lindavarosblog

WELCOME TO THE FAIRIE KINGDOM

of Western Maryland

DEEP CREEK

Thanks to my great photographer! Veronica Varos Photography

“Looking back, the city and I never much liked each other.” 

Quote from the movie, Miss (Beatrix) Potter.

Like Ms. Potter, I too have never much liked the city. 

Some people love the hustle and bustle that cramped living offers.

I find it ok for a break from isolation, but I much prefer

nature’s landscape on a regular basis. 

Vacation time was overdue.  I scheduled a break and

picked a spot on the map within a 3 hour drive. 

So off we went to the mountain lake area of Deep Creek Maryland.

Me with my Mapquest directions, plugged in GPS and itinerary;

daughter #2 Veronica, with camera, GPS phone and an insistence upon

doing the driving; an 8 month old puppy named Bohdi who has not yet graduated from obedience school; and my 4 year old grandson singing Santana’s Jingo Bop in the back seat at the top of his lungs. 

It was meant to be a long overdue trip back to nature with the goal

of total relaxation. 

Aside from the GPS lady, who we both thought we heard swear at us

so we shut her off, and only one pit stop with child and dog, the drive

down went well.  Once we got the lay of the land, itineraries dissolved

and it became, pretty much, a seat-of-the-pants vacation with

many pleasant surprises.  

On our hike to Swallow Falls, a state park with boundaries on the

Potomac River and also on Deep Creek Lake, we discovered the trails

took us through old forests of white pine and hickory trees with

moss and many rock outcroppings.  There was just too much for

the eyes and senses to take in at once.

This was hiking we didn't expect and were excited

being surrounded by such vast beauty and

unexpected little treasures.

Our first entrance into the woods, looking for Swallow Falls.

Mossy tree feet! Looks like something from Lord of the Rings.

We kept walking...

Our little pirate felt compelled to stand his ground with this rock

and his sword.  Perhaps he was thinking of Arthur and the Sword and Stone.

One of many, Fairie houses.

After much hiking we finally got to Swallow Falls on

the Potomac River.

It was treacherous climbing up and down with drop offs and cliffs,

slippery rocks and posted warnings.  The place was busy.

We walked into the river very gingerly, staying to the side

just below the falls.

(The lower falls are at the top of the waterway in this photo).

Veronica Varos Wedding Photography

This is a flat area just below the falls, before it drops down another

level with some rapids from the big rocks in the middle of the river.

We walked under this overhang. Holding on to the rock wall was

pointless as it was wet and very slippery.

At the state park in Deep Creek, just a cell phone
pic with Bohdi dog who was hot on the trail of the water foul. 

She's part,'Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Dog'.  Never heard of 

the breed before her, but she looks the part and they 'flush'

waterfoul out of the bushes. 

She really wanted to tangle with those geese.

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There is no photo to prove it but I did the wish list deed and

went kyaking alone for the first time ever.  I did it!

Cross that off my list.  I prefer canoeing, thank you.

Deep Creek Lake has 69 miles of shoreline.  It's elevation is 2466 ft above sea level with the Allegheny Mountains around it reaching a little over 3,000 ft above sea level.  The scenic drives along the top of the mountains with views of the lake are exhilarating.

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In this photo the geese were leading their babies across the

lake for breakfast.

This is only a small part of the expansive view from our room and back porch. This was a wonderful place to meditate, difficult to leave.

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Getting back to Ms. Potter - here is a wonderful blog about her

naturalist journals:

http://www.betterlivingthroughbeowulf.com/?p=5889

Beatrix Potter: How to Be a Naturalist