Jay Cooke Park 5.03.09

Took the kiddies out to Jay Cooke Park yesterday. Including the newest gosling on his first ever trip to nature.

Elijah on his first outing, ever.

Got me really digging deep down into memory lane as I think of all the dozens, maybe a hundred experiences I’ve had over the years in that park, along that river. My great uncle was down fishing by the highway bridge one day and the damn opened up. About a dozen people’s lives changed instantly and forever when he was washed away. Now there’s a siren that sounds before they open the flood gates. When I was little I’d go stay with my grandparents in the summer and we had a bible camp that met in the park and I got to know the whole thing pretty good, trails, clearings, and more. When I was a preteen I had my first x-country ski expedition in the park and very quickly realized that my lanky body and my stork legs probably weren’t built for that sport. Back in the 80s when I was “down with the ladies” (as I tell my girls) I, literally, used to go and visit blueberry hill. Later I took the first of many bike rides up and down the Munger trail through the park and stopped at my Granpa’s house and have him tell me how he’d helped to build the rail line that made up the trail bed, funny he’d never mentioned it before, but I lapped it up and was just brimming with pride for days afterwards, I still am, come to think of it.

Stories go on and on and on. I’m excited about the prospect of a brand new human being and a new generation beign exposed to this park and all its many many wonders.

All I had was my Lady’s cell phone cam but we got some pretty good pictures. State Park Stickers are $25.00, it’s gonna be another 70 degree day, or close, anyway. What are you waiting for?

regards to baci for his why we live here post, got me wanting to copycat, a bit.