I didn't bring my camera, but when the kids all started feeding grass to this gorgeous horse, I remembered my iPhone and caught a few shots.
The park, explained Scout Master Dave, is on the site of an old coal mine. We all climbed to the top of a rounded hill, the highest point for about 25 miles around and, wow, what a view. We could see from the mouth of the Tyne, to our southeast, all the way up to Newcastle. Dave pointed out various landmarks and points of interest.
On our hike, we passed between horse pastures and walked by a small stable. Stopped by an educational dipping pond with its little boardwalk and swaying reeds. Crossed meadows of tall grass and Queen Anne's Lace on mown paths. Walked along gravel paths shadowed on both sides by hedgerows. Rounded the edge of a small, picturesque duck pond. Dodged puddles and horse manure on wide, muddy paths. And wandered along dark, wooded stretches of path. We ended the walk with a brief stop-over at a playground, where the kids let off even more steam. (Can't believe they had any left!)
What a beautiful property the Rising Sun Country Park is. Mike is excited to go back with his mountain bike. And, since it's only about a 10- or 15-minute drive from our house, we'll be sure to go there again for family hikes.
2 comments:
Merrit is too cute in his Beaver Scout gear! And I think that that is the cutest horse I've ever seen. Are horses cuter in G.B.?
The horse was really sweet. There were about 5 or 6, and all but this one ran off when the Scouts bum-rushed the fence.
True story: The horse was eagerly eating grass from all the kids. This one boy threw grass at him and the horse backed up and, I swear, the expression in his eyes changed. It was like his eyebrows were all scrunched up, questioning like, and his eyes looked sad. Like, "Why would you do that to me?" and it took the horse about 5 minutes before he'd come up to the fence again.
As we walked away, Mike was saying to Merrit, "Did you see how the horse changed after that boy threw grass at him? God has given us a special responsibility to take care of animals."
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