rock formation of Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills. Julie Maxwell is in the light sweat suit to the left of the big rock. Husband Kevin is to her left in blue with a white cap.

A SUNDAY DRIVE—

Kevin called our 210 mile drive that Sunday “meager” and by their standards it really was.

Not too long ago he and wife Julie buzzed up to Niagara Falls for a day-trip. But, even that was dwarfed by their grand-daddy of a Sunday drive this year, a whopping 880 miles in less than 24 hours from Mansfield to a segment of the Skyline Drive in Virginia and back.

Kevin Maxwell is my late bride’s brother and they enjoy multi-state drives like most of us journey to the local custard stand.

Our recent 200+ mile jaunt took us to the Hocking Hills where we visited Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Old Man’s Cave, Conkle’s Hollow and Cantwell Cliffs, and were home before supper time.

I’m convinced we travelled at least another 50 miles that day—on foot, and, most of that vertical.

But, oh my gosh, what grandeur!. Collectively, these places are a fairy-land of enchantment. Trails wander through forests with trees that grow in the rocky chasms more than 150 feet tall just to reach sunlight.

Ash Cave and Conkle’s Hollow are blissfully level walks where a randomly pointed camera will always record a post-card quality image. Always.

It is indeed a rewarding day trip, and, whether your philosophy is inclined to the geologic or the theologic most will agree the creative forces have been very kind to the Hocking Hills.

The above photo of Ash Cave in Hocking Hills State Park is but a pleasant example.