photo of Cunningham Falls State Park: Dave Buller

I took Braeden up to Cunningham Falls State Park today for the Maple Syrup Demonstration (the Maryland State Parks do great things all year round that are both educational and enjoyable for the entire family; you can find a list of seasonal activities and events here).

It was nice to get out and do something spring-y, you know? i just couldn’t stomach another Sunday inside. There have been too, too many of them lately, and with Amy running her first 5K (woohoo! Big shout out to Amy!), the Boy and I felt like we had to get out and do something adventurous.

Well, I felt that way, at least. The Boy? He was much less thrilled with driving 75 miles to take a walk in the woods and suck some syrup out of some dead-looking tree.

When we got there, though, his eyes lit up at the festival-like setting and I could barely keep up with all that he wanted to do. We were surrounded by campfires, demonstrations, kid-friendly activities (book-making, too! How could I not love these activities?), and of course, the sights, scents, and sounds of the natural settings.

It’s been about 9 days now since I started this new journey, and I am feeling great. The weight is beginning to come off, the pains are subsiding, and I am able to walk longer distances without getting too fatigued. Being in this natural setting today triggered yet another inspiring memory — walking along the Appalachian Trail.

The last major hike I did was about 12 years ago. Too long, of course, and I know I have a long way to go before I can get the day-pack out and head to the Trail for a 12-mile saunter.

Those scents, though, and the sound of the decaying leaves and other variations of detritus crunching beneath my feet. . . .

Getting back to the woods was as good for me as it was for Braeden, as it was for both of us as father and son, and I can’t wait to keep losing this weight and gaining those experiences as I work toward that longer walk in the woods along the Appalachian Trail.