The burbling stream mentioned below had erupted into a raging cascade of water in the morning following a several-inch, overnight rain at my campground in Scioto County recently. Without the temporary siltation from the storm’s erosion, local streams like this one flow with pristine clarity in the mostly limestone stream beds.
ANOTHER CAMPING ADVENTURE BEGINS-
Thursday, May 15, 2008, Scioto County, OH
Four hours south from Bellville including a lunch stop I headed west from Portsmouth on the Ohio River toward the Shawnee State Park, my home for those next three nights. The park is in a state forest of the same name, and, at some 63,000 acres, it is the largest in Ohio.
I got established on my camper’s lot, delighted to note I am solidly snuggling with a noisily burbling stream, snaking just behind me on its way from somewhere deep in the surrounding woods.
We are so far out in the boonies here TV signals arrive by mail. Just for fun I tried the cell phone. The little screen squawked, “Are you kidding?”
Friday, May 16th I was scheduled to participate in a two-day handgun training event at a nearby facility, so with a nod to the buckets-full of rain that suddenly arrived, I headed west to get a fix on the next day’s venue and to try and find an internet connection.
The bozos at the state park's nearby lodge, my first stop, have wireless service in their building but ambush their guests 10 bucks for a day’s service or 20 bucks for three days. They weren’t amused when I proposed 40 cents for a couple of emails—assuring these Neanderthals I type really fast.
So, I continued on to the next town where the delightful folks at the West Union Library welcomed me like an old customer—which, actually I am, in a literal sense—and I promptly used about 15 minutes of my allotted, free hour catching up with the day’s email and pondering a very ugly picture on the weather radar.
I was taking my leave after another round of “Thank yous” to the hospitable staff, when the librarian-in-chief invited me to hang around to participate in an author’s presentation which was about to begin regarding his new fishing book.
I accepted her invitation and for the next hour or so was treated to a delightful presentation by local author and fishing expert Tom Cross as he discussed his new book, “Fishing Ohio”.
So, as is often the case a “Sow’s Ear” (The Shawnee State Park Lodge) was turned into a “Silk Purse” (the West Union Library staff) and their pleasant, evening program.
Consequently, while the camping was routine, I will be sharing two blog features in the near future; one on shooting two defensive handgun courses at the Tactical Defense Institute (the reason for the trip), and the other featuring Tom’s marvelous little book.
Please stay tuned.
ANOTHER CAMPING ADVENTURE BEGINS-
Thursday, May 15, 2008, Scioto County, OH
Four hours south from Bellville including a lunch stop I headed west from Portsmouth on the Ohio River toward the Shawnee State Park, my home for those next three nights. The park is in a state forest of the same name, and, at some 63,000 acres, it is the largest in Ohio.
I got established on my camper’s lot, delighted to note I am solidly snuggling with a noisily burbling stream, snaking just behind me on its way from somewhere deep in the surrounding woods.
We are so far out in the boonies here TV signals arrive by mail. Just for fun I tried the cell phone. The little screen squawked, “Are you kidding?”
Friday, May 16th I was scheduled to participate in a two-day handgun training event at a nearby facility, so with a nod to the buckets-full of rain that suddenly arrived, I headed west to get a fix on the next day’s venue and to try and find an internet connection.
The bozos at the state park's nearby lodge, my first stop, have wireless service in their building but ambush their guests 10 bucks for a day’s service or 20 bucks for three days. They weren’t amused when I proposed 40 cents for a couple of emails—assuring these Neanderthals I type really fast.
So, I continued on to the next town where the delightful folks at the West Union Library welcomed me like an old customer—which, actually I am, in a literal sense—and I promptly used about 15 minutes of my allotted, free hour catching up with the day’s email and pondering a very ugly picture on the weather radar.
I was taking my leave after another round of “Thank yous” to the hospitable staff, when the librarian-in-chief invited me to hang around to participate in an author’s presentation which was about to begin regarding his new fishing book.
I accepted her invitation and for the next hour or so was treated to a delightful presentation by local author and fishing expert Tom Cross as he discussed his new book, “Fishing Ohio”.
So, as is often the case a “Sow’s Ear” (The Shawnee State Park Lodge) was turned into a “Silk Purse” (the West Union Library staff) and their pleasant, evening program.
Consequently, while the camping was routine, I will be sharing two blog features in the near future; one on shooting two defensive handgun courses at the Tactical Defense Institute (the reason for the trip), and the other featuring Tom’s marvelous little book.
Please stay tuned.
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