Michaux State Forest, Pennsylvania - June 29, 2009
IT’S TIME TO PACK UP AND LEAVE OUR FRIENDS’ FARM TO CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY TO THE NORTHEAST. WE ALL PACKED UP AS OUR FRIENDS WERE JOINING US AT MICHAUX STATE FOREST IN PENNSYLVANIA FOR ONE LAST RIDE TOGETHER. THE FOREST WAS IN SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTHWEST OF GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD. PRIMITIVE CAMPING WAS AVAILABLE WITH TRAILS LEADING OUT FROM CAMP. SOME HIGH LINE POSTS WAS PROVIDED. YOU NEEDED A PERMIT TO CAMP WHICH YOU RECEIVED THROUGH THE FORESTRY OFFICE.
WE ARRIVED EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR A RIDE IN THE AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE LOW 70’S WITH THE SUN SHINING BRIGHT. WE HEADED OUT ON A TRAIL WITH A NICE BREEZE BLOWING THROUGH THE TREES. SONGBIRDS WERE USHERING IN SPRINGTIME WITH THEIR SONGS.
MORE THAN 50 MILES OF WOODED TRAILS MEANDERED THROUGH A FOREST OF HARDWOODS AND PINES. SOME OF THE TRAILS WERE ROCKY BUT THERE WERE ONES WITH A SOFT SANDY FOOTING. THESE TRAILS WERE NOT WELL MARKED SO A GPS WAS NEEDED. IN PLACES MOUNTAIN LAURELS AND RHODODENDRON JUST BURSTING INTO BLOOM LINED EACH SIDE OF THE TRAIL. WE FELT LIKE ROYALTY AS WE RODE ALONG. OUR PATH SKIRTED A BEAUTIFUL LAKE WITH A REFRESHING BREEZE BLOWING ACROSS THE WATER. WE FOLLOWED THE WATER’S EDGE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE THE TRAIL LED US BACK INTO THE FOREST. WE CROSSED SEVERAL BROOKS WITH WATER FLOWING OVER ROCKS OFFERING OUR HORSES A COOL DRINK. AS THE AFTERNOON SUN WARMED THE FOREST WE BEGAN TO NOTICE A BLACK BUG BUZZING AROUND US AND WHISPERING SWEET NOTHINGS IN OUR EARS. ON OUR WAY BACK TO CAMP A RED TAIL HAWK FLEW OVER AND LANDED ON A HIGH PERCH TO SCAN THE AREA FOR A MEAL. SUDDENLY HE SPOTTED PERHAPS RABBIT OR A FIELD MOUSE AND DIVED DOWN TO PICK UP HIS DINNER. TALK ABOUT A FAST TAKE OUT ORDER.
WE ARRIVED BACK AT CAMP TALKING ABOUT WHAT A WONDERFUL RIDE WE HAD.
AFTER TAKING CARE OF OUR HORSES WE SAT BY A CAMPFIRE AND ATE OUR DINNER UNDER A STARLIT SKY AT THE VERY BEST OUTDOOR CAFÉ ON THE MOUNTAIN. WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE!
UNTIL NEXT ADVENTURE WE WISH YOU MANY “HAPPY AND SAFE TRAILS.”
BOBBIE AND LARRY
