Another hike with/for Megan at the Patuxent Wildlife Research center, Laurel, MD.  Peggy and I went on a 5K hike sponsored by the Greenbelt Volkmarch Club.  I had gone on most of this trail, but Peggy hadn't been on it.  The weather was ideal, with temps around 70 F and plenty of sunshine.

This area is becoming a favorite for me.  I plan to do more hiking on some of the other trails and also I hope to throw in a fishing line one of these days into one of the lakes.  Further, I am told, there are biking trails somewhere in the refuge.  This place seems to have everything.

 The trails were a little muddy due to rain on the previous day, but they were manageable.  I noticed some split trees, probably due to stormy weather this Spring.  This reminded me of the stormy experiences Megan has endured with her fight with cancer.  But the trail is on ahead and we will walk with her.  So far that totals to 39K or 24 miles.

Previous totals    34K
Current                 5K
Totals                  39K

A stand of cattails discovered along the trail

My hiking companion taking a break on the pier at Cash Lake

A split tree apparently damaged by Spring weather storms

What better can you think of doing than to go on a walk in nature on Earth Day?  I decided to take a hike at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge near Laurel, MD.  It was a sunny day with temps in the 60's.  (Perhaps Spring is nearing, after a rough start)  The trails included paths through wooded areas and also a circling of a beautiful lake called Cash Lake.

On the trail near the lake I observed a large white bird hovering over the water and then taking a vertical dive into the water to catch a fish.  I asked a few birders along the trail and did some personal research and discovered it was a Caspian Tern.  It was quite interesting to witness the dives.  The bird circled carefully over the water looking for a fish, then dove into the water with a huge splash, quickly returning in flight with a fish in its mouth.  In my research on this bird I learned it is the largest of the Tern family.

It is wonderful to see birds in their habitat and on the wing.  Good luck and Godspeed to Megan as she ventures soon on her "winging" to Buffalo, NY to begin her graduate studies.

Previous totals  30K
Today's total       4K
Final                 34K  (goal 100K)

I passed a  small pond, called Goose Pond.

Cash Lake where the Caspian Tern was spotted

 

A "swinging bridge I crossed over Cash Lake

Another Walk with Megan.  Today Peggy and I walked 5k at the Columbia Volksmarch sponsored event starting at the Meadowbrook Recreation Center, Howard County, MD.  We had some difficultly finding a parking place at the center because there was a special athletic event being held there.  Some one hundred teams were in competition (Crossfit) doing weight lifting, running, and then jumping through an obstacle course outside.

The trail consisted of a  nature environment for the first half and then we walked in  neighborhood areas for the last portion.  Along the trail were posters highlighting some of the sights.  One I remember was about the dragonfly.  It noted that the dragonfly can fly forward, backwards,sideways and land on a dime.  Our trip through the neighborhood reminded  us of our former neighborhood.  We saw exact replicas of our house in the development.  Apparently the same builder was involved here.

Before we headed back home, Peggy wanted to pick up something at Staples, in a shopping center nearby.  Here I met Kristine Bagwell at the counter.  Made me think of family ties and how important it is to support each other.

Complex playground area in the park

Many cars at the Athletic Center

Peggy under a budding tree

Kristine Bagwell and David Bagwell

Previous Total   25K
Current               5K
Total                  30K  (Goal 100K)