Herrington Manor State Park Loop, MD, 8/8/22

 Starting from our cozy cabin, we set off for the hike in our Falcon Maryland Hiking Guide, a 4-mile trek with minimal elevation across pine and hardwood forest ending at Herrington Lake.

I was reminded that Jim had commented when hiking in the Shenandoah near Charlottesville, VA, several years ago, how all landscapes looked alike compared to the wide variety of scapes in New Mexico. Now, living on the green east coast for almost two years, I was struck by how different yesterday's hemlock grove at Swallow Falls looked compared to the birch/tupelo/cherry forest we ambled through today. 

Note the wide grassy mowed trail. What a luxury! 

Actually, the park caters to beach goers in summer and cross country skiers in winter.

Milkweed with Monarch butterfly.  

We saw numerous milkweed meadows in various stages of growth during our spring and summer hikes but never one with a Monarch fluttering around.  What excitement! 

The hike ended at the beach, a small paradise for families with small children, 

and bustling with activity on this warm summer day. 

No, we did not go swimming 😞

Swallow Falls State Park Loop, MD, 8/6/22

 Three waterfalls on the Youghiogheny river, and an old grove forest, what a treat! 

Despite the numerous families coming to enjoy water play and boldering with their children, we enjoyed walking among the hemlock stands, and catching glimpses of the river as we went. 

First waterfall: Toliver Falls..... A idyllic small oasis.  

And not a well kept secret. I cropped the photo drastically to avoid showing the numerous families standing around. 

Second waterfall: Swallow Falls.

Loud, wild and much less accessible.

And for the finale: the Muddy Creek Falls,  at 53 feet the highest waterfall in Maryland. 

The waterfall is not on the "Yough" (short for Youghiogheny) but on Muddy Creek. 

Of interest, the Yough flows north and the Muddy Creek flows southeast. When they meet, the opposing flows create quite a stir.

Distance: 1,75 miles; elevation: minimal, up and down along the river 😎 

Western Maryland Rail, Cumberland to Frostburg, 8/5/22

To start our 4-day mimi get-a-way, Jim chose to ride the Western Maryland Railroad, a scenic ride from Cumberland, MD to Frostburg, MD. Originally serving western Maryland, the Cumberland-Frostburg branch was repurposed as a tourist attraction in the 1980's.  The train follows Wills river on leaving Cumberland, then moves up slowly at a 2.8% incline at 18-miles/hour for the 16 miles trip to Frostburg.

Posted at the entrance of open car behind the locomotive we read, " You will get dirty, you could get wet, you will smell like a locomotive" and "you will hear the locomotive, it is loud."  

Dirty that is if the engine runs on diesel. Fortunately for us, on this day, it ran on  steam.  And yes, the open car was loud, windy and very humid but still found many adventurous takers.  

Note the bike trail next to the train. Our very friendly conductor explained to us that it is possible to bike from Washington DC along the C&O Canal trail via Harper's Ferry and Cumberland all the way to Pittsburg, PA!