Thursday, September 12, 2013

Back on the Trail

With the New York apartment cleared out, things are finally returning to some sort of normal and we've been able to get out and about to some of our favorite places. 

My dad is moving in to a retirement home near me and my sister, and we've had the chance to even get him out on the trail with us a couple of times. The first place we took him was Great Falls, which is stunning no matter how many times you've seen it. 

My dad has always loved impressive views, and Great Falls is certainly that. 





We took a pretty long walk and my dad did great, and loved it. 

Another time, we decided to take my dad to Sugarloaf Mountain which afforded stunning views 













as well as a cool big bird--is it a turkey vulture?











Weekends and evenings have mostly been spent with my sister and dad, but one day recently Florian and I made a point to get out with Fozzie and Lamar for one of our epic hikes.














We haven't been to Gunpowder Falls state park for a while, so we decided to go to a part of it we've never been to before.

A gorgeous trail shaded by a sun-dappled forest canopy, flanked by verdant ferns in the understory on either side.

The trail went steeply down the side of a canyon, then arrived at a wide stream and traveled along its bank. 


It was a hot and humid day, so what a relief to see the cool water and watch the dogs jump in. 


The water was crystal clear and deep in some places, with a magical mist rising up off it that suggested warm water or even a hot spring. 

Florian and I were ready to jump right on in and join those dogs, but as we waded in and our ankles turned to blocks of ice we quickly changed our minds.












How did it get so cold? It had been hot for a while, and it had been warm at night, and its not like the stream could have been glacier-fed. 

One of those mysteries! The dogs didn't seem to mind, and that's the important thing. 














Then we walked downstream a bit and across a cool bridge then found a historic mill, which was now a private residence.












I love those historic Maryland places, love the stone architecture that reminds me of something you'd see in Switzerland.

Adding to the feeling of mystery was another small creek, a tributary to the main one, that was much warmer. 

The dogs made no distinction between the cold water and warm, but seemed to love them both. 













That's the spirit guys! You go in so I don't have to. 

8 comments:

  1. Glad that the family is coming together again. Hi Kirsten, hope that you're doing fine too. Woofs to you girl. It's still sunny and warm up here in the PNW. Come on by sometime soon.

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  2. absolutely gorgeous country!! Would love to live near someplace like that. Barks and licks and love, Dakota
    www.dakotasden.net

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  3. Beautiful. Bet dad enjoyed the day too. We could sit and sit and watch those falls
    Benny & Lily

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  4. Thank you so much for writing this. You are doing a great and good service for all who read this . Be proud of the love for him that you express.
    Dad dogs

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  5. What a beautiful place to visit and surely such a great memory.

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  6. wonderful your dad was able to be out and about with you. I miss my dad so much. interesting how the dogs just love the water no matter what the temperature. we have a state park nearby to which I've never been - not hiking, anyway. seems I need to get me and Justus there asap. lovely photos.

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  7. Wow, the Great Falls are impressive! You have beautiful places to hike, I know Frankie and Beryl would have a blast if I had access to somewhere like that to take them. So wonderful that your Dad is going on hikes with you. It will do him a world of good, and you too I bet.

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