The most important aspect of Awestom Adventures is trying to find something that everybody wants to do and can do. Now my daughter, Dagny, will do anything that is borderline sane and my son-in-law will follow. Our niece, Cait had a excused absence as she was recovering from reconstructive knee surgery from all her other athletic endeavors. So the trip was planned around my Mom and the artificial whitewater rafting course in McHenry, Md.
My wife Dolores was definitely in the planning and executing process for this trip. The cold doesn’t bother her physically, mentally or spiritually and I go down for the count on all three. So we went up to DC to see the Granddaughters and get a rental car for the weekend on Thursday. On Friday, we drove north to Doylestown, Pennsylvania and spent time with my Mom who is 90. She was in pretty good shape for a person that age which means she’s limited to her wheelchair and bed but she still has her mind and a modest sense of humor. We went to visit her again on Saturday and then started our adventure.
Now you just cant get to McHenry Maryland from Doylestown Pa without driving due west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and then South along the Cumberland Valley to McHenry. Eastern Pennsylvania is not really flat, but goes from rolling hills in the east to the Allegany Mountains in the West. Some of the turnpike has deep ravines next to the road which was cut in the mountainside and there are a few tunnels that go under the mountains. The worst part is the cross winds rolling off the hills which bounce you around when your doing eighty – quite a thrill. Once you exit the turnpike and start driving south the pace is a little less hectic.
Western Maryland is one of those very friendly rural areas which hasn’t learned to be rude to tourists – YET!. When we stopped for gas in Accident, we asked directions to McHenry coming to the belief from Mapquest, that McHenry had more than a strip mall and a traffic light. You go to love the directions. Go down the highway until you see the next BP station go in the front and out the back and you will be at your Hotel, the Deer Creek Lodge.
This is one of those cute old hunting lodges with friendly folks who even give you a Duralog for the very functional fireplace. At the front desk, you get directions and opinions on everything within 5 miles so we had dinner at the Black Bear Tavern and Breakfast the next day at Annies in Accident. (That’s the name of the next town up the road.)
Dolores included herself as an intrepid whitewater rafter but she would have enjoyed herself at dinner anyway.
Carson and Dagny are always fun to be with and even when their having a marital spat. (where my daughter is always right) They have the decency to keep it to themselves.
My two granddaughters, Cayla and Ana have built a bond of love even though we live about 1500 miles away. Of course it helps that we have squandered the family fortune by visiting them about 6 times a year and having them spend about 2 months total in St. Croix on there 2-3 trips each year.
Hell, even if whitewater rafting was a bust, we had a bundle of fun and a good meal. The staff was excellent and was never bothered by the trips to the bathroom, food on the floor and the dramatic exit when Ana left shrieking after being reprimanded for not sitting still. (Actually I left with Ana and the rest stayed to enjoy the meal.)
PS The food on the floor was mine as I still haven’t learned to eat left handed while holding two loving girls on my lap.
Tags: dream, family, Fear, health, Kayaking, life, lifestyle, longevity, parenting, seniors, sports, travel, Whitewater, Whitewater Rafting
