29 Going on 79

The weekend after New Years I rented a cabin with pals from D.C. As in intern my senior year of college, I worked with Linda, Kelly and Siobhan at the National Postal Museum near Union Station. Only Linda still works there as Kelly has changed jobs but is still in D.C. Siobhan lives in New Jersey and I of course am in Ohio. We occasionally saw one another after I finished my internship but Kelly suggested an annual reunion since none of us work together anymore. Our first reunion was at an old farm house in the Shanendoah Mountains in Virginia. This year we were going to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in Pennsylvania. Thank goodness Siobhan noticed that it's closed in the month of January! So they agreed to come to Ohio much to my delight. I appreciate their travel efforts not the least of which was a long drive for Kelly and Linda and a flight for Siobhan. Then of course they each had to endure the constant questioning from others - "you're vacationing - in Ohio - in January? Wait, did you really say Ohio?" Little did they know the brilliance of my suggestion that we stay in the Hocking Hills region which is not only the hot-tub capital of the world (well, maybe of Ohio) but it also has the amazing Hocking Hills State Park.

Siobhan arrived on Friday and we drove down to the cabin. It was snowing lightly and traffic wasn't too bad. We got to the cabin in good time and were impressed by the large pond on the property and the numerous outbuildings and other cabins in the woods. Once Linda and Kelly arrived we set about to making dinner and cocktails. With a fireplace, our pajamas and plenty of food we could have stayed in all winter. On Saturday we headed out to take in Old Man's Cave and Ash Cave. I've seen both during the summer but never in the winter. They were gorgeous and had a prehistoric feel with the bright green moss, overhanging trees and eerie mists created from the humid air, above freezing temperatures and icy ravine floor. Some of the paths and stairs were downright treacherous but we managed without breaking any bones along the way. I made the mistake of not bringing my car pills, so was more than relieved when we stopped and found a little restaurant in the town of Logan.

We picked up some more firewood and headed back to the cabin. The hot tub was the perfect solution after a cold and wet day in the woods!

We returned on Saturday evening and did our best to finish off the food and alcohol we brought. Kelly made an awesome cake to celebrate Linda's recent MBA and we begrudgingly went to bed knowing we would leave in the morning. A perfect little get away with awesome friends!

Inside Ash Cave

 Inside Old Man's Cave

 Linda's dog Sable couldn't have cared less about the deer outside the cabin

 Kelly, Linda, Siobhan, Moi