Showing posts with label The Wilds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Wilds. Show all posts
Posted by
Clarissa
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Every now and then doesn't it just feel good to get away? Of course, here lately it seems I've been "away" more than I've been home.
Once again, Jeanette and I hit the road to adventure...heading north on Labor Day weekend. I began to regret that decision right around Florence when at 3:30 in the afternoon, traffic began really picking up. By the time, we got out of Cincinnati, I was thinking this was a Really Bad Idea! Then to beat it all, just as we were on the final stretch to Zanesville, brake lights lit up everywhere! Oh, no, maybe there's been an accident! All of a sudden, in my rearview mirror, I saw a van swerving across both lanes of traffic accelerating right toward us. I was like "Jeanette, he's coming for us!" She was so involved in reading an interesting book that she had no clue what was even going on. My heart was in mouth, I couldn't get a breath, time passes so slowly when you are bracing for a hit. All I could think or say or pray was Jesus! Jesus! Let me tell you: he came to our rescue. The van should have plowed right into the back of my vehicle. He had totally run out of room to stop but just mere inches, he stopped in time! I must say it took a long, long while for me to quit looking in the mirror and get my nerves under control. I was torn up! However, we pressed on and I am so glad we did.
GPS is always a nice addition when traveling especially when it works. Unfortunately, it also helps to be able to understand it. Since I was driving and Jeanette was directing, we ended up taking the wrong exit which ended up being the right exit. (How confusing is that?) It was the wrong exit for our hotel; however, we would have missed so much! Heading back through Zanesville toward the interstate we passed the Y-Bridge, a waterfalls and the vases - all things I had been hoping to see while visiting! Plus we got to see a beautiful old courthouse, patriotic memorials, synagogues and so much more including the road to "The Wilds!" I am always amazed at how well the Lord takes care of us even when we don't have a clue.
After some quick shopping and dinner, we relaxed at our hotel calling it an early night so we could be ready for our adventure at "The Wilds".
Getting an early start the next morning, we decided to drive to Dresden, Ohio. Dresden is known for Longaberger Baskets and the world's largest Longaberger Basket is hidden on a side street. Oh yes, hidden but we found it! If you are a collector, then this is the city for you. After a breakfast feast at Cracker Barrel and some quick snapshots, we were ready for our safari.
The Wilds is a several thousand acre wildlife conservation center quite a few miles from civilization. We really had no idea what to expect but I was totally blown away by the whole experience. We bought our tickets for the open air safari, which I highly recommend but had a few minutes to wait. As we walked around, we started noticing animals every direction we looked. In fact, some of the animals were in the roadway right by the vehicles. I started getting excited and hoping our tour would come on before all the animals went into the shade (you know how my luck runs with the animals and afternoons!)
We really should not have worried! I have never been so close to wild animals except maybe at a zoo and there is no comparison. The camels were first up standing right in the road. We watched a rhino’s wound be doctored by staff. There was deers of all kinds including the Indochina Sitka, Bactrian, and Pere David deers, around many of the lakes. Catfish and Trumpeter Swans all waiting to be feed around the pond. Curious Giraffes, Wild Horses, and Bison alongside the road. Cheetahs, Wild Dogs, and Dholes in the carnivore center. Then more Rhinos, Zebras, Onagers, Antelope, Eland and even the Scimitar-Horned Oryx (possibly the Unicorn of olden times).
We had a wonderful guide, Lois, who was getting into trouble because she was running behind schedule. We didn’t feel rushed throughout the tour as she stopped frequently and gave us plenty of time to take as many pictures as our hearts desired. It was definitely a tour well worth the drive and expense. The only thing that would have made it better would be to stay at Nomad Ridge. Could you imagine spending the night with a deck overlooking several of the pastures, listening to the animals calling out in the night, watching the sun set and the stars shine bright? Oh yes, that would be the ultimate experience and it comes complete with dinner and breakfast prepared by a chef. Although we hated to leave, we had a long drive home ahead! Thankfully, it didn’t seem to take nearly as long to get down the road as it did coming down.
Since we were making such great time, we decided to take a detour through Hamilton for some hot, fresh, delicious Richard’s steak sandwiches. Piping hot melted cheese, loaded with onions (the only onions I ever eat!), soft yet crispy bread, a fitting way to end a road trip! (And you can’t just get one…they are just as good warmed up later!)
It was definitely a good getaway and a trip I’ve added to the future list to visit again...this time with our family or our friends from North Carolina.
Hope you enjoy the pics!!! Until next time…joy 2 u! “C”
Once again, Jeanette and I hit the road to adventure...heading north on Labor Day weekend. I began to regret that decision right around Florence when at 3:30 in the afternoon, traffic began really picking up. By the time, we got out of Cincinnati, I was thinking this was a Really Bad Idea! Then to beat it all, just as we were on the final stretch to Zanesville, brake lights lit up everywhere! Oh, no, maybe there's been an accident! All of a sudden, in my rearview mirror, I saw a van swerving across both lanes of traffic accelerating right toward us. I was like "Jeanette, he's coming for us!" She was so involved in reading an interesting book that she had no clue what was even going on. My heart was in mouth, I couldn't get a breath, time passes so slowly when you are bracing for a hit. All I could think or say or pray was Jesus! Jesus! Let me tell you: he came to our rescue. The van should have plowed right into the back of my vehicle. He had totally run out of room to stop but just mere inches, he stopped in time! I must say it took a long, long while for me to quit looking in the mirror and get my nerves under control. I was torn up! However, we pressed on and I am so glad we did.
GPS is always a nice addition when traveling especially when it works. Unfortunately, it also helps to be able to understand it. Since I was driving and Jeanette was directing, we ended up taking the wrong exit which ended up being the right exit. (How confusing is that?) It was the wrong exit for our hotel; however, we would have missed so much! Heading back through Zanesville toward the interstate we passed the Y-Bridge, a waterfalls and the vases - all things I had been hoping to see while visiting! Plus we got to see a beautiful old courthouse, patriotic memorials, synagogues and so much more including the road to "The Wilds!" I am always amazed at how well the Lord takes care of us even when we don't have a clue.
After some quick shopping and dinner, we relaxed at our hotel calling it an early night so we could be ready for our adventure at "The Wilds".
Getting an early start the next morning, we decided to drive to Dresden, Ohio. Dresden is known for Longaberger Baskets and the world's largest Longaberger Basket is hidden on a side street. Oh yes, hidden but we found it! If you are a collector, then this is the city for you. After a breakfast feast at Cracker Barrel and some quick snapshots, we were ready for our safari.
The Wilds is a several thousand acre wildlife conservation center quite a few miles from civilization. We really had no idea what to expect but I was totally blown away by the whole experience. We bought our tickets for the open air safari, which I highly recommend but had a few minutes to wait. As we walked around, we started noticing animals every direction we looked. In fact, some of the animals were in the roadway right by the vehicles. I started getting excited and hoping our tour would come on before all the animals went into the shade (you know how my luck runs with the animals and afternoons!)
We really should not have worried! I have never been so close to wild animals except maybe at a zoo and there is no comparison. The camels were first up standing right in the road. We watched a rhino’s wound be doctored by staff. There was deers of all kinds including the Indochina Sitka, Bactrian, and Pere David deers, around many of the lakes. Catfish and Trumpeter Swans all waiting to be feed around the pond. Curious Giraffes, Wild Horses, and Bison alongside the road. Cheetahs, Wild Dogs, and Dholes in the carnivore center. Then more Rhinos, Zebras, Onagers, Antelope, Eland and even the Scimitar-Horned Oryx (possibly the Unicorn of olden times).
We had a wonderful guide, Lois, who was getting into trouble because she was running behind schedule. We didn’t feel rushed throughout the tour as she stopped frequently and gave us plenty of time to take as many pictures as our hearts desired. It was definitely a tour well worth the drive and expense. The only thing that would have made it better would be to stay at Nomad Ridge. Could you imagine spending the night with a deck overlooking several of the pastures, listening to the animals calling out in the night, watching the sun set and the stars shine bright? Oh yes, that would be the ultimate experience and it comes complete with dinner and breakfast prepared by a chef. Although we hated to leave, we had a long drive home ahead! Thankfully, it didn’t seem to take nearly as long to get down the road as it did coming down.
Since we were making such great time, we decided to take a detour through Hamilton for some hot, fresh, delicious Richard’s steak sandwiches. Piping hot melted cheese, loaded with onions (the only onions I ever eat!), soft yet crispy bread, a fitting way to end a road trip! (And you can’t just get one…they are just as good warmed up later!)
It was definitely a good getaway and a trip I’ve added to the future list to visit again...this time with our family or our friends from North Carolina.
Hope you enjoy the pics!!! Until next time…joy 2 u! “C”
Posted by
Clarissa
comments (0)
As you can probably tell by now, I blog in spurts. Sometimes I just can't wait to share happenings, especially special visits with family and friends, going on and go. Other times, I struggle to know just what you would like to read or how much I should sure. Would you like to see more pictures? More thoughtful posting? or just the typical craziness of my life? Do you like the book-like posts or the short ones? I would love to hear from you as I consider the future of my blog or maybe even blogs. Although it has only been a few months since the beginning of Clariss'a Corner, it has been a joy for me share with you so blogging is here to stay (at least for now! :)
Speaking of fun and special happenings...the reason for this post is just to put you on notice...I have an exciting but full weekend ahead so there should be several posts and picutres. I have often been teased by family and friends that I should become a travel agent since I love to travel so much. Recently, I heard of "The Wilds" - thousands of acres in Ohio with wild animals like Cheetahs, Dholes, Rhinos, Giraffes, Butterflies, and so much more. So, if all goes well, Jeanette and I are going on the ultimate safari (and yet so close to home!) I believe this just might be the ultimate test for my new rebel!
In addition, my original plan was to attend my first meetup with the Central Kentucky Photo Group on Sunday. There is no better way to learn than with lots of practice and from other. So if you are interested in growing your photography skills and joining us, just let me know. As I said, my original plan because we have discovered an Indian PowWow on our way home from Zanesville. Indians - can we resist? There is just so much going on this weekend that it is so hard to decide just what to do.
Since this is Labor Day weekend, the Livingston homecoming is also going on which means fireworks! Maybe you will also notice if you look out this evening that we have a full moon which means....Yes...it's time for the moonbow at Cumberland Falls. A third time is a charm!(Do I need to remind my readers of my crashed hard drive, loss of pictures, my new camera, and new (nearly empty) hard drive?)
Thank goodness for Monday...a day to download pictures, blog, and rest. Oh yes, I am officially resting this Labor Day!
Hope you have a safe weekend! Enjoy time spent with family and friends! "C"
Speaking of fun and special happenings...the reason for this post is just to put you on notice...I have an exciting but full weekend ahead so there should be several posts and picutres. I have often been teased by family and friends that I should become a travel agent since I love to travel so much. Recently, I heard of "The Wilds" - thousands of acres in Ohio with wild animals like Cheetahs, Dholes, Rhinos, Giraffes, Butterflies, and so much more. So, if all goes well, Jeanette and I are going on the ultimate safari (and yet so close to home!) I believe this just might be the ultimate test for my new rebel!
In addition, my original plan was to attend my first meetup with the Central Kentucky Photo Group on Sunday. There is no better way to learn than with lots of practice and from other. So if you are interested in growing your photography skills and joining us, just let me know. As I said, my original plan because we have discovered an Indian PowWow on our way home from Zanesville. Indians - can we resist? There is just so much going on this weekend that it is so hard to decide just what to do.
Since this is Labor Day weekend, the Livingston homecoming is also going on which means fireworks! Maybe you will also notice if you look out this evening that we have a full moon which means....Yes...it's time for the moonbow at Cumberland Falls. A third time is a charm!(Do I need to remind my readers of my crashed hard drive, loss of pictures, my new camera, and new (nearly empty) hard drive?)
Thank goodness for Monday...a day to download pictures, blog, and rest. Oh yes, I am officially resting this Labor Day!
Hope you have a safe weekend! Enjoy time spent with family and friends! "C"
