We moved to Adams County, Ohio in 2006. We lived on a 4 mile road up on a ridge among an Amish community where everyone knew their neighbors. It was a dream come true for me. I planned to live out my days there and hoped to eventually buy a house and retire right there. I could not have been any happier nor could I have imagined how things would eventually take a turn.
In 2007 I somehow discovered scooter riding. It was not long after that that I began blogging in 2009. I also began writing and taking photos. When I wasn't doing that or working or looking for work I was mowing and doing outdoor projects on the 2 farm properties or visiting my neighbors or hiking with my dogs or cooking in the big farm kitchen.
We came out to the country with our 2 Bichons and while on the farm we also rescued 3 Bichons, 1 Shit Zu, and 1 Tree Walker Coonhound. Out there we also suffered the loss of our first dog to coyotes, in spite of all our precautions.
In 2009 we began to struggle financially due to constant lay-offs and lack of jobs as the Great Recession hit our state. We fell into a lifestyle of dire simplicity tinging on utter poverty from 2009 onward and in 2012 were finally able to reluctantly move back in toward an area where there were more jobs available.
My life was changed forever from living out there and going through the things that I did. I will never forget that time of my life and the lessons learned and the people and places that I encountered. My life's dream is to return there some day in my own cabin or house. I consider Adams County to be my "home" in the most passionate sense.
I continue to write about my scooter-focused lifestyle on "Ruckus Scooter Love", but this blog is here to catalog all the photos from the Adams County years and hopefully some from not just now in Clermont County, but also into the future as we move back out into the country again at some point.
I will continue to add to the gallery from the past as well as post photos in the future.
All photos are the sole property of Deb Benz and are not be to duplicated without my express permission.
She's ready to ride the back roads...
The old farm house, Adams County Ohio...
On the trail to the twin lakes, Adams County Ohio...
Passing by the old barn on the farm property, Adams County Ohio...
October Festival, 2010, Adams County Ohio...
My second Ruckus outfitted to explore...
Cortech tail bag held a lot...
Peace, love, Bichons...
Scootin' in "sisterhood" with the Divas!
Cell phone, digital camera all within reach...
A peaceful view of a stream outside of West Union, Adams County Ohio...
Wanted more power, so sold the red Ruck and bought a 2010 Honda Elite 110...
Maxi liked it...she had lots of room...
It could carry a lot of stuff...I liked that part a lot! It went up to 53 mph and I just felt like a slug lumbering along after the peppy 49cc Rucki. I had buyer's remorse and so one day I started thinking thoughts about reverting back to a small scooter. I looked for another Ruckus, but could not find a decent used one anywhere.
I found this leftover 2009 Met at a local Honda dealership and snatched it up in place of my beloved Ruckus. At first I cursed it for what it was NOT (a Ruckus). Then I slowly fell in love with it for what it WAS: a Ruckus with a lockable seat, gas gauge, and wind protection.
I put the basket on it...
A hi viz motorcycle flag and bicycle reflective triangle...
And proceeded on to the honeymoon, riding the back roads in the summer of 2012...
One day in mid August a car came up our drive way to the farm house that we had rented for almost 7 years...
Within a few moments, all we loved in our life was taken from us as we were told we would have to move out of the house and off of the property. On the last day before we vacated the premises, I took these photos. My favorite one is the view off of our back porch down to the old house and the woods...
I spent many happy hours tinkering with my scooters and hanging out with my dogs in this garage.
The house was small but the land and woods around it made up for that. We came to love it out there but we also fell into a less than ideal financial life due to the Great Recession.
Leaving there was the hardest thing I have ever done. I know how Scarlett felt when she lost Tara. I really do. I will always carry that place and those years in my heart as some of the most fiercely lived and most passionately enjoyed.
