October, Part II - Elk Neck State Park

The last weekend in October was homeleave, so my friends and I went camping. It was much needed for all of us, and who doesn't enjoy relaxing by a camp fire in an over-sized sweatshirt and roasting marshmallows?

We went to Elk Neck State Park in eastern Maryland. Robby's family is actually from that area, so while for the rest of us, it was somewhere new, for him, it felt much like home. For five people, it averaged out to $10 for the whole weekend (not including the food we bought). Who can beat that, though?? We made delicious campfire food in aluminum foil, and went for a beautiful hike on Saturday. Turkey Point Lighthouse is a must-see if ever you camp at the park. It's a short walk (a little less than 3/4 of a mile), and when you come out to the lighthouse, you're struck with the view of the bay from this amazing cliff. Also, the lighthouse is open on certain weekends of the month - you'll have to visit the website here for more information.

I had so much planned for this post when I originally got back, like the recipes we used, and other things to do in the area . . . but alas, time has taken away the effort I would have put into it on the Monday after.

The link to Elk Neck State Park's website is here - I do encourage you, if you're a Marylander or even an eastern PA or DE resident, to take a look and spend a weekend there. They also have fishing spots, hiking trails, and primitive camping options. Maryland is such a beautiful state, and I'm always taken back by its beauty in the changing seasons. Make sure, as the weather's getting colder, that you're staying bundled up, but that you're taking the time to enjoy the small things and getting out there to adventure!

Later this month, I think I'll be posting my top Christmas albums to use when traveling or light-seeking :) Happy Holidays! xoxo

October, Part I

I know . . . it's December. And I'm posting about October. It's embarrassing to think that I've managed to get this far behind. The truth is I've been struggling with reasonable life management this semester - time management, monetary management . . . I'm losing control of my life. (lol - it's not that serious.)

Hancock, MD

Anyway, the first post from October is about Senior Survival. As a Senior Class Sponsor this year, I'm part responsible for 26 young people. Since we're a smaller private academy, we get to do cool things like take a class trip or have field trips that are more intimate and less crazy. Something they do every year is this thing called Senior Survival. It's essentially a weekend of "roughing it" and allowing for class bonding. One of the other sponsors (there are three of us total) decided it would be nice to bike ~75 miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal that follows the Potomac River. We started at McCoy's Ferry in MD and stopped at Spring Gap, MD. A small group of three continued on to the beginning in Cumberland.

Hancock, MD

I, however, did not bike. The other sponsor ended up having a serious form of the flu, and just couldn't make it on the trip. His job was to drive a chase vehicle with everyone's crap in it (food, sleeping stuff, etc.), and when I say chase vehicle, I mean a mini-bus. I had never driven this vehicle, and it always daunted me when I thought about driving it, but alas. It became my job. Stupid me didn't pack a book or homework because it happened all kind of last-minute, and cell phone service was rough, but it ended up being a good trip.

If ever you want to plan a biking trip along the C&O Canal, October is definitely a wonderful time to do it. It's just getting chilly and the leaves have started to change. The scenery that I did see was beautiful! But avoiding the sore rump was also a pleasant positive of getting to drive the bus. Always check with your local National Park Service for advisories, tips, and helpful information to stay safe. And, if biking, always have someone chasing you in a vehicle with medical and biking supplies in case something happens. Someone should always know where you'll be!

I hope your holiday season is going well! Thanksgiving for me kicked off a wonderful start, and so far, the season has been wonderfully paced - not too fast, and certainly never too slow. Happy Adventuring! xoxo

The seniors that survived!