Nature Takes Over

A Half a mile west of Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills
State Park area on State Route 56, a part of the area's
history has disappeared. Sitting back off of the sharp
curves of the road in a shady section that is over-shadowed
by giant pines and large rock formations, at one time was
home for cabins, and an inn called "The Scenic Inn".
With the scenery that surrounded the inn the name was
very appropriate. As a child in the fifties my family often
went there to have dinner on a Saturday evening.
The inn was torn down in the seventies and what was
once hidden behind the inn, which was only seen by the
locals or those who stayed and ate there, can now almost
be seen. Those passing by in cars may not notice the
beauty if not directly looking in that direction, but by the
tracks that I found upon stopping on my Indian Summer
day exploration, it has been found and explored by a few.



Just behind where the old inn once stood is hiding a
small cave and some beautiful rock formations.
The small creek that runs from the crevices of the
rocks was almost dry because of our drought,
so I was able to walk easily up
the small path to get a few pictures of the scenery.




There is no path to the top of the cave
so one cannot see the area from a top.
The small walk to the center of the cave
is certainly a photographer's ideal.



The surface of the rocks are fascinating, with
their many markings and crevices.



Looking from the bottom of the cave upwards
into the canopy of tree's with fern's hanging on
to the rich soil that is on the out cropping of the
rocks is just a beautiful sight.



Time and nature has taken over the secluded area
now. The fallen trees have been covered by mosses
and toadstools.



I tired to find out the identity of these toadstools growing on
this log but was unable, so if anyone knows what kind they
are I would be grateful if you would share it.
This is just one of the little hidden spots in the
Hocking Hills area where I live.
The area is covered with these little gems for hikers
and photographers.
On this day there were just a few golden leaves remaining
on the trees other than the brown leaves of the oaks that
try to hold on to be the last that fall.
The giant Sycamore trees were almost bare but the
peeling white bark makes it's own texture and beauty for
the coming stark winter days ahead.



While I was walking around snapping pictures and
enjoying the scenery, two chipmunks were chasing
each other up and down the hillside and back and
forth across a fallen log that stretched over the creek.
They acted like I was not even there and were
squeaking and having fun just scampering around.
They kept moving around so fast that I could not get
a picture of their playing.
I tried several times to capture a shot and had to laugh
at my failure keep up with them to get one.
They finally decided they had seen enough of me and
took off up over the rocks where I could
not follow to disturb their day of romping and nut
gathering.
Our Indian Summer weather has disappeared
today but the rain we received yesterday was
so much needed in the area.
The rain also managed to bring down the stubborn
leaves from the oak trees so one final clean up in the
beds and yard will be needed.
Now the rains can come to "wash the leaves out
of the hollow's" to herald the winter weather.
That is a saying here that the old timers say,
"When the rain washes the leaves from the hollow's"
then Winter is here.