Even though it does not have any boxes (being a federal park where I have
heard it is illegal to plant boxes :-( ) team BeMa went into the woods
without our stamps and journals to explore a bit of Great Falls Park. I
cannot believe (once again) that we have lived here for 12 years (this
stint) and several more at an earlier time and never been to this park. It
is huge, it is beautiful, the falls are "awesome" as Be would say and it is
right around the corner. It is hard to believe that such nature exists so
close to DC.

We took a couple of the trails (easy, but fun due to the
ups/downs/rocks/etc. which made them a little more interesting) and gazed
out at several of the overlooks (keeping Miss Ma well back from the cliff
edges where she was clamoring to go...)

Another astonishing thing was the high water mark post. You have to
understand, these falls are huge, yet, on numerous occasions, the waters
have actually filled this great gorge, climbed these cliff walls (people
repel down) and fan out across these grassy fields to the heights over my
head. OK -- I'm kind of petit, but over Da's head. OK so he's not that
tall either. But, if I stood on his shoulders with Ma on mine and Be on
hers (she weighs more and would have to go first) AND placed Ha on her hind
legs reaching up -- we still probably wouldn't reach the highest flood
markings. Geez -- and I get frazzled when the local roads flood!

There were kayakers to watch -- rowing against the tide and then whipping
down the rapids (don't want to give Miss Ma any ideas) and rock climbers and
repellers (shut Miss Ma's eyes again...), lots of fun people to watch and an
open snack bar with several varieties of ice cream!

Wow! For those who haven't been -- it's a really neat place. Just thought
we would pass on the word. Happy Fourth! BeMa

_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail