Deep Creek Lake
Monday
We left on Monday morning at about 10:30 to meet Mom, Dad, and sis-in-law Erin right off of I-70 at Route 27 in Mount Airy. The Goldens were funny; as soon as we got out their leashes and seat belts, they knew they were going somewhere and got wild. Of course, they probably thought we were going for an Italian ice, which they probably would have liked more. But such is life.
We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in Hagerstown and stopped again at Sideling Hill to let the Goldens pee and because ... well, just because Sideling Hill is cool! By this point, we were more than halfway there. It is about three hours from our house in northern Carroll County to Deep Creek Lake, which is right smack in the middle of Garrett County, the westernmost county in Maryland.
We arrived at the cabin around 4 PM. After unpacking, we walked down to the lake. It was about a quarter-mile walk from the cabin through the woods.
The cabin:
The cabin came with a canoe, which made Bobby and me very happy. We went back to the cabin, put on our scuba boots (since the edge of the lake where we were was more or less swamp and smelled like poop), and took the canoe out for a quick spin. We had Brenda's Pizza for supper and stopped for homemade ice cream ("homemade ice keem," as my mom calls it) on the way back. After returning home to the cabin, the rest of the family played Uno while I laid on the couch and read.
Tuesday
Today, we went to Swallow Falls State Park, which is one of the most beautiful places in Maryland, in my opinion. This was Bobby's and my fourth time there since, every time we take someone new to the lake (and Mom and Dad had never been to the lake before), we have to take them to Swallow Falls.
Here I am, right at home in an ol' rotted-out stump:
The trail starts through a hemlock and white pine forest; you can hear the roar of the Youghiogheny River but can't see the water until you climb down and double back along the river. The trail passes between the river to your right and towering rock formations to your left. Laurels grow in abundance, and hemlocks clutch at the rocks with their roots.
Because most of the plant life is evergreen, going to Swallow Falls in the winter is disorientingly similar to going in the summer, except the laurels are in bloom in the summer. The trail--even the river--seem almost planned for dramatic effect. You begin with the rather humble Tolliver Falls, as soon as the trail bends down to the river.
Tolliver Falls:
Behold!
Behold behold!
You never know what you will find hiding under a rock in the woods.
The trail comes next to the Swallow Falls for which the park is named, although these are not the most spectacular.
Erin!
A bear! In a cave!
One of the great things about Swallow Falls State Park is that it really is accessible to hikers of all ability levels. Bobby and I were the only ones in our group with any hiking experience, yet everyone enjoyed themselves. We enjoyed climbing on the rocks and scrambling down into some of the more inaccessible places. My mom, who is terrified of heights to the point that she can't climb beyond the second step on a ladder, really cowboyed up too--she was right there with us! I had to snap photos so that she could prove to her friends back home that she did it. Here she is at the top of Swallow Falls, resting on the rocks and looking cool as can be. For an idea of how high up we were, just look at the swimmers in the background!
Dad, not exactly cowboying up, but ... well, just Dad.
At the end, saving the best for last, is the Muddy Creek Falls, the tallest waterfall in Maryland, falling 63 feet to join the Youghiogheny River a bit further downstream.
To put it into perspective with wee Bobby off to the left:
Family from above:
On top of the falls:
After we climbed the stairs back to where we started, we stopped again for homemade ice keem because the Lakeside Creamery--Deep Creek's source for homemade ice keem--had a trailer at the park. Less than 24 hours, two servings of homemade ice keem. We were going for the record.
A fritillary butterfly on the taillight of the ice cream trailer. We have fritillaries at home, but they're not nearly as common as they were in the mountains.
Mom enjoying the heck out of her homemade ice keem cone.
Everyone was hungry after our walk and Dad wanted a quesadilla, so we went to Santa Fe Grille for lunch, then back to the cabin for some chill-out time before going out again to eat dinner at Pine Lodge Steakhouse. Then we had homemade ice keem again, for the third time.
Wednesday
Wednesday, Bobby made reservations for us to go trail riding. Dad wasn't interested, so he stayed home with the Goldens.
Mom rode all the time when she was young, and Bobby and I are usually among the most experienced riders when we go trail riding (which doesn't mean that we're actually experienced). Erin, on the other hand, had been riding once before: the last time we came to Deep Creek Lake during the summer, almost ten years ago. Her friend's horse stopped in front of her, and Erin tried to guide her horse around her friend's, and her horse ended up running off with her. I have a strong memory of riding along behind Bobby (because we were the two most experienced riders on that ride *sigh* we'd been given horses that hated each other and weren't allowed to see each other's faces) when I hear the sound of a horse cantering up behind us, turning around, and seeing poor Erin, elbows bouncing and eyes like two saucers, coming up behind us. Despite this traumatic experience, she wanted to go riding again.
We were the only riders this time, and the stablehands led the horses out one by one. When a black-and-white pinto pony came out, he was offered to Erin or me. Erin took him, a fateful choice.
Mom and Chico:
Erin and Patchy:
I ended up with a lovely bay mare, aptly named Regina. Regina and I got on wonderfully. You never know what you'll end up with for a trail horse, but Regina actually responded to commands from me rather than just plodding along with her nose in Bobby's horse's tail, like some trail horses do.
Me and the lovely Regina!
Bobby--yeehaw!
The riding order was the guide, Mom, Erin, Bobby, me. We meandered through a meadow with something that set me sneezing terribly. We came to a bend in the road and something happened to spook the horses, and Regina almost took off, and I was grateful that I'd taken her and let Erin have Patchy, the pinto pony, because Erin would have likely ended up halfway across the meadow. But I was grateful too soon.
We rode on and came to another bend in the trail. And Patchy just stopped. The guide started in that self-superior way of experienced riders to "give him a kick and show him who's boss!" that is easier said than done when you're only riding for the second time and on a stubborn horse way too small for you. Poor Erin's feet didn't even touch Patchy's sides, and whenever she picked them up to give him a nudge, she lost a stirrup. Patchy started grazing. Finally, the guide came back and got him going again, and we headed off into another meadow for some more sneezing.
I kept hearing this hoarse wheezing sound. Mom though it was me and that I was having an allergic reaction there at the back of the line, and Erin thought it was Bobby's horse, but it turns out it was Patchy, coughing and wheezing. Now the guide tells us that Patchy is a pony-ride horse, is old as sin, and isn't supposed to come out on trail rides. :^|
Of course, we're halfway out by now, so Erin tries to make the best of it. The guide leads Patchy for a while to keep him going.
Erin getting a tow:
Then we come to a steep downhill part of the trail, and Erin thinks poor Patchy is about to collapse beneath her. Finally, the guide offers Erin her horse and takes Patchy, and Erin does great after that.
All in all, we had a good time and a fun ride. But poor Patchy ... we all felt bad for Patchy. (And Erin too, by default.)
Back at the cabin, we have a much-needed lunch and then head out to Deep Creek Lake State Park. The park has a little beach, so Erin and Dad sit on that. Mom, Bobby, and I head up to take a short hike on a new nature trail, then join them on the beach.
Dinner that night is epic. When we were up here for summer the last time, almost ten years ago, we came with Bobby's parents, and we went to dinner on Wednesday night at the Four Seasons for Pasta Mania. Chefs will make any pasta you want, and you can have as much as you want. Ever since then, when we go to the lake for the winter, I always want to go back, but we're never there on a Wednesday. I have been waiting almost ten flippin' years for Pasta Mania again!
I was not disappointed. They had a divine pink tequila sauce that I had over penne with peppers, onions, summer squash, and fresh garlic. OMG. They also let me have French onion soup--my favorite--for the soup or salad that came with the meal. OMFG. For the second round, I had a pesto cream sauce with peas, onion, and mushrooms over penne. *dies of bliss*
That night, Bobby, Mom, and I have a firepit out back, then look at the stars. I thought our stars here in Manchester were good; in Deep Creek? Amazing! The Milky Way is like a strip of gauze stretched across the sky. In the first few hours after sunset, you can see the satellites crossing the sky, catching the light of the sun just beneath the horizon.
We could hear the bullfrogs by the lake making this eery droning croak. Mom went in and Bobby and I laid out on a blanket. Coyotes started in the distance; it was a shiver-worthy sound. We have them home too but we've never heard them before.
Thursday
Today, we took an excursion to new territory: Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. It was about an hour's drive from Deep Creek Lake, crossing Backbone Mountain, which boasts the highest point in Maryland and Pennsylvania. More than 100 windmills were added to Backbone Mountain last year. Bobby's and my electricity is supplied by 100% windpower, and quite likely, a good bit of it comes from the windmills on Backbone Mountain.
Like Swallow Falls, it is on the Youghiogheny River. Like Muddy Creek Falls, it tumbles 60-some feet. The park was less fun because you were confined to a boardwalk rather than being permitted to scramble on the rocks and do other dangerous things, but the falls were breathtaking.
On the way back, we stopped for lunch in the cute little town of Thomas, WV.
Quite by accident, we found an amazing restaurant called the Purple Fiddle. It was very hippyish, so Bobby and I felt right at home. The food was delicious and featured many local items, including homemade ice keem from the Lakeside Creamery. (Fourth time.) Their line-up of musical acts was amazing; while washing my hands in the bathroom, I discovered that one of our favorite bands, Hoots and Hellmouth, will be playing there tomorrow! Bobby--who was also in the bathroom washing his hands--burst into the hallway same time as I did, and we both said nearly simultaneously, "Hoots is here in a few days!" It's a pity it couldn't have been a few days earlier!
You are given a stuffed animal to identify where your food should go. Here I am with our stuffed froggie:
Because Bobby and I know how to relax like two coiled springs, everyone else took a nap when we got home, but we went canoeing. Instead of going to the right and heading out to the main lake, we took a left to check out the swamp plants at the back. We are glad we did! We discovered a gorgeous meandering stream that went back through the reeds and grasses, so still and calm that it looked to be two skies.
That night, we had a cookout at home. Bobby and I made supper for everyone ... late because they all slept till 8 o'clock! Then they played Uno and I read. And fell asleep embarrassingly early! But I think I earned it.
Friday
Friday during the day, Bobby, Erin, and I went back to Deep Creek Lake State Park. We left Erin at the beach and took a rather strenuous hike up the mountain, then joined her at the beach to cool down.
That evening, we took a cruise out on the lake. We were the only passengers, which was kind of cool. Our captain, Wild Bill, told us lots of cool information about the lake. It was a fun end to the trip! Then we had supper at Santa Fe Grille and stopped for homemade ice keem (fifth time).
Family and Wild Bill:
Bobby and me:
Erin and Mom were struggling on the floating dock. If it looks like they're walking with sticks up their bums ... that's what they really looked like. They were struggling! Wild Bill took Erin and Dad took Mom. Bobby and I moseyed behind and giggled.
Saturday
Bobby and I took one last turn in the canoe, back to our stream at the end of the lake. Then it was time to pack up and go home. We stopped for popcorn and homemade ice keem on the way out. (Sixth time.) Heading back east, it was like someone turned up the heat as we drove. Gone was our cool, crisp mountain weather. We stopped at the same Cracker Barrel in Hagerstown for lunch, and I had to sit in the car with the Goldens while Bobby ate, then he switched with me so that I could eat because it was way too hot to leave them in the car alone.
We came home to find the bees busy in the overgrown clover in the backyard, a foot-long zucchini in the garden, and the sunflowers up past the garden fence.
This post was originally posted on Dreamwidth and, using my Felagundish Elf magic, crossposted to LiveJournal. You can comment here or there!
http://dawn-felagund.dreamwidth.org/272526.html
We left on Monday morning at about 10:30 to meet Mom, Dad, and sis-in-law Erin right off of I-70 at Route 27 in Mount Airy. The Goldens were funny; as soon as we got out their leashes and seat belts, they knew they were going somewhere and got wild. Of course, they probably thought we were going for an Italian ice, which they probably would have liked more. But such is life.
We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel in Hagerstown and stopped again at Sideling Hill to let the Goldens pee and because ... well, just because Sideling Hill is cool! By this point, we were more than halfway there. It is about three hours from our house in northern Carroll County to Deep Creek Lake, which is right smack in the middle of Garrett County, the westernmost county in Maryland.
We arrived at the cabin around 4 PM. After unpacking, we walked down to the lake. It was about a quarter-mile walk from the cabin through the woods.
The cabin:
The cabin came with a canoe, which made Bobby and me very happy. We went back to the cabin, put on our scuba boots (since the edge of the lake where we were was more or less swamp and smelled like poop), and took the canoe out for a quick spin. We had Brenda's Pizza for supper and stopped for homemade ice cream ("homemade ice keem," as my mom calls it) on the way back. After returning home to the cabin, the rest of the family played Uno while I laid on the couch and read.
Tuesday
Today, we went to Swallow Falls State Park, which is one of the most beautiful places in Maryland, in my opinion. This was Bobby's and my fourth time there since, every time we take someone new to the lake (and Mom and Dad had never been to the lake before), we have to take them to Swallow Falls.
Here I am, right at home in an ol' rotted-out stump:
The trail starts through a hemlock and white pine forest; you can hear the roar of the Youghiogheny River but can't see the water until you climb down and double back along the river. The trail passes between the river to your right and towering rock formations to your left. Laurels grow in abundance, and hemlocks clutch at the rocks with their roots.
Because most of the plant life is evergreen, going to Swallow Falls in the winter is disorientingly similar to going in the summer, except the laurels are in bloom in the summer. The trail--even the river--seem almost planned for dramatic effect. You begin with the rather humble Tolliver Falls, as soon as the trail bends down to the river.
Tolliver Falls:
Behold!
Behold behold!
You never know what you will find hiding under a rock in the woods.
The trail comes next to the Swallow Falls for which the park is named, although these are not the most spectacular.
Erin!
A bear! In a cave!
One of the great things about Swallow Falls State Park is that it really is accessible to hikers of all ability levels. Bobby and I were the only ones in our group with any hiking experience, yet everyone enjoyed themselves. We enjoyed climbing on the rocks and scrambling down into some of the more inaccessible places. My mom, who is terrified of heights to the point that she can't climb beyond the second step on a ladder, really cowboyed up too--she was right there with us! I had to snap photos so that she could prove to her friends back home that she did it. Here she is at the top of Swallow Falls, resting on the rocks and looking cool as can be. For an idea of how high up we were, just look at the swimmers in the background!
Dad, not exactly cowboying up, but ... well, just Dad.
At the end, saving the best for last, is the Muddy Creek Falls, the tallest waterfall in Maryland, falling 63 feet to join the Youghiogheny River a bit further downstream.
To put it into perspective with wee Bobby off to the left:
Family from above:
On top of the falls:
After we climbed the stairs back to where we started, we stopped again for homemade ice keem because the Lakeside Creamery--Deep Creek's source for homemade ice keem--had a trailer at the park. Less than 24 hours, two servings of homemade ice keem. We were going for the record.
A fritillary butterfly on the taillight of the ice cream trailer. We have fritillaries at home, but they're not nearly as common as they were in the mountains.
Mom enjoying the heck out of her homemade ice keem cone.
Everyone was hungry after our walk and Dad wanted a quesadilla, so we went to Santa Fe Grille for lunch, then back to the cabin for some chill-out time before going out again to eat dinner at Pine Lodge Steakhouse. Then we had homemade ice keem again, for the third time.
Wednesday
Wednesday, Bobby made reservations for us to go trail riding. Dad wasn't interested, so he stayed home with the Goldens.
Mom rode all the time when she was young, and Bobby and I are usually among the most experienced riders when we go trail riding (which doesn't mean that we're actually experienced). Erin, on the other hand, had been riding once before: the last time we came to Deep Creek Lake during the summer, almost ten years ago. Her friend's horse stopped in front of her, and Erin tried to guide her horse around her friend's, and her horse ended up running off with her. I have a strong memory of riding along behind Bobby (because we were the two most experienced riders on that ride *sigh* we'd been given horses that hated each other and weren't allowed to see each other's faces) when I hear the sound of a horse cantering up behind us, turning around, and seeing poor Erin, elbows bouncing and eyes like two saucers, coming up behind us. Despite this traumatic experience, she wanted to go riding again.
We were the only riders this time, and the stablehands led the horses out one by one. When a black-and-white pinto pony came out, he was offered to Erin or me. Erin took him, a fateful choice.
Mom and Chico:
Erin and Patchy:
I ended up with a lovely bay mare, aptly named Regina. Regina and I got on wonderfully. You never know what you'll end up with for a trail horse, but Regina actually responded to commands from me rather than just plodding along with her nose in Bobby's horse's tail, like some trail horses do.
Me and the lovely Regina!
Bobby--yeehaw!
The riding order was the guide, Mom, Erin, Bobby, me. We meandered through a meadow with something that set me sneezing terribly. We came to a bend in the road and something happened to spook the horses, and Regina almost took off, and I was grateful that I'd taken her and let Erin have Patchy, the pinto pony, because Erin would have likely ended up halfway across the meadow. But I was grateful too soon.
We rode on and came to another bend in the trail. And Patchy just stopped. The guide started in that self-superior way of experienced riders to "give him a kick and show him who's boss!" that is easier said than done when you're only riding for the second time and on a stubborn horse way too small for you. Poor Erin's feet didn't even touch Patchy's sides, and whenever she picked them up to give him a nudge, she lost a stirrup. Patchy started grazing. Finally, the guide came back and got him going again, and we headed off into another meadow for some more sneezing.
I kept hearing this hoarse wheezing sound. Mom though it was me and that I was having an allergic reaction there at the back of the line, and Erin thought it was Bobby's horse, but it turns out it was Patchy, coughing and wheezing. Now the guide tells us that Patchy is a pony-ride horse, is old as sin, and isn't supposed to come out on trail rides. :^|
Of course, we're halfway out by now, so Erin tries to make the best of it. The guide leads Patchy for a while to keep him going.
Erin getting a tow:
Then we come to a steep downhill part of the trail, and Erin thinks poor Patchy is about to collapse beneath her. Finally, the guide offers Erin her horse and takes Patchy, and Erin does great after that.
All in all, we had a good time and a fun ride. But poor Patchy ... we all felt bad for Patchy. (And Erin too, by default.)
Back at the cabin, we have a much-needed lunch and then head out to Deep Creek Lake State Park. The park has a little beach, so Erin and Dad sit on that. Mom, Bobby, and I head up to take a short hike on a new nature trail, then join them on the beach.
Dinner that night is epic. When we were up here for summer the last time, almost ten years ago, we came with Bobby's parents, and we went to dinner on Wednesday night at the Four Seasons for Pasta Mania. Chefs will make any pasta you want, and you can have as much as you want. Ever since then, when we go to the lake for the winter, I always want to go back, but we're never there on a Wednesday. I have been waiting almost ten flippin' years for Pasta Mania again!
I was not disappointed. They had a divine pink tequila sauce that I had over penne with peppers, onions, summer squash, and fresh garlic. OMG. They also let me have French onion soup--my favorite--for the soup or salad that came with the meal. OMFG. For the second round, I had a pesto cream sauce with peas, onion, and mushrooms over penne. *dies of bliss*
That night, Bobby, Mom, and I have a firepit out back, then look at the stars. I thought our stars here in Manchester were good; in Deep Creek? Amazing! The Milky Way is like a strip of gauze stretched across the sky. In the first few hours after sunset, you can see the satellites crossing the sky, catching the light of the sun just beneath the horizon.
We could hear the bullfrogs by the lake making this eery droning croak. Mom went in and Bobby and I laid out on a blanket. Coyotes started in the distance; it was a shiver-worthy sound. We have them home too but we've never heard them before.
Thursday
Today, we took an excursion to new territory: Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. It was about an hour's drive from Deep Creek Lake, crossing Backbone Mountain, which boasts the highest point in Maryland and Pennsylvania. More than 100 windmills were added to Backbone Mountain last year. Bobby's and my electricity is supplied by 100% windpower, and quite likely, a good bit of it comes from the windmills on Backbone Mountain.
Like Swallow Falls, it is on the Youghiogheny River. Like Muddy Creek Falls, it tumbles 60-some feet. The park was less fun because you were confined to a boardwalk rather than being permitted to scramble on the rocks and do other dangerous things, but the falls were breathtaking.
On the way back, we stopped for lunch in the cute little town of Thomas, WV.
Quite by accident, we found an amazing restaurant called the Purple Fiddle. It was very hippyish, so Bobby and I felt right at home. The food was delicious and featured many local items, including homemade ice keem from the Lakeside Creamery. (Fourth time.) Their line-up of musical acts was amazing; while washing my hands in the bathroom, I discovered that one of our favorite bands, Hoots and Hellmouth, will be playing there tomorrow! Bobby--who was also in the bathroom washing his hands--burst into the hallway same time as I did, and we both said nearly simultaneously, "Hoots is here in a few days!" It's a pity it couldn't have been a few days earlier!
You are given a stuffed animal to identify where your food should go. Here I am with our stuffed froggie:
Because Bobby and I know how to relax like two coiled springs, everyone else took a nap when we got home, but we went canoeing. Instead of going to the right and heading out to the main lake, we took a left to check out the swamp plants at the back. We are glad we did! We discovered a gorgeous meandering stream that went back through the reeds and grasses, so still and calm that it looked to be two skies.
That night, we had a cookout at home. Bobby and I made supper for everyone ... late because they all slept till 8 o'clock! Then they played Uno and I read. And fell asleep embarrassingly early! But I think I earned it.
Friday
Friday during the day, Bobby, Erin, and I went back to Deep Creek Lake State Park. We left Erin at the beach and took a rather strenuous hike up the mountain, then joined her at the beach to cool down.
That evening, we took a cruise out on the lake. We were the only passengers, which was kind of cool. Our captain, Wild Bill, told us lots of cool information about the lake. It was a fun end to the trip! Then we had supper at Santa Fe Grille and stopped for homemade ice keem (fifth time).
Family and Wild Bill:
Bobby and me:
Erin and Mom were struggling on the floating dock. If it looks like they're walking with sticks up their bums ... that's what they really looked like. They were struggling! Wild Bill took Erin and Dad took Mom. Bobby and I moseyed behind and giggled.
Saturday
Bobby and I took one last turn in the canoe, back to our stream at the end of the lake. Then it was time to pack up and go home. We stopped for popcorn and homemade ice keem on the way out. (Sixth time.) Heading back east, it was like someone turned up the heat as we drove. Gone was our cool, crisp mountain weather. We stopped at the same Cracker Barrel in Hagerstown for lunch, and I had to sit in the car with the Goldens while Bobby ate, then he switched with me so that I could eat because it was way too hot to leave them in the car alone.
We came home to find the bees busy in the overgrown clover in the backyard, a foot-long zucchini in the garden, and the sunflowers up past the garden fence.
This post was originally posted on Dreamwidth and, using my Felagundish Elf magic, crossposted to LiveJournal. You can comment here or there!
http://dawn-felagund.dreamwidth.org/272526.html