My goal was to reach the falls. I have been building up muscles most of the summer. Physical therapists have been a big help and so has my Primary Care Physician and also an Orthopedist.
The day was a little cool (50degrees Fahrenheit) but the sun was shining, and there was a pleasant breeze. I could hear the leaves talking to one another.
I had to park in the auxiliary parking lot because the primary parking lot was full. Since the beginning of the Pandemic the park has been heavily used. It was closed for a short time because people were overcrowding it and not following the Pandemic rules. Since then the park staff has learned to adjust to the new numbers.
On this day, the primary parking lot was crowded because four busloads of students were here from schools in the county. Most of the students were at the entrance eating lunch so I knew the trails would not be crowded.
At the entrance to the park, I stopped to look at the leaves of the Sassafras. It amuses me that this small tree has leaves that come in three shapes. There was a time when people made tea from its bark and roots. Root Beer was originally made from the bark and roots also. I read on the Internet that commercial root beer is now made from other ingredients.
So many things change. I remember when I was a child my mother made root beer for the family. She always made it on hot, humid days. She bought a bottle of root beer extract from the grocery store. The other ingredients included yeast and sugar and lots of water. She mixed it up in the roasting pan that she used to roast the turkey on Thanksgiving. She set the mixture on the counter and let it "work". It smelled wonderful. We asked over and over, "When will it be ready?"
There were leaves on the Sassafras but many leaves have fallen.
Yet there were many more on the trees.
As I approached the falls, I saw one of the school groups. Off to the left, I saw materials from their encounter with nature.
Then I knew what the subject for the day was. Back when I was working for the parks I taught it. They are studying the history of the falls, the formations of the rocks in the area and how they were formed. They probably have been down to the cave, too. The brown tarp was for the children to lie on and look up toward the sky. As the naturalist talked about rain falling and gradually washing away bits of rock, he or she used the sprayers to sprinkle "rain" on the students. You can see the light green, blue and medium green nozzles hanging on the edge of the box.
On the way back I saw a second group. This one was learning about the "erratics", the large rocks scattered about that were brought to this area when the glaciers went through. I recognized the staff members. It is always good to see the people I have worked with.
A wonderful walk. It is good to be able to walk again in the woods.
