Camping!
This past weekend, I finally went camping for the first time in Ohio. I've been wanting to go ever since I brought my camping gear up to school this year. I went to Scioto Trail State Park near Chillicothe, Ohio. It is about an hour and a half east-southeast of Dayton. I picked it out over other state parks in the area because I was attracted to its relatively rugged terrain (at least for Ohio) lying in the foothills of the Appalachians. Considering that all my previous camping experiences took place in the Appalachians in North Georgia, I just wouldn't feel right camping on a flat landscape.
There are a few things that I love about camping. The first is the incredible silence and peacefulness present in the wilderness. You never know what quiet is until you leave the city and hear nothing but the rustling of leaves and an occasional bird chirping. Along the same lines, it is amazing how dark your surroundings can be when there is nothing but the moon and your flashlight. Another one of my favorite aspects of camping is making a fire and sitting next to it for hours. The sound and sight of a campfire is soothing beyond belief in addition to bringing welcome warmth on a cold night like last Friday night. Finally, I love curling up in a sleeping bag inside a tent and waking up with the sunlight and the crisp morning air.
Overall, it was a great experience, and I'm glad to know about a place I can escape to and clear my mind with the calming sensations of nature.
Oct 2, 2006 8:29 PM
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