A walk in the woods...

This past weekend I celebrated another birthday. Which by the way seemed to creep up way to fast. All I wanted to do was go for a hike and Wendy's. I love Wendy's but rarely eat it anymore, so this was gonna be my treat. It was a beautiful fall morning, sun shining. I was up early as usual and ready to roll. We got on the road and drove about and hour and found a Wendy's on a turn off so we pulled over. Wish #1 granted. From there we drove another 30 minutes or so and arrived in picturesque Turkey Run State Park. Lots of people were out enjoying the day. Everyone had a dog, which I so desperately want a dog, as everyone knows. All in due time, we have to find the right place for us first and then the right dog for all of us including Lola Kitty.

I forgot we had to cross the suspension bridge. I hate suspension bridges, mainly because they are not condusive to my fear of heights and they are usually over bodies of water which I don't know how to swim.You see where I am coming from? But I wanted this and so I was putting on my big girl panties and was going to cross the bridge. We came across the covered bridge and took a little break to feel the sun on our face, then before you knew it you were surrounded by everyone else in the park. We went up a little further and found this old house that was also a general store back in the 1800's and there this giant blood hound dog was wandering around he came over and checked us out and then turned back I thought for sure he must have an owner near by. He had a collar and a phone number. Paul and I continued to walk in the woods, and we were I don't know how many feet deep in to them,and I was literally thinking to myself, "this would be awesome to have a dog with us right now", then all of the sudden we heard what sounded like galloping and we turn around and there was Buddy the blood hound bounding towards us. (Wish #2) He stayed with us for a bit, and we hit a little swampy section and he wanted to go ahead of us, and then waited to make sure we got a across, and the left and turned back again. My Guardian Dog for the day Buddy...
Eventually we came to what they call Punch Bowl with was this ravine in the canyon, it go really dark and cold and there were tons of people. There were points there you are trying to "stair climb" these slippery mossy rocks, and I started to freak out, you realize you are on a rock ridge about half a foot wide and there is a drop. We got over that part and then you had to get down the ravine which from where I stood looked like you were going down a water fall. That was when I opted to turn back. I wanted to see the end of this birthday and my next one. (This when Paul told me we were going down there to continue on the trail) we had to climb back the way we came, I was having a bit of anxiety manly cause people where watching us trying to get back. Then Paul says "Look behind you a doggy just came up from below. Wait! Is that Buddy?!" was too scared to look, then I caught a glimpse below me and there was Buddy! He some how did a full circle and made it back to where we were. He was trying to cross the wet rocks and got stuck for a moment, thankfully there were others down there to help him. He was good to go. He was going in our direction again. We were on the upper ledge headed back to solid land and I stopped to see what he was going to do. He started to come towards us and someone asked if that was our dog. No, not ours but we all agreed he must live nearby given the number of his collar, and name. I asked Paul if we should try to get him to come with us and take him to the warden, cause you don't get cell reception out there. Paul convinced me he would be fine, and that he obviously knew his way around. Pretty cool none the less.

Finally back on dry land, it was a great birthday. We took our time driving back and made dinner at home and Paul made me my favorite cake. Marble cake with chocolate icing. Before you knew it my body was exhausted and I settled in for the night. Far cry of my many years of partying all night..to celebrate my birthday. LOL..But honestly I wouldn't want it any other way.