After Soldier's Delight, Quester dejected, running a deficit
A friend e-mailed Friday morning to say I was making this week-long adventure look too easy, knocking off state parks like ducks in a carnival shooting gallery.
He wrote too soon.
The first day ended with me one park ahead. I held par on Thursday. Unfortunately, just like the country, I’m now running a deficit, a very depressing situation.
The plan is to stay the course this weekend and get back on track Monday by adding Patapsco Valley State Park to the itinerary. That’s risky because if something happens, I’ll have to change the name to Park Quest 23/7. Doesn’t have the same ring.
Friday’s wrap-up took place at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, a 1,900-acre park in Baltimore County that is home to 39 rare and endangered plants and an old mining operation.
The kids might be bored with the plant thing, but parents should keep the Visitor Center and Aviary complex tucked in their back pocket for a day when it’s too hot to be outside (I’m sure we’ll see those conditions before the summer is out).
Ranger Joe Vogelpohl has gathered lots of critters that make Maryland home — owls, turtles, vultures — and tons of fun displays and activities.
Did I say it’s free?
Saturday, I’ll tackle Gunpowder Falls, Susquehanna and Elk Neck state parks before we make the big swing south on Sunday to bag Calvert Cliffs, St. Mary’s River and St. Clement’s Island state parks. That will give me 17 of 24 parks, with two days to go.
Comments
We, too, visited Soldier's Delight today. Ranger Vogelpohl has done a great job creating a visitor center that has lots of learning opportunities for everyone. We had lots of kids with us and they enjoyed the visitor center, the aviary, and the Park Quest hunt that led them through both areas.
Posted by: S and family | July 10, 2010 1:25 AM