Swallow Falls - The Falls

While at Deep Creek Lake we visited Swallow Falls State Park.

We did not see any Swallows.

We did see some falls.

The map at the parking area shows four waterfalls. And we saw them all. 

There was a bit of confusion, quickly resolved, as to the start of the trail ... but we were warned that the trail was flooded out at Tolliver Falls. 

So we headed toward Muddy Creek Falls.

We accepted the risk, and had no serious injuries. No minor injuries either I'm happy to report. The trails were slippery though.

Muddy Creek is falling down ... and flowing toward a meeting with ...

... the Youghiogheny River.

Where we found ...

... the Lower Swallow Falls.

It was a dangerous place.

We laugh in the face of danger!

As did these chaps who we watched kayak over the Upper Swallow Falls, which is shown in the image below (sans kayakers).

One last falls to hike past without falling.

But first, a picture of a cool rock.

Tolliver Falls.

Image courtesy Marie Raupp

Where yours truly was the last to make his way across the flooded trail.

Safe across, an image looking back.

One last look up the Youghioghey River, toward the bridge on the road into the park.

Despite the threatening and at times rainy weather, it was a nice, if slippery, stroll.  And a good, and safe, time was had by all.

Deep Creek Lake

Once upon a time, Patty played ice hockey. Ok, she played for several years. And made some great friends. And she and those friends, which have since become my friends, have been going on an annual trip to the Finger Lakes in New York on Columbus Day weekend. And this year was no different.

Except ... we wen to Deep Creek Lake, which is not an Finger Lake, nor in New York. It is in western Maryland. And we went on Halloween weekend.

But otherwise it was exactly the same. Food, fun, friends, and wine. 

And food. Did I mention food? Lots of food.

We always have too much food.

Deep Creek Lake looking north from the dock out our rental place.

Looking east.

Looking south. It was a large lake. And very inviting, begging for some kayaking. But this was representative of the best weather we had the weekend. There was quite a bit of rain.

And it was a bit on the chilly side. This is Kim (of ginger and comfrey fame, although not to be confused with our friend Ginger, who was also there) enjoying the view form the dock.

And speaking of it being chilly, that was the situation in the house we rented. When we arrived Friday we found the central heating was not working. And would not be until Saturday afternoon. Fortunately there we heaters in each of the bedrooms. So we made it through the night.

Along with a hot tub. 

This might be a good place to point out that other than one year in a mixed league, Patty playing in a women's hockey league. So her hockey friends are women. So it was me and six women (it was supposed to be eight, but but two were unable to join us).

There were also several fireplaces, like this one on the ginormous four level deck, but we did not lose them.

The were several other issues with the place, and to there credit the rental management company, Taylor -Made, was attentive to our issues, quickly responding and sending people out to deal with them. And even gave us a partial refund. 

And a gift certificate. A not to subtle ploy to get us to come back. But that's ok, as we all liked the area and would surely enjoy a return trip.

'Shrooms

It has been a very good year, very wet, for fungi.

And mushrooms were popping up all over.

These are just some of those which we saw while hiking on the Finger Lakes trip.

Despite having multiple fungi field guides, I've not been able to identify these.

This one is weird looking even for fungi, so you'd think it would be easy to ID.

Nope.

🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄

Finger Lakes Trip

For as long and as Patty and I have been together, every Columbus Day weekend we've gone with a group of friends on the "Finger Lakes" trip. (Patty and friends were going before we met.) "Finger Lakes" is in quotes as the past few years the trip has not actually been to the Finger Lakes.

This year it was to Dauphin, Pennsylvania, where we rented a house on the Susquehanna River.

For the geographically challenged, Dauphin, is not in the Finger Lakes.

It was a nice house, although we spent more awake time out than in.

Nine of us, eight women and yours truly, spent a relaxing extended weekend hiking, bike riding, birding, and eating. There as a lot of eating. Very yummy.

That's a big house plant.

As this was my first trip after my back troubles I enjoyed hiking, my first significant jaunt since Glacier, and birding (we did not bring our bikes). And the eating, I enjoyed the eating (did I mention it was yummy?) ((and I don't need to go on trips to enjoy eating)).

Nor did we bring our kayaks. Alas, heavy rains had made the river un-kayakable.

It would have been nice to visit the Statue of Liberty, which is barely visible in the image below (click to bigafy).

The owners of the house did offer a motorboat excursion, but we declined.

Across the street from the house (and from this tree) was a small natural area, well maintained, although it was not clear by who (Mother Nature?). Frogs, birds, turtles, and dragonflies, and no doubt other critters, to say nothing of the plants, appreciate whomever it is.

It is the remnants of the Pennsylvania Canal, which once upon a time cut transit times form Pittsburg to Philadelphia to four days from one month. One of our house mates, Kim, is an archeologist and has done work on the canal. She explained that the trip was one way. The boats did not return to Pittsburgh, they were part of the cargo.

And all too soon the trip is over. A weekend is just too short.

Elani, enjoying a moment of solitude, and who does have two legs.

✈️  🚂  🛳

We've already booked next years Finger Lakes Trip, which is returning to its roots in the Finger Lakes region. I'm already looking forward to the wine tasking.

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

Smoke and Sun

The astute observer will notice that the building in this image is the same as is in the one in this post.

Perhaps they are burning the original tree?

I'm Not Sure ...

... if this is a new tree growing out of the stump, or the old tree reborn.

Either way, its a lesson for us all.

Use a stump grinder