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Flatwoods Trail

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

December 28, 2019, I headed to Lapping Park to meet my buddy Mark at 8 am.  Mark had contacted me the evening before and needed to do some maintenance on a geocache and invited me and my camera along.  I accepted the offer.

As I pulled in the parking lot, I could see Mark’s Jeep well before I arrived.  I pulled up next to him and both of us slowing got out of our vehicles, with synchronized groans of stillness and soreness.  He had hiked 6 miles the day before and yesterday I was on my second day of hiking (today was the third).

We grabbed our stuff and headed in the woods.  I have been here many times, but only hiked a small section of the trail once before.  I was excited to partake in a new local trail.  The temperature was a rarely warm 54 degrees for this time of year and there was an ever so slight mist in the air.  The smell of decaying leaves and wet trees filled my nose.  Mark was bundled in a long sleeve shirt and I was in my t-shirt.

Soon we made our way down the path to a narrow section of Silver Creek.  Mark chose one way to cross, and I found what I thought was a better route.  I found myself with a four-foot jump that I accomplished and later paid for as a result of jarring of my back on that jump.  Upon crossing we headed up a hill to the location of the geocache.  Mark grabbed the old one, replaced it with a new one then we headed back to his Jeep.

From there we crossed the parking lot and began our 3-mile trek through the woods.  The trees werebear and the fallen leaves covered the path below my feet.  To the right Silver Creek flowed and unlike before the width was closer to 40 feet wide.  Mark and I, as usual, discussed various topics from podcasts, YouTube, television shows, movies and of course photography.  Time disappears when I am hiking, especially with Mark.

The woods had various characters today.  There was a section of old, thick dead trees, a few huge birch trees (my favorites), thin sections of dense trees and then average maple, oak and ash trees.  I was amazed by all the varieties of trees I saw today.

Ironically, Mark took only two pictures, and I took eight.  We talked about revealing our inner Thomas Heaton, who is known to hike 5+ miles and only take one shot.  If you are a photography fan I suggest you follow him on YouTube.  Above is one of my eight shots from today’s hike.

Soon we found ourselves back at our vehicles and briefly talked about the next few days’ plans and possible hike together before he departs for Florida for a few weeks.  I slowly got back in my car (remember the jarred back from jumping the creek) and headed home.

Simple things these days mean more to me than lavish gifts, grand celebrations or parties.  These are the memories I hope to hold onto for years to come until my memory and body fail me.  As Jon Taffer once said, “The simple things can be really powerful.”

Until next time,

Tim

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