Bushkill Falls, E. Stroudsburg, PA

Yesterday afternoon we attempted to go to Bushkill Falls, but it was so crowded we decided against it. Since it opens at 9 AM we decided that perhaps that is the best time to go. We are really glad we did that. So at 9 this morning we hit the trail. There were only a few other hikers that had the same idea about the crowds. It was quite cool so we were prepared with layers of clothes and even wore gloves. At least in the beginning as it was quite cool at 48 degrees. Even though it was cold, we were working up a good sweat. This turned out to be one of the most challenging of the hikes we have taken to date. Even Angel was plum tuckered out when we were done.

There are several paths to take, and of course we took the most difficult, but perhaps the most rewarding. Because of the topography there are lots of steps that they had to put in. However, the beauty and just raw nature made it all worth while. The trail was 2 miles of up and down along the river. Some of the trails were really challenging, but that is what make it so much fun. There are a total of 12 falls in the park that we were able to see. Oh how fortunate we are to see so many of the wonders that are out there. We look forward to seeing many more. It really amazes me how Andrea is able to hike with the best of them considering the fact that she has had both knees and a hip replaced. Ah, the wonders of modern medicine.

This area of Pennsylvania is where the Pocono Mountains are, and the big attraction is skiing.

We took a ride around the Delaware Water Gap, but there where a lot of pet restrictions so we could not do much since we had Angel with us. We have not come across too many situations where Angel was not welcomed. Most state parks welcome dogs as long as they are on a leash. We are very appreciative of that as we love bringing her every where we go.

Tomorrow we leave here and head to Gettysburg. We will be there for about a week so we can spend more time with Chris, Cheryl and the grand kids. More later.

Miles of Smiles. Happy trails.