Trying to make it to the lake today! Figures to be our longest hike yet, 8+ miles, and a hot, humid day on top of that. Met up at 7:30 again! A lot of road work today- even though section map says ‘off-road’ for majority of hike it was the MINORity of hike. A bike path along road should not count as ‘off-road’! Only sections that were really ‘off-road’ were along Lakefront trail after marina and along Mentor marsh on Zimmerman trail after Morton Park. Had a ‘sun shower’ within first 30 min of walk- just enough to make us put on rain gear and take off 15 min later- annoying. That was it for the day though! Crossed paths and walked with Mel for a bit, who was rehabbing his hip, and walks 10 mi a day as part of it- amazing. He walked with us through Mentor Lagoons marina, which was hopping with activity. Took a snack break here since were about 4 mi in, then started up Lakefront trail and saw our FIRST deer in the wild…that is, our first deer that was not in someones backyard. It could care less about us. Walk along lake was refreshing, breezy and very nice- only vaguely remembered being there once before- mostly bikers on trail, very few people on beach- not sure if swimming was allowed. Came out into neighborhood of small lakefront cottages- quaint and quiet for most part. ‘Trail’ ran through neighborhood streets- was nearing noon and sun was beating us all down- started dragging along just hoping for a change and then a mirage appeared as if in a desert…Morton Park…and it had benches under trees and a kiddie water park! Went straight to water fountains and drenched my head (luckily or strangely only one kid there)- life saving! April joined me but Wendy was shy. Took a longer lunch break here under shade and restored our energy levels for finishing out hike. Zimmerman trail started at park and ran along Mentor marsh- felt nice to be on ‘dirt’ for the first time of day. Trail was mostly shade and a mix of high-ground woods and low-ground mud and thickets closer to swamp….and mosquitoes- couldn’t stop or would be eaten alive. Didn’t get a real good look at marsh anywhere. We were all glad to be done with hike when we arrived suddenly at car- sweaty and slimy. Our treat to finishing was a stop at a soft-serve on the way home, Ice Cream on the Greens, BEST malted shake in greater Cleveland!
