The Pen Mar Excursion

A long time ago, it dawned on me what the Delmarva Peninsula was. Delaware, Maryland, Virginia. It never occurred to me before. So today Doug said he wanted to go to Pen Mar Park. So yeah. Pennsylvania, Maryland. 

HA I figured it out. 

We got a few things done around the house before going out. Doug mowed the front lawn, the back yard doesn't need mowed yet but there are tons of walnuts down off the tree. He cleaned up our lawn out in the back on the alley, and found a grocery store shopping cart in the weeds and overgrowth. He said it's his now! It'll make moving walnuts around FUN! 

I unpacked another box or two, for good measure. I have one more box up here to unpack. Then, downstairs! 

Sometimes I forget how very close we are to the Pennsylvania line. Due north, it is only about 8 miles. Pen Mar Park is more to the east, about 16 miles or so.  

On the way, we stopped at an apple orchard. We blasted past the one Doug wanted to go to because the GPS didn't tell us to turn right until ... we were just past the road to turn. We saw a sign for another orchard and figured, why turn around?  Let's go.

Harding's Orchard doesn't seem to have a website to link to, and their Facebook page hasn't been updated since 2023. That's okay. They had a really nice selection of apples, self service style. And they had an excellent display of license plates on display.  

Doug got two big bags of apples while I walked Toffee around. 

The leaves are just turning out here, it was 75 degrees out, and very nice. 

At the park, there are tons of trails and a lot to do and see. The Appalachian Trail goes right through there. It is a very nice park, with a gorgeous playground and pavilions for events. There were two weddings going on while we were there. 

The familiar single white marker lets you know you're on the trail. This is facing south bound, or SoBo as the kids say, on the way to Georgia. 

After some walking around we headed up to High Rock, where tons of people were enjoying the day. Toffee was a big hit and invited herself to someone's blanket picnic, which delighted the couple. They gave her little bits of turkey and patted her. We walked all around there, carefully. 

The place is heavily graffitied up. And some of it was ... rather entertaining. Here is a view looking up the stairs and then ... down the same stairs.  Ha ha ha, very funny.

I love that this picture looks staged. This was the couple that Toffee got snacks from.
I took this picture and then asked them for their camera to take the same picture.
They loved it.

Crazy forever, indeed.

We enjoyed a long drive after leaving High Rock, past Camp Louise (a Jewish girls' camp) and Camp/Fort Ritchie, which has a very interesting history and is experiencing quite a revival of historic interest. Then down to Smithsburg towards home. 

Of course there was a stop at a brewery, naturally. Upper Stem Brewery has a gorgeous tasting room and really nice outdoor seating. We enjoyed a couple beers, Toffee got even more pats and lovings, and we brought some beer home. a mere five miles away. 

Geoff cooked dinner for us, and it was just about ready when we got home. We sat on the patio and relaxed. All very nice and wonderful 

An excellent day. Oh, and here's a picture of my dog and what I believe is possibly maybe the Shenandoah Mountains?  I'm not 100% sure. Digits below. 

digits

exercise: 12/12 hours.  Walk at Pen Mar Park, 22 min/.81 mi; 10k+ steps by bedtime

blood glucose:

10am: 119
5pm: 155
10:15pm: 127

food & meds:
10am: jaridance + phentermine
noon: zero sugar yogurt w/ granola bar
1:30pm: met+glip
5pm: 2 beers at the brewery
6:30pm: big slab of meatloaf w/ creamy mushroom gravy & roasted potatoes
2 beers at home
9pm: met+glip