MAGICAL (JEW)EL-VILLE

15TH HIKE: GUNPOWDER FALLS AKA "COVERED BRIDGES"

Facts

Location: Kingsville, MD

Park: Gunpowder Falls State Park

Trail: Gunpowder South Trail (?) 

Attraction: Jerusalem Mill (with re-enactments of old Jewish Quaker settlements)

Date: 8/21/11


Adventure

I took off in the Adventure-Mobile with Rebecca and Mauricio for a day of hiking in Maryland. I was excited to be hiking in a different state. When we got to gunpowder state park the mill and shops were closed until 11 or noon. At first I could not locate the trail start and went through different versions of the map trying to discern where the hike should begin. Finally I found a man in the field behind the Jerusalem Mill. My first concern was that the gentleman wouldn't break character to help guide me towards the trails, but he was kind and obliged my request (most likely because the park was not officially open yet for tourists.) Rebecca, Mauricio, and I began our jaunt down by the river...I shot my baby (sorry couldn't resist the Neil Young reference.)

Standing on the Covered Bridge

The main feature of the trail was a really cool covered bridge that we spent some time analyzing and photographing! On our walk through the woods we saw a variety of cool stones, mushrooms, bugs, and toads? The most phenomenal aspect of the hiking experience was by far the conversations that occurred. I am not sure how many miles we walked in the woods as we were on a time limit due to evening plans and rain was a factor. We constantly stopped to take photos and examine the environment around us. The experience of being out in nature and catching up with good friends was glorious, but I must be honest the hike itself was fairly simply and not too spectacular when compared to other adventures in this blog. Hiking with friends is always worth the trip and we beat out the rain on the return voyage so that was also a bonus. What was really interesting about our topic of conversation was that we spoke of  the future, energy, tarot cards, etc. There was a great deal of positive energy surrounding us on this trip to Maryland and it felt like there was magic in the air.

Orange Mushrooms

Once we completed our walk through the woods we went over to one of the actors to discuss the tools she was shaping, such as cups and combs from animal horns. Rebecca, Mauricio, and I sat around a picnic table to indulge is some treats for lunch. Rebecca had packed some chicken and I recall their being chips, granola bars, and I wanna say fruit. Just as we finished our lunch the rain arrived so we hopped in the car and headed back home for ice cream! If you've yet, to notice ice cream and food in general seem to be the themes to my tales.

Good Times!

SURPRISING LOVED ONES

14TH HIKE: MOUNT TOM

Facts

Location: Holyoke, MA

Park: Mount Tom State Reservation 

Trail:  Beau Bridges & M-M (part of it)

Elevation: 822+ ft

Date: 8/17/11

Adventure

I scooped Jully up in Auburn and drove to western Mass without telling her where we were going. I offered a vague response to every question she asked because I had secretly devised a plan to pick up David and the two of us were going to surprise Jully. After a happy reunion for the three of us we hopped in the car to grab sandwiches and hit the trail. Now I have been to Mount Tom before, but I have never hiked on the main trails with a map. I have done my own exploration in the woods and up steep parts of the mountain, so in my eyes this format of hiking this location was novel. Jully, David, and I were so hungry that we inhaled our sandwiches before the trip even took place. Oddly enough we ended up eating the wrong sandwiches as each of us failed to even look at the contents of our wraps.

Goat Peak

We hiked up the Beau Bridges trail first. David was bounding through the trail and running up the hill. The whole hike the three of us were laughing, catching up, and making inappropriate jokes about what we would do on top of goat peak. The Massachusetts greenery is truly different from PA. While both are beautiful there is something about the New England scenery that consistently takes my breath away. David, who is not easy on sincere compliments paid me a rather vibrant one, suggesting that he couldn't picture sharing nature with any one other than me. My heart was beating fondly the whole way up the hill with my loved ones, my family! Jully and I hung back on the trail and let David pass ahead as the incline was tough to tackle at some parts.

UMASS

Once we got to the top of Goat Peak we sat and looked out on the Pioneer Valley. We stopped for photo ops before climbing the lookout tower. The tower was old and rickety. The stairs were steep and the tower was high, it was quite a feat to tackle, but Jully, David, and I turned out victorious in the end. After taking in the view for a little while longer we headed back down to the car via the M-M trail, which is the largest and most beautifully, scenic trail at  Mount Tom. After coming out of the woods we were stopped by a woman and her three children seeking directions back to a specific trail on the mountain. I provided the woman with directions using my map and once through explaining I suggested she take the it so that they wouldn't get lost. We parted ways with David then Jully and I scurried home, mildly late for an enjoyable family dinner at gram's! The hike was incredible! I couldn't ask for a better day!

Top of the Tower