My timelines for life typically never work out the way I hope they will.  It’s probably God continuing to try and teach me about that whole ‘control’ thing and how that never really works out anyways.  Despite my intentions to have already visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park, it still remains on the ‘to do’ list.  But, don’t despair, it’s soon up on the list to visit!  In the mean time, I’m hitting up a quick and easy park for a special anniversary.

I recently pursued a travel writing trip to Harpers Ferry National Military Parkand it fell together for next Friday & Saturday.  I’m excited to visit the park on the  sesquicentennial anniversary of the 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry.  Admittedly I’m not a big history or military buff, but I do have a deep curiosity for the hillside town of Harpers Ferry which is also home to the Applachian Trail Conservancy.

Town of Harpers Ferry, WV

Friday night, if I arrive in time, I plan to do a walking ghost tour of the town before heading to my Tree Cottage in nearby Maryland for the night.  The next morning I will be meeting with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy before meeting with staff at the military park regarding the anniversary festivities.  It will be a neat and quick 24 hour trip.  I’m excited to get back into travel writing, which I put on the back burner after I took this new job.

Burning of the Cuyahoga River -1952 – Courtesy of Ohiohistorycentral.org

Cuyahoga Valleyis the next National Park that I plan to visit, hopefully before 2012 draws to a close.  The name may ring a bell to those that recall hearing about the multiple Cuyahoga River fires from the 1800-1900s due to severe pollution from local industry.   This Ohio park has been protected and is the only National Park in Ohio and was established fairly recently in 2000.  The park has trails, wetlands, swamps, falls and a scenic railroad.  I hope to visit and either backcountry camp if the temps are reasonable, or stay in the nearby Stanford House.  This will be another great, quick

Blue Hen Falls – Image Courtesy of nps.gov/cuva Photo by ©Ed Toerek

weekend trip since the park is 6.5 hours away – definitely longer than my typical weekend trips, but totally do-able.  Now if only I could find a direct path there via Amtrak (another journey on the to-do list).

No matter how much planning I do, I find that researching and setting up travel writing trips and vacations seem to align best about 1-2 months in advance.  It seems that if I plan any earlier than that, unless for a lengthy bit of travel, things get in the way and my anxieties creep in.  Yes, I do get anxious when traveling.  I hate to admit it, but most of my excitement is a bit of manic wondering what I will forget, what will go wrong,

and if I will somehow die or hurt myself during an expedition.  When I was a kit, I used to end up puking the morning before we left; both out of anxiety and failing to eat a proper breakfast.  Now, I’ve learned better, planned ahead, and put in place some safeguards so that no matter where I’m headed, I am prepared.

I would be happy to give you tips on how to set up travel writing and how to travel solo.  Of course, the requirement is that if you don’t like to get outdoors and get a  little dirty, don’t bother asking.