"there is a trout in the sink"

Today we did the Monocacy Nature Trail for the Passport To Fitness challenge. It's a small wooded section of the Monocacy Trail. The MT runs along the creek from Illick's Mill, thru Burnside Plantation, to Sand Island.

Lydia bagged out this morning. She thought she, the boyfriend, and his kids might be going to the Philly Zoo today for Father's Day. With rain looming in the forecast, they didn't go. Instead I got this email "Zoo is out today. ... Talked to Dawn late last night. We are going walking in about 15 minutes. Will likely cross paths with you at Moncacy."

We never crossed paths, but did telephone each other. We knew they were still there when we started because her car was in the lot. There were also a ton of runners. A 5K was going on. Oddly, they had no one stopping traffic on Illicks Mill Road. I'd be so angry.

Lydia and Dawn, and Bonnie and I, were looking for the Passport to Fitness marker. When we arrived near Burnside, I told Bonnie to call them. Nope haven't found it either. They were trying the other side of the loop. I was hoping it wasn't on the loop because it was muddier than the Dirty Girl. We turned around and came back.

We were close to the railroad tracks again, and I said to Bonnie, we should start checking benches and things because there were no posts. And then I saw a little flash of light in the flickering on the leaves. THE POST. It was surrounded by skunk cabbage.

Bonnie on the trail. She's facing north. For these directions walkers would be headed south towards Burnside. Trash on the left, marker on the right. Below, do you see the person in white? That's about where the marker is.

If you're hiking/searching: from the Monocacy Park parking lot, do half the loop, turn right, cross the railroad tracks. Follow trail for about 5 minutes. It brings you back next to the tracks for a couple minutes. When it heads into the woods again, start watching. It's 25, maybe 50 feet on the right.

Instead of going thru the mud again, we walked down the railroad tracks, back to the lot, across the street and started searching for the comfort station. The creek was wall to wall fisherpeople. One of the fisherladies left their trout in the bathroom sink. YUCK.

We went back up the other side. Marveled at the work of the WPA and how well it's held up, headed to the car and went home.

Later, Pat and I went back with our books to the environmental center.  We we're supposed to check in at six walks. We've done eight.  By checking in we both received a $2 coupon for Wegman's, and another of our choice. Most were coupons to the gift shops at each of the environmental centers. PPL provided a bag of goodies which tempted me, but I don't need more stuff. I ended up taking the BOGO canal boat ride tickets at hugh Moore Park. We still need to do that park, and a nice ride on the canal will be lovely after the hike.

While I was there, I mentioned the skunk cabbage issue. They are going to send a volunteer out to cut it down.

Shortly, Sharon and I will be headed to Ahart's. But will that take me to 15,000 steps today? I think I'll come up short.