Tonight I Climbed The Rastin Observation Tower at Ariel Foundation Park
I had a small break between real estate appointments this evening and decided to swing over to the Ariel Foundation Park and give Rastin Observation Tower a try. I can assure you that if you think it looks like a tall climb from the ground, it looks 10 times higher once you make it to the top of the tower and look down at the ground. Heights really don't both me that much but walking up the stairs and looking straight down through the grid shaped steps is a very unique sensation and the higher you go the more intense the sensation gets. It is kinda like looking down through a very cool winding cheese grater.
I would love to tell you that I made it to the top without breaking a sweat but the truth is that I stopped several times to catch my breath on the landing platforms. On my journey to the top I passed a gentleman who was taking a break, we said hi and I continued on my way. Once I made it to the top it wasn't 2 minutes later and that same man joined me at the top. We officially introduced ourselves and he asked me how my grandmother was doing. I told him she was doing spectacular. He then proceeded to tell me that she SOLD him his home more than 40 years ago and he is still living in that same house. The next words out of his mouth really impressed me. "I am going to make it to the top of this tower without stopping for a break one of these days" he said. I told him I stopped and took a break at 3 different spots and he said "4 for me but that's not bad for a 71 year old". I was speechless and truly impressed with his excitement, energy and his goal of not stopping really inspired me!!!
Ariel Foundation Park is filled with incredible beauty and many wonderful things to do. The park features gorgeous lakes, trails plus the Kokosing Gap Trail bike path winds through the park. In a few of the upcoming "365 Things To Do in Knox County Ohio" topics I will highlight some of the other key attractions that Ariel Foundation Park has to offer and I will be sure to include lots of photos.
View the Rastin Observation Tower from this unique drone footage in the video below!
