Delicious Breakfast; Lovely Hike

Sunday September 16, 2012
Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania

 

This is the last of the blogs written out of order about what else I was doing while David was in the hospital 10 days ago.

 

On Sunday I call David in the morning to see when he expects to be released. 

He’s had to spend a totally unnecessary night in the hospital and is feeling well enough now to be quite irritated that today the hospitalist conveniently does not come early in the morning.

He tells me not to come in to get him until she does.  He will call me. So after taking the “after” picture of the park sites to compare with the “before”

Friday Morning-“before”

Sunday morning - “after”

 

I take myself out to breakfast at the ‘Chow Down’

 

It’s the only breakfast spot close to the park and obviously used to have a different name.  David would love this.  Really down home.

 

 

 

They do breakfast all day and every way you could possibly want it.
Excellent eats for about $6.00.  Who could ask for more??

 

Wish I’d brought my kayak with me.

 

I return to the park and go down by the lake.  There are several folks on the water.  This looks like a great day for it.

 

 

 

 

 

It will be good to be out in the woods again after these past stressful days.

At this point, I surmise it will be in the afternoon before they release him so I take my cell phone and set out to do a section of the trail that goes along the lake.  It is one of more than 18 miles of marked trails available in the park.

 

The hike through the woods is right on the lakeside and there are many little cut overs all along the way.

 

 

Stone benches are placed at various intervals along the trail.  I think these would be good for David to rest and then I realize that the threat of ticks will keep him out of the woods for I don’t know how long.

 

 

After while the trail comes into the day use area where there are

 

 

more lovely lake views,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a pond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a small waterfall

 

 

 

 

 

 

and many educational signs.

I guess I knew this about snakes at one time but had forgotten.  Good thing to know if you see one although wouldn’t you have to be awfully close to notice this??

 

 

There was an informative kiosk about monarch butterflies.  They are just amazing to me.  Most of them live only 6 to 8 weeks but those born in late summer are different.  Once they become adult butterflies they don’t lay eggs, instead they migrate to their wintering grounds in Mexico, hibernate and then return the thousands of miles.  These monarchs live 6 to 8 months.   I would love to see their wintering grounds but I fear too many people are going there now and disturbing them.  I wouldn’t want to add to their stress.

 

Would you recognize the larva so you don’t kill it thinking it might be some dangerous villain? 

 

I thought this was pretty clever.

 

I’d better turn back so I’m not too far from the car when David calls. 

 

I’d love to hike this trail all the way around this large lake but that’s for another time and another day when I have from sun up until sundown.

 

 

 

 

On my way back I stop at this bench at the end of a short spur off the main trail.

 

 

 

 

I sit for a while and watch the boats on the water.  It’s a lovely quiet spot.

This is my kind of lake where there are no jet skis or boats zooming around making lots of noise.  Just a couple of sailboats and a little houseboat.

 

 

 

I’m actually contemplating the beauty in the tree roots when David finally calls about 3:00 in the afternoon.  Harrisburg seems to be milking this for all they can get. 

 

But banish those irritated thoughts as I finish my walk in this lovely place.  I can bring him home and that’s what matters.

 

 

When I get to the hospital he is very happy to be getting out of there.

We go out for pizza to celebrate.   That’s all part of this previous post if you haven’t read it.

 

This blog is definitely a blast from the near past but I want to make sure I have a record of Gifford Pinchot for those who might want to come here when in Pennsylvania and even have breakfast at the Chow Down.  I know I’ll need it when I’m again in Pennsylvania.  Maybe we can have breakfast together.

Next post I’ll be back to what’s happening back here in Virginia now.