You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.
The Cat Tower is a big hit, but . . .
. . . how they negotiate it safely is beyond guessing.
They sometimes sleep like that.
The car's only three months old!!
[Happily, it was only a dent. But still cost $2000!
(Happily, insurance covered most of that.)]
The Sherando Lake 'Cliff Trail'
Fine spring days are finally becoming reliable now, and we hasten out into La Nature. 24 April 2025.
Sherando is officially open now, from 1 April, but hardly overcrowded.
We hate it when they keep warning us about 'bears and venomous snakes', but it's doubtless a good idea.
The so-called Cliff Trail commences here.
About twenty minutes of gentle uphill
That's a 'false summit' but we're getting close anyway to . . .
. . . the high-point lookout onto the lake.
Now down the zig-zag path cleverly threaded through the boulders and rock bands, altogether safely.
We did meet a snake just here, some years ago, but it was entirely benign.
Still another zig . . .
. . . and now the last zag, and then the last . . .
. . . zig.
We're yearning for our lunches now and scurrying along the shorter lakeside path to return; the path on the other side of the lake is higher and longer, and we fear collapsing from starvation.
The charming little island
We battle the beach crowds to get to our favorite . . .
. . . lunch bench.
All Civilian Conservation Corps buildings look the same, and . . .
. . . they're all wonderful.
There's only one window in this flat that can be opened, and when the weather warms up it's tempting to open it, but that just taunts the poor cats.
One does have to trust that Choupette is sufficiently mindful not to try battling her way through the screen.
-- Lookee there, some idiot's left his car out there in the two-hour parking slot overnight.
-- Ah! That's our car. Where are the carkeys?
Melvin is content to sit quietly and monitor all of the family's adventures.
The Montgomery Hall Scout Trail and Fern Gulley
Having scouted out the Scout Trail last week, we're looking forward to introducing Kristin to its subtle joys. 27 April 2025.
Still at the level of the Amtrak line nearby on the right, but . . .
. . . soon rising above all of that.
Arriving at the bottom of the Fern Gulley in good time, and . . .
. . . turning uphill.
The eponymous ferns finally gracing the scenery
Once up to the Expressway, we're turning back towards the convolutions of the pathway and benefitting from a brief lesson on the names of the plants we're encountering along the way.
Whereas the lower Scout path, alongside the rail line, is more or less straight, the Expressway winds all over the shopfloor and takes three times as long to get back to the baseball field and carpark.
Lots of fun U-turns
Are we having fun yet? Yes!
Crossing the potentially lethal Disc Golf course, just near the . . .
. . . end of our trail and finally marching up past . . .
. . . the baseball field (of which there are several in other parts of Montgomery Hall Park. Along with a swimming pool as well).
The Toyota Crown Signia (whatever all that means) has waited for us.
Back to Fern Gulley, can't stay away
It's occurred to us overnight that, if we were to carry on up the unofficial length of the gulley to a higher part of the Expressway, then follow that back round again, we might be able to add an enjoyable further length of trail to this mix-and-match route of ours. 28 April 2025.
First, we hasten alongside the rail line towards the bottom of Fern Gulley, and . . .
. . . up some of the little hilly parts, and then . . .
. . . up the official Gulley and . . .
. . . its ferns.
To the top of the official Gulley. The gulley itself continues, without authorization, farther up the hill to top out at the Expressway looping round in the other direction.
But this part definitely needs some work. Broken glass, some old metal junk, negotiable but less fun.
We came up this way (and once down it) a few times over the next week and on one occasion, after some overnight rain, it was quite muddy here and not easily negotiated.
We made it though.
Now we have but to follow the Expressway back round and see how much we can add to our repertoire of invented routes here.
It's all suitably attractive here, and promising.
And now we've arrived back down to the top of the official part of Fern Gulley.
Unfortunately, we've only added six minutes to our route.
But we carry on anyway, disappointed.
And then . . .
. . . take a shortcut up to the parking lot.
Next up: Who knows? We should be leaving soon for the Wisconsin lake.
Dwight Peck's personal website
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All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 8 May 2025.
