We took a drive by the Mason County 4H camp, the home of Wahama HS Band Camp while Kent was in school.   Three nicely maintained sheet metal buildings and the old bunkhouse barn all nestled in a narrow valley of neatly mowed fields.  Nothing is lined off this time of year but otherwise it is much as he remembers it.   It is a bit rustic I’d say and certainly would have kept them focused on the task at hand.  There is nothing else around but a little country store that is about a mile out the only road through the valley.

A bit different accommodation wise than Gettysburg College where James Buchanan HS had band camp back in my day but our stories of hard work and pride are not much different.  Good times had by all (most of the time…initiation night was a bit shaky!).

Actually Leo is a place, it’s a small town in rural Ohio.  It is also the name given one of the petroglyph creatures at the neighboring historical site. 

It always amazes me when we manage to find and preserve these works by early man.  This one exposed rock in the middle of farmland has 30 some identified carvings made by ancient Indians over 1000 years ago.  It is a bit of a mystery as to what many of them actually depict but its pretty cool that they still survive.

The oldest graduate present at the Alumni Dinner belonged to the class of 1937 (76 years ago).  All the respective classes represented were also recognized.  The tour of the school prior to the dinner brought back a lot of memories.  It was the first meeting for many members of the class of 1973 in 40 years.  It was good to see them and visit for a few hours.

The day after the alumni dinner we met for a class reunion.  It was great to reminisce and get reacquainted with classmates/friends I had not seen for 40 years.  More were able to make it to the reunion than were at the alumni dinner.  “White Falcons” returned from CT, FL, OH, MD, MI, PA, VA, and WI for some time together.  We shared a somber moment for the 5 (of 92) classmates who have passed away.

While in the area I reconnected with aunts, uncles and cousins, some of which I hadn’t seen in 20+ years.  I even tagged along to barbershop quartet practice and had a great time.  Another highlight was a haircut by the first barber I can remember.  He as been providing haircuts and community news for 65 years.

What a great time!

Soaring vertical cliffs jut skyward in stark contrast to the lush green mountainsides.  Trails through the steep walled canyons lead through thick forest to all sorts of sandstone formations born of thousands of years of wind and water against the stone.  Ancient rivers carried the then towering Appalachians
grain by grain and boulder by boulder and deposited those tiny bits to eventually become this wonderfully carvable sandstone.   It is a reminder again that there is some pretty fantastic geology on the East half of the country.  It is just a little harder to appreciate than out west since here at Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge, KY it is hidden under the blanket of forest cover.

Icky, sticky.  It is only May but it is summertime hot and humid here today.  The heat ran us back to camp by 2PM.  We plan an early start tomorrow to check out a few trails then seek out some air conditioned activity for the heat of the day.  One option, the famous Ruth Hunt candy shop…..they make the special chocolate creams for the Derby.