Sheltowee Trace- Day 11- Across the Kentucky

 Today was almost all roadwalk again. Soon after starting we crossed the Kentucky River at Heidelburg on the Albert Updyke Bridge. I think Heidelburg used to be a decent town. Now all that's left is a park and a boat ramp except for the bridge.

I was surprised to learn that the headwaters of the Kentucky River aren't very far upstream from this. However, there are a number of low-head dams that help regulate the amount of water flowing more consistently. In fact, one was just upstream from the bridge, but I like the downstream picture better. From here, it flows northwest until joining the Ohio River east of Louisville.

The first 8 miles were on roads- fairly populated roads. We needed a place to sit and eat our snack, and I needed to pee. A small rural church appeared at just the right time! They had a welcome banner, so we made ourselves comfortable on the edge of their ramp. (There were no steps!).

And they had two primitive but clean privies! Everything was perfect. Thanks for the hospitality, Cressmont Baptist Church! We left no trace... just sayin'.

Finally we left the road, but this also meant we started the first of two big climbs for the day. We ate lunch beneath this shelf cave.

Most of the afternoon was kind of tough with two big climbs and a downhill between them. But the weather didn't get too warm, and except for a couple of messy trees to get around the trail was pretty good.

Our new campground was serving nice dinners at a reasonable price, so we did that for our evening meal. Brisket, mac & cheese, vegs. Yum!

We did 13.3 miles today. The biggest challenge of the day was loose dogs. One pack of 5 were overly friendly. 3 of them followed us for about a mile. Then the 4th went a little farther, and one went maybe 2 miles before we convinced it to go home. At another place, one dog came for me, and actually got its lips on my elbow, but the teeth didn't connect.

Miles walked in 2026: 449
Miles hiked on the Sheltowee Trace: 122.3

Sheltowee Trace, Kentucky, Quillan Cemetery to Arvel. 13.3 miles.

See Sheltowee Trace- Sinking Creeks

Three Amigos Roughing It

 We three are getting very comfortable with working together in camp. (Diane, Bill, me)

Today was all about reorganizing the stuff and getting ready to hike tomorrow. Of course that included some errands in town, so you can see how hard we roughed it. (Not much). We picked up a roasted chicken and a bag of salad with chocolate for dessert.

We have those who would like us to share our dinner.

There are four of them, and they come right up to the table. One looks older and three are young and skinny. We are trying to be really careful about the tents and car doors. Diane got a picture of one of them begging.

The larger visitors aren't very worried about people either. This is right next to our campsite.

Tomorrow we hike. We checked out the trailheads and are all packed up! Hoping to be out at the crack of dawn.

See To Kentucky

Did You Guess Bill?

I spent last night with Bill and Anne in Ann Arbor.

This morning, Bill and I took a short walk on a nature trail that wasn't yet built when I lived in Ann Arbor. It's near Barton Dam.

The trail wanders near the Huron River.

But what a surprise at the other end! I had no idea where we were going to end up. This now connects with Bandemer Park, and they have built a pedestrian tunnel under the railroad so you can safely get into Bandemer.

The inside has backlighted laser-cut artwork on the walls.

The reason this was such a fun surprise is that when I lived here, I could walk from my place to the Argo Dam on the river, and then up along it for a couple miles to get to Bandemer Park. But there was no way then to walk on to Barton Dam- at least not a trail. I just love connections like this!

Here's the picture you probably expected. Hiking buds.

Last night's clue? I know it wasn't much of a clue. It's part of a computer memory system. Bill has a board that is about 16x18 inches covered with wrapped wire like in that picture, and the whole thing provided 16K memory! That was a "few" years ago.

Tonight's clue is a little more helpful, but I don't think you'll guess where I am anyway.

Miles walked in 2026: 47.9

Barton Nature Trail, Ann Arbor, MI. 2.4 miles.

See Home Via Ann Arbor

Proof and Fun

Not much that's newsworthy today. I made soup, but didn't take a picture. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not. It's yummy, but not visually stunning.

After I said I have no pictures from yesterday of Bill and me, someone sent me two. Neither shows us at our most attractive, but hey, we were having fun.

I signed the group in collectively at the trail register, and Bill held the lid to make a desk.

About half of the hikers went to Bitely Bar to eat. Here we are again.

I was super good today. Edited longer than usual, made soup from the Christmas ham bone, cleaned the kitchen (well, it's not done but is it ever?)

Here's more fun. I know that sharing pictures of my games is probably low on your interest list, but I'm kind of tickled about this. I managed to make this fox family by collecting prizes from three different events. The fox in the stump pops in and out. The fox on the left alternately crouches in this "play" pose and stands. I just got the kit today. It definitely makes me smile.

See Spirit of the Woods- January

Transition to Civilization?

The day began with a civilized and very good (and huge) breakfast at a cafe next to the motel.

Then we had to say goodbye to Marie (always a sad event for me). But we drove to Diane's where were were welcomed and hosted yet again! Yeah, we are on the way home, but in stages.

Diane has pretty flowers on her deck...

... and a cannon in her driveway!

Perhaps this is one of the reasons Diane and I have become friends so fast... she has as varied interests as I do, and she isn't neatly predictable.

OK, it's a reproduction cannon, but it really fires. She and some of her family members have been taking part in civil war reenactments for years. It's in her driveway waiting for the paint to dry after its yearly touchup.

No hiking occurred except a short walk around the block for Bill and me after dinner (yet more delicious food provided by Diane).

See Low to High

Day Six- Racing for the Motel

We had under seven miles to go to get to the car and a motel. We were on a mission!

We had to climb 700 feet and after that it was "all" downhill to Raymond Brook TH.

A loon sang throughout the night and I caught this picture in the morning of it shaking out a leg.

It was a day of bad bridges...

And good, even new bridges!

We began the long downhill with high hopes for speed. I "remembered" it as a gentle grade with mostly smooth trail through dryish woods. Ha! I only remembered the couple hundred good feet apparently. The trail dropped 1300 feet over several miles with really difficult footing and a number of steep areas.

One of the most fun things is this historic ski rescue shed from the 1930s. Yes, this is a ski trail. You can see how much snow was typical by the height of the shed.

I also forgot about this beaver flooding. The trail used to go right through that area (I know because there are blue discs on trees out in the water). Now it crosses the dam and climbs up to a ridge on the far side. Still mostly marked with flagging ribbon. Things happen slowly here. I would think that in three years it would have been marked with discs.

One more interesting encounter. There was a team of four researchers from the health department out doing a population study on deer ticks. She wanted to tell us all about it!

Another quarter mile to the car, motel in North Creek, shower, lunch (tuna melt for me, burger for Bill), laundry, sorting, blogging, etc. No one can trash a motel room like a couple of hikers!

Despite the elevation challenges, we finished around 1 pm. Not too shabby!

Miles hiked in 2025: 265.8
Miles hiked on NCT in 2025: 147.6

New York, Adirondacks, North Country Trail, Botheration Pond to Raymond Brook TH. 6.5 miles

See Longest Day