Moraine State Park

Over the last several weeks I’ve had outings every Saturday.  All but one has found me tramping around on cool, cloudy rain-filled days.  But last Saturday – October 15th – was the exception.  My friend Diane from high school invited me to join her and her daughter Shannon on their monthly hike, this time at Moraine State Park.  I pass this State Park every time we make the trip to Mom’s and back, but have never veered off the highway to explore.  So I was excited, and the bright morning sun and calm no-breeze day added to the adventure.  We left Greensburg close to 7:30am, and took a lot of side roads up to Butler and across to Route 422.  It was a very scenic route and not the boring Turnpike/I-79 view that I am accustomed to.  As we pulled into the parking space and got out of the car, I looked over my left shoulder to the lake.  It was beautiful.  The leaves were just beginning to turn colors, with spots of bright red and creamy yellow interspersed. 

The first hike was through the Sunken Garden, and — unlike the Appalachian Trail! — was wide and level and smooth walking.  Shannon is into mushrooms and I got a lovely education about the many different kinds we saw along the trail.  There was also an abundance of wild flowers for so late in the season.  We finished that section and drove to the other side of the lake, where we took the Butterfly Trail, which wound around through various plants and flowers and across little wooden bridges over streams.  There was a gazebo and a trellis and quaint little benches to rest along the way.

By now we were ready for lunch –  which we had each packed on our own – and sat beside the lake in the pavilion and ate.  Diane had booked a water tour on their nature cruise – 90 minutes! – and we listened to stories of fish and birds and wildlife, as well as the history of Lake Arthur and the surrounding acres.  It was a very fun day, spending time with Di and getting to know Shannon, and being outdoors walking in the sunshine and fresh air.  I’m so blessed to be included – for the second time! – in one of these hikes, and am looking forward to another one in the spring.  Thanks, my friend, for a lovely day!