Little Bennett State Park, Clarksburg, MD - June 22, 2009
WHILE VISITING OUR FRIENDS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WE TOOK A DAY RIDE TO LITTLE BENNETT STATE PARK JUST OVER THE STATE LINE IN MARYLAND. IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES WE WERE PULLING INTO THE TRAILER PARKING LOT WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO PARK AND TURN YOUR TRAILER AROUND. THERE WAS NO HORSE CAMPING AVAILABLE.
WE UNLOADED OUR HORSES AND SADDLED UP READY TO RIDE. SOON WE WERE OUT ONTO WELL MARKED TRAILS THAT WERE DIVIDED INTO FOUR LOOPS. THIS GAVE YOU THE OPTION OF RIDING FOR ONE HOUR OR FOUR HOURS. THE TRAILS WERE EASY RIDING OVER ROLLING HILLS AND GREEN MEADOWS. IT WAS EARLY IN THE DAY AND AS WE RODE ALONG SPIDER WEBS WITH DEW STILL ON THEM WERE GLISTENING IN THE SUNLIGHT FLICKERING THROUGH THE TREES. WE TRAVELED ALONG ON A MOSTLY NARROW HEAD TO TAIL TRAIL THROUGH A FOREST OF HARDWOODS PROVIDING SHADE FROM THE SUN. THE FOREST CANOPY PROVIDED A PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE YOUNG SAPLINGS GROWING HERE.
THE TRAILS CROSSED SEVERAL CREEKS OFFERING OUR HORSES A CHANCE TO TAKE A COOL DRINK OF WATER. OCCASIONALLY THE TRAIL OPENED INTO A LARGE FIELD AND WE WOULD RIDE ALONG THE EDGE OF THE TREES. AS WE RODE ALONG WE PASSED SOME OLD BARNS AND SHEDS FROM DAYS GONE BY WHEN A FARMER TILLED THIS LAND. AN OLD SCHOOLHOUSE STOOD EMPTY AS MEMORIES OF CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE YARD FILLED YOUR HEAD.
BLACKBERRY BUSHES WERE BLOOMING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE TRAIL WITH THE PROMISE OF A BLACKBERRY COBBLER FOR THE 4TH OF JULY. ALL ALONG THE WAY WILDFLOWERS WERE BLOOMING AND BIRDS WERE SINGING, WHAT A GREAT DAY!
SUDDENLY IN THE DISTANCE WE HEARD THUNDER AND KNEW WE NEEDED TO HEAD BACK TO THE TRAILER. WE ASKED OUR HORSES TO GET INTO SECOND GEAR AS WE DID NOT WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN A DOWNPOUR. THE THOUGHT OF LIGHTNING RAN THROUGH OUR HEADS. WE ARRIVED BACK AT THE PARKING LOT AND UNSADDLED THE HORSES QUICKLY. AS WE JUMPED INTO OUR TRUCKS THE RAIN STARTED COMING DOWN. PERFECT TIMING!
WE HEADED HOME TALKING ABOUT OUR DAY AND WHAT FUN WE HAD.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE ADVENTURES BY HORSEBACK. UNTIL THEN WE WISH YOU MANY "HAPPY AND SAFE TRAILS."
BOBBIE AND LARRY
