Last Thursday our friends, Clarke & Elaine, stopped by Huntington for a visit and it looks like they brought spring with them. Which led Richard and I to ask the question, Why didn’t they come last month for their visit? The Hockwalds have been full timing in their RV for 14 months now and have traveled the country seeking out good weather and rekindling friendships. Not a bad way to spend retirement.
This past Saturday we enjoyed the beautiful day by driving to Carter Caves State Park in Kentucky to do a little hiking. We decided on the 7.5 mile 4-Cs trail. This is a trail Richard and I had hiked 2 times before, but this time we had a little more excitement and I’m not just talking about all the stories Richard & Clarke were telling as we hiked. This hike starts off with a pretty good climb that really left me winded. But soon the trail leveled out and I found my stride. It amazing how chatting with friends on a nice day in the woods makes the miles fly by – even if I’m out of shape from my radiation. We passed through fern bridge.
Our first swinging bridge & the earthen dam.
Before long we were at the Johnson Homeplace backcountry campsite and then in a few minutes we passed the place Richard & I had camped with Andrea, the bosses’ daughter. Since we were over 1/2 around our loop we stopped at some rocks at the top of a hill and had a lunch of cheese, triscuits, wheat thins, trail mix & fig newtons.
It’s here that the hike took a slightly different turn. We met a guy and his dog coming up the hill and he informed us the 2nd swinging bridge was damaged and that you had to wade across the river. Best I remembered the river was pretty wide and even though it was a warm day, I wasn’t excited about getting my feet wet. When we came upon the bridge it was still strung across the river but only attached by 1 cable. Richard went out on it a little ways like he was debating if we should try to cross on it. Fortunately he turned back and said that the rocks up river looked more promising for crossing. Clarke found a good place to cross except for one little place that had an old board to walk across. He figured out that you couldn’t step in the middle of it because it would probably snap. He stepped on the closest end took a giant step to the other end of the board and made it to the other rocks safely. Next Elaine took her step onto the board and Clarke pulled her over to the other side. Next Richard went and he too made it to the other side. So there I am staring at the narrow, rotten board and thinking that after the others made it over safely, I sure will be embarrassed if it breaks with me! Fortunately Richard pulled me over and I’m happy to say that none of us had to complete the hike in wet boots.
Next we meet a couple that tell us that the Shangra La Arch has crumbled some and that they went over it instead of through it. When we arrived at the arch I noticed that there was not an easy way over the arch, so we climbed through.
About 5 hours after we started the hike we returned back to the Welcome Center. I did notice that the conversation died down some as we drove the hour back to Huntington. We had a great day with the Hockwalds! The only bad part was that I took a really late nap when we got home and slept through the chicken alfredo that Richard cooked for our dinner.
It’s obvious that Clarke & Elaine are enjoying retirement, but I’m afraid that it has given Richard a little bit of a bad attitude about going to work in the mornings!
Nice post Rhonda, and great pictures to help tell the story. Enjoyed reading about our hike from your perspective. We had a great time, too!