April 1

Well we are coming home tomorrow. The trip sucks....

April fools!

We are back in Columbus today and staying at our original hotel, the Best Western. It's nice, cheap and will do for us.

Amish country was amazing and indeed my dream came true. I left my heart in Charm OH and would have moved there in a heartbeat! The life is so much slower, nicer, friendly, and beautiful. I'm sure it's not always that nice, but it was wonderful while we were there.

We went to the local cheese factory and bought some authentic Swiss cheese. It was so yummy! I would love to go back for more. We then headed out the back roads again to tour some more Amish countryside and look for some covered bridges. We went through Walnut Creek, Sugar Creek and Berlin Counties. It was so wunderful gut! (as the Amish say)

We really wanted to see a covered bridge so we were told there was one in Mohican Park west of Charm OH. And there was a look out point over a gorge. We said sure what the heck, it was on the way to the Caverns. We drove through more hilly country and ended up at the gorge. It was amazingly deep but not as open as we thought. Nonetheless still really nice. From there, we headed to the covered bridge and took some pictures, but first stopped at a fire tower. We noticed you were able to climb the tower and Julia and Chris practically flew out of the truck when it stopped and began the climb up. Of course, Julia asked if I was coming....Uhhh, yeah, be right there. I thought ahh sure, why not. Thus began the climb up. Long way up and this would only be the beginning of the steps for the day.

We then made our way to the Ohio Caverns, (going through the back roads) which were about an hour and half away. The country side was again very hilly and I was wishing the roller coaster ride would stop already, but Julia and Chris looked forward to every hill that could possibly make their tummies go whirly!

We went through many small towns which were so quaint and so close to the road as you drive by. There is not a lot of wide open spaces here as in Manitoba or Northern Minnesota, here the houses are close to the road, and close to the towns.

We arrived at the Caverns at 3:30pm and started our hour long tour in the caves at 3:45pm. I was a little apprehensive (OK a lot apprehensive) of going down underground with no way to get out quickly and the thoughts didn't end from there. But, I went for it and glad I did! The Caverns were amazing and the pictures don't really do justice. We started off the tour by going down about 30 steps and we ended up being about 30 feet underground. The caves are thousands of years old and the first people to enter them was back in 1800's. Some of the crystal formations are said to be over 200000 years old! Amazing! We were not allowed to touch any formations at all. The signs all over said it was forbidden. We did get to touch one and it felt cool to the touch and smooth. The formations turn black over time when touched so that was why. There was a crystal that was thought to be a good luck formation a long long time ago and it was touched often, it also was very black on top from the touching. Chris asked me later in the day if I felt claustrophobic at all since I was so scared before (notice I went from apprehensive to scared? :)) I said, no not really, we kept busy enough that it didn't feel so bad at all and the best part was I could breath! (that was one of my concerns too) I did kinda feel a little freaked out when he lights when off and it was PITCH black. PITCH black. You have not seen pitch black till you have been in a cave with no lights. (excuse me while I have the chills again) So if that wasn't enough, the tour guide shortly after that told us we were 103 feet underground! WHAT???? Then I had a little freak out internally, we continued on and all was good.

The tour ended shortly after that and the hardest was yet to come, 60 steps. 60 steps doesn't sound too bad until you've walked a mile, and then climbed up them. Can you say out of breath? Our legs were rubbery already from climbing the fire tower. Then when you emerge from the caves after climbing 60 steps, you have to walk 1/2 mile to get back to your vehicle. Goodness, it was our day to exercise that's for sure.

After the Caverns, we made our way back to Columbus (hour away) to find a hotel. We had only booked our hotel for tomorrow check in time 3pm. We wanted to get an early morning start to the Equine Affair so we thought to get a hotel in Columbus. Since we didn't want to pack up and check out from another hotel we thought we'd come to the hotel we are booked for for Thursday. Yesterday there was no room to be had at the hotel, but we thought we'd give it a try anyway. We prayed all the way to the hotel and low and behold a room! Hallelujah! We were so happy!

We went to eat at the hotel restaurant and then Julia went for a swim. we are sitting watching animal planet and heading to bed.

Thanks for all your great comments and emails. I read and smile at them all and feel the love and prayers.

We are looking forward to tomorrow's events.

See ya tomorrow!

Jacklyn

April 1