bridge to the past

          took off on a one tank trip to southern ohio in search of covered bridges in fairfield county ohio. it has 22 covered bridges but we could only find 2 yesterday as we were hurried and had not planned the trip adequately and might have been lost a couple of time if not for the help of modern conveniences like gps. beautiful country and was a shame to have to drive but some one needed to keep their eyes on the road as around every corner there is something to see.

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      our first stop was below lancaster at sallie park . it was the new location of my lead photo of a restored covered bridge. this was a beautiful park and had a really nice lake and the cabin above with that cut stone fireplace. really doubt that settlers took time to cut stone for their fireplaces but it is a nice touch. the locals were using it for a photo op and assuming some senior pictures.

 our next stop was at clear water creek park , where we found this well preserved civil war generals log house nestled among the sandstone cliffs that inundate this part of the country. as you drive down through the valleys and  , and look through the trees one can see the sandstone cliffs peeking out through the tree cover. looming over the valleys. 

         leaving there and heading into hocking county we encountered cantwell cliffs , a state park that is home to more sandstone cliffs and places like rock house and old mans cave, ash cave . and cantwell cliffs. these are places our family visited 48 years ago when i was 8 years old. it was amazing to retrace my old footsteps as i snaked down the narrow rock wall paths leading to these neat geographic and historical features. 

       i tried to get a panoramic view of these cliffs and is some what representative of the feel one gets when visiting here. there is a lot of climbing and walking and wishing i was still a kid when walking back up hill to where car was parked . to say the least i was exhausted and sore when finally arriving at the car . let alone say winded. it is a stress test for old folks . but well worth the trip. 

   

      the fairfield county visitors bureau could spend some time adding more links of things to do in their county and make their site easier to use . we passed their county fair location twice not knowing they had a covered bridge no doubt high and dry there. it seems when searching it is either to much of wrong information or what.  these 2 covered bridges one covered and one not but both incorporating an arch in their design  were located on ohio university campus at lancaster. 

     and of course to finish this blog i had to pass by the longaberger office building on highway 16 outside of newark and remind myself to never be rich. as i would not have ever tolerated a building such as this to be erected no matter the money within my eyesight with out at least voicing my drab opinion . the only thing i can be thankful for was that mr, longaberger was not into, was making caskets.