Rocky Fork Ranch, Ohio

Rocky Fork Ranch Ohio

OHIO!!!!!!

July 1st was a travel day. We got all loaded up and on the road by just after 9am. We took a break at a rest stop just outside Springfield Ohio. Eddie took Suzy for a walk while I made us some sandwich's for lunch. It was hot and muggy. Eddie changed from his coveralls to shorts to cool off. I was glad to get back on the road and enjoyed the dash air conditioner. We took the 70 to the 77. Once we were off the highway, I saw signs to Rocky Fork ranch, but we felt that we should follow the instructions of the GPS. For anyone who plans on visiting Rocky Fork, DO NOT FOLLOW THE GPS DIRECTIONS!!!!!! We ended up going about two and half miles down a dirt road. It had rained the night before, so it was muddy and in some spots, super slippery and mossy. We took it slow and easy. It was beautiful, but I told Eddie if we hear banjo's, we would need to high tail it outta there!!!!!

Dirt Road to rocky Fork Ranch

Off the dirt road

Pretty country

Still on the dirt road

The woods

Getting closer

We FINALLY saw buildings and were SO happy that we weren't lost somewhere. We got all checked in. Rocky fork Ranch is on over 200 acres of land. They have two pools, one indoors, the other outside. A hot tub, shooting range, archery range, lake, store, rodeo stadium, restaurant and more. The cabins range from primitive to luxury. It is going to be fun to explore it all. Both of us were thrilled to hear about the archery range. We haven't shot our bows in quite awhile. We will defiantly be signing up for that!!!

Rocky Fork Ranch, Ohio

Our site is on the upper level of the Ranch. We are right across the road and and a bit from the Club house. The Club house has the indoor pool and hot tub in it. It is also where they serve breakfast on the weekends and have all kinds of things scheduled for the 4th of July weekend. This place is going to be FUN!!!!
We unloaded the cruiser and were trying to get the dolly in our spot. There is a little incline that we just couldn't get it up. Our neighbor came over and helped us. His name is Craig. his wife is Heidi, and they have three little kids. A VERY sweet family. Our spot is in a nice shady area, so no satellite. Also there isn't any sewer, only water and electric. We will just have to be careful and watch our grey and black tanks. Fortunately, there are bathrooms and showers in the Club house. After we got all set up, we headed for the pool. It felt SO good!!!! We also enjoyed the hot tub for a bit. We hit the showers and headed back to Freeda. It had been a long day, and we were ready to hit the hay!!!!
About  three o'clock in the morning of the 2nd, we were awoken by thunder and rain. We watched and listened to the "show" for a bit, and then fell back asleep. The storm brought cooler temperatures with it, YIPPEE!!!! Eddie put out the awnings, chairs and mat. He also moved the picnic table closer. I put the Ohio state sticker on our map.

Ten states down, forty to go!!!!

Eddie and Suzy relaxing

Chair thief!!!!

Our Rocky Fork Ranch site

Eddie made a wonderful breakfast, and we ate outside. That kept the house nice and clean. We didn't have to run the A/C. That is WONDERFUL for both of us. We really don't want to wear out our one and only A/C we have left. Suzy was looking a bit dirty and unkept, so I gave her a bath and trimmed her up. She had gotten some tree pitch on her little paws. It was a mess, but she was VERY good and let me clean and trim her. She is a pretty little girl now. She turned four years old on the 1st. How time has flown!!!! Our neighbors Craig and Heidi came over with their three children. Eddie painted the faces of the two older kids. They LOVED it. We had dinner outside as well. Because of the no sewer hookup, Eddie did the dishes outside. Later that evening, Eddie went to the clubhouse to use the Internet, while I went and enjoyed the pool and hot tub again. Our sweet little neighbor family left. We both voiced how we hoped we would get good neighbors again. I had put up the outdoor lights on the front awning, and they look GREAT!!!

Our site at night with the lights up

lights at night

Love our solar lights!!!

Durning the day, the lights are just white balls, but at night they light up and change colors. The pictures don't do them justice. We get lots of compliments on them. The best part is that we don't have to plug them in, they are totally solar powered!!!!

July 3rd was a good day. After showering at the clubhouse, we had breakfast outside again. We then went back to the clubhouse to check email and I also worked on my blog. As I was typing away, the Internet went down and I lost EVERYTHING I had done!!!! I was so bummed. I had been working on it for about two hours. Oh well, that is what sometimes happens. We loaded up Suzy and went to explore the campground. This place is HUGE. We snapped some pictures of the area.

Fort Rocky Fork Ranch

View of Rocky Fork from the top of the hill

Woods at Rock Fork

Eddie and Suzy on look out

Lighthouse at the lake

More of Rocky Fork Ranch

Western town at Rocky Fork Ranch

The Chapel at Rocky fork Ranch

When we got back to our site, Eddie replaced our burnt out porch light, and the burned out brake light on the Cruiser. Once that was done, we sat and watched the parade of campers coming in. The park started REALLY filling up. This place is going to be BUSY for the 4th of July weekend!!!! We went back to the clubhouse to sign up for Archery on Sunday. On the way back to our site, our new neighbor introduced herself to us. Her name is Rhonda Schlabach. She is camping with her husband Titus, their two children Britney & Bryce, her sister Theresa and Theresa's fiancee Abe. So our hopes and wish that we would get great neighbors again came true!!!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!! What a fun and cool day we had. The weather was PERFECT. Not to hot and with a nice breeze. Such a difference from Indiana!!! We had breakfast at the clubhouse. They had pancakes, eggs and sausage or bacon. It was really good. The Internet was up, so I got my blog caught up to the end of June and posted. That felt good. After that, we went back to rig and I tidied up Freeda. Rhonda and the whole family came over to tour our little home. They also wanted to see Eddie's artwork. Theresa ended up buying one of the Hannibal rocks Eddie painted. Rhonda wanted a rock, but wasn't sure what she wants on it. Rhonda invited us over to their site for dinner. They did ham and cheese sandwich's over the fire. It was yummy. There was also a de-lish pasta salad. Rhonda decided that she wanted a painting of their three dogs on a rock. Britney found the rock and Eddie did a sketch of what he will paint. There was a DJ with karaoke right outside the clubhouse. We could hear it perfectly at our site. We are close enough to the clubhouse to walk back and forth, but not so close as to be deaf from all of the noise and activity. After dinner, we did s'mores. It was SO much fun sitting around the fire laughing and telling stories. We could hear fireworks going off, but being in the tress, couldn't see them. That was okay, we were having a BLAST with our new friends. Rhonda and I went to the pool to enjoy the adult hour. Theresa met us over there. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!!!!! Rocky Fort Ranch certainly knows how to do Independence day!!!!!!

Saturday July 5th Rocky Fork Ranch was still in celebrate mode. There was a Root beer float or Ice cream Sundae social at the club house. Eddie and I attended that and met some more fellow campers. The people in Ohio are very nice and friendly. Back at our site, Eddie worked on the rock painting for Rhonda. While we were at the Ice Cream social, a lady told us that on Saturdays there is an Amish gal that sets up and sells things at the bottom of the hill. So while the rock painting was drying, Eddie, Suzy and I drove down there. I met my first Amish person. Her name is Lecci. Her and her little sister, Anna, come every Saturday and sell homemade goodies, baked goods and hand made items. I was in HEAVEN!!!!! We had a little cash on us from Rhonda's rock painting, so I was able to get a couple of things.

Homemade bread, cookies and handmade pot holders by Amish girl, Lecci

The homemade bread and cookies were wonderful, and the potholders will always remind me of our time in Ohio. With Lecci's permission, Eddie did some sketch's of her and her buggy.

Lecci's buggy

Lecci

Lecci liked the drawing so much, she asked Eddie to make her one. So we went back up the hill and Eddie got his good paper and pencils and did a drawing just for her.

Drawing for Lecci

Both Lecci and Anna were very sweet and very shy. It was lovely to meet and chat with them. Anyone who knows me knows that I have ALWAYS loved and been intrigued by the Amish. I admire their comment to family and community. 
Back at our site, I read more while Eddie finished up Rhonda's rock. They had a real good band outside the clubhouse. Again we could hear it just fine at our site. After the band was done, about 10ish, we went to bed. Another "Wonderful-gut" day in Ohio.

Rhonda's rock painting

Sunday morning, The Schlabach/Zimmerman clan had us over for breakfast. Bryce made it for us. It was a hash brown patty with a sausage patty on top, then a egg on that, and a slice of cheese to top it off- YUM YUM!!!! When breakfast was over, Eddie, Bryce and I headed out to the Archery range to do some shooting. It had been awhile since Eddie and I had done any shooting. I wasn't sure how I would do, but we did some stretching first to limber us up. We did okay. As always, Eddie was a better shot. Bryce tried out my bow, but prefers a lighter weight. I did fair. Not bad for being so rusty. I ended up losing six out of twelve arrows. It sure is easier to find one's arrows when they are in the target and not the grass!!!!

Bryce taking aim

Looking for arrows

On the target, yes those are MY arrows

Eddie and I hit the target. Eddie "killed" the bee in the middle

 We were at the archery range for a couple of hours taking turns shooting. Bri is the archery coach here at Rocky Fork Ranch. Her and her side kicks are real nice young people. It made it all the more fun. When we got back to Freeda, The Schlabach/Zimmerman's were packing up. Before they left, they came over to say good bye. With them was another couple, Cindy and Myron Raber, who happen to be Amish. Rhonda knew about my fascination with the Amish and wanted us all to meet. Cindy and Myron are two of the nicest people you could meet. Four of their five kids also ended up at our site. We chatted for a bit, but they all had to get going. We were sad to see them go, but promised to stay in touch. 

Myron Raber and his kids, Rhonda Schlabach & Eddie

Titus, Britney & Bryce Schlabach with Theresa Zimmerman

Abe Schlabach & Theresa Zimmerman

The Schlabach's. Our Ohio "Family"

The campground got REALLY quiet. Not just because our new friends left, but also because a lot of campers pulled out. We once again watched the parade of people go by. Eddie and I ended our day at the pool and hot tub. It was such a fun weekend, and one we will never forget!!!!!

Orr's drive in. Yummy food

Monday July the 7th was another nice day, at first. We decided to drive to Cambridge, Ohio to get some supplies, gas and medicine. We started out with the top down, but had to put it up. It got a bit muggy, but not to bad. Before shopping, we got a bite to eat at a local drive in called Orr's. It was really good. We both had burgers, Eddie had onion rings and I had the fried mushrooms. Then soft serve dip cones for desert.

Orr's drive in, Cambridge Ohio

After filling our bellies, we were Walmart bound. We got our shopping done, and when we went outside, we noticed it had rained and rained good!!!! We headed home. As we were nearing the campground, we saw an Amish buggy being driven by a young Amish woman. We didn't get a chance to get a picture of it, but it was totally cool. Before going to Freeda, we stopped by the captains club and paid for another week. We have loved our time here so much, we decided to stay an extra week. I messaged Rhonda, and they will be back next weekend. So we will get to see them all again!!!! Just as we finished getting into Freeda, it started to rain, thunder and lighting. Good thing we beat the storm!!!!
July 8th was a "mini" travel day. We had to move from spot E10 to E9. That was okay because we needed to dump our tanks anyway. Even though it was a super small move, we still had to do the "batting down" and such. Two of the park workers moved the tow dolly for us, so that helped. Eddie took Freeda just up the hill to dump and I moved the mat and picnic table stuff to the new site. We were all moved, set up and settled by noon. We spent the afternoon outside enjoying the day. When it started to cloud up and rain, we came in, made popcorn, watched a movie and settled in for the night.
This brings us to the end of our first week at Rocky Fork Ranch. If the second week here is going to be anything like the first, it will be wonderful and full of new friends and adventures. It is also a good place to stop and post. Ohio has been what we both had looked forward to as full time RVers. This life style is just WONDERFUL!!!! Thank you to all who have supported and encouraged us. With out you, this wouldn't have been possible. Keep safe and happy. 
Until next time, Eddie, Darlanne & Suzy (and of course Freeda!!!)