Great Falls National Park, Great Falls, VA - June 19, 2009
WE BROKE CAMP AT BULL RUN AND TRAVELED NORTH AND VISITED SOME FRIENDS IN VIRGINIA. THEIR FARM WAS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM THE MARYLAND LINE.
PARKS ABOUND IN THIS AREA OFFER AN ABUNDANCE OF EQUESTRIAN TRAILS. GREAT FALLS PARK WAS IN THE SHADOWS OF WASHINGTON, DC. A GREAT PLACE TO HIKE WITH FRIENDS, HAVE A PICNIC AND OF COURSE HORSEBACK RIDING.
WE LOADED UP OUR HORSES ONE SUNNY MORNING AND DROVE TO GREAT FALLS. HERE THE POTOMAC RIVER RUSHED OVER HUGE ROCKS THROUGH A NARROW GORGE ON ITS WAY TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. THE RIVER WAS FULL FROM RECENT RAINS. THE TRAIL FOLLOWED THE RIVER PART OF THE WAY WITH INFORMATION EXHIBITS SPACED ALONG THE PATH GIVING YOU A LOOK INTO THE PAST HISTORY OF THIS RIVER. MAPS WERE AVAILABLE AND WERE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MAKING IT EASIER TO FOLLOW THE TRAILS. ABOUT 10 MILES OF EASY RIDING TRAILS MEANDERED THROUGH A FOREST OF HARDWOOD TREES. SOME OF THE TRAILS WERE WIDE AND GREAT FOR HORSE DRAWN BUGGIES.
MOST OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA PARKS WERE ROLLING HILLS GIVING VARIETY TO THE TRAILS. WE CROSSED SEVERAL STREAMS OFFERING OUR HORSES A DRINK OF COOL WATER. SEVERAL SPOTS ON THE TRAIL HAD PICNIC TABLES AND ONE SPOT EVEN HAD A CORRAL TO TIE OUR HORSES WHILE WE WET OUR WHISTLES. BIRDS WERE BUSY SINGING THEIR SONGS AS THEY BUILT NEST AND RAISED THEIR YOUNG. SPRINGTIME IS A BUSY TIME FOR NATURE AS IT REPLENISHES ITSELF. YOUNG RABBITS, SQUIRRELS, CHIPMUNKS AND OTHER ANIMALS AND BIRDS SHARED THIS BEAUTIFUL FOREST WITH US.
AFTER A FEW HOURS OF RIDING WE RETURNED TO THE TRAILERS WITH WIDE SMILES ON OUR FACES.
WE WILL SOON HAVE ANOTHER ADVENTURE TO SHARE WITH YOU. UNTIL THEN HOPE YOU HAVE MANY “SAFE AND HAPPY TRAILS.”
BOBBIE AND LARRY
