A Perfect Day

Today's adventure took place: Lancaster County

My oldest son, "The Rooster", and I had about the perfect day for the last day in August.

After waking up at the crack of dawn, I rolled over and went back to sleep til about 8:30. Then I got up, took out Elwood (our lab), made sandwiches, grabbed the fishing gear and headed west.

We made a couple of stops at *mart's to look for fishing and camping gear (found a great deal on stuff at one the night before, so we hit a couple on the way in hopes of more bounty.) Finally we hit the back country roads and enjoyed strolling along through the corn fields and cow pastures. We talked and ate powdered donuts (it's a weakness).

After a stop at a local rod n gun shop, where we chatted with the locals and picked up fly-line for a steal, we ended up at our "destination" around lunch time.

Muddy Run Recreation Area is a camping area and lake with fishing and boating next to a power reservoir. After dunking some lures without success (too many geese and ducks around), we headed around the far end near the dam. Here we found the baitfish, and saw the bass attacking them several times. The baitfish would be jumping out of the water, followed be a wake from the chasing bass behind it - exciting and frustrating to watch! We both tossed several bait options, but could not coax the bass into chasing out lures (methinks I figured out the right lure - a spinnerbait - too late). After a few hours of optomistic effort, it was time to head back home for soccer practice.

On the way, we stop at the roadside stand of an Amish Farmer where we picked up a Cantaloupe, Watermelon, 5 tomatoes as big as my fist and a dozen ears of white corn for $6.80. All of it fresh from his fields. Truly, Natures Rewards.

The area had changed quite a bit since my last visit, but it still felt the same. We drove down some of the back roads I used to travel regularly when my wife and I lived there, and remembered certain farms and curves in the road. The Rooster was amazed at the buggies, and the girls at the farm stand were amazed at him! We took our time, talked about how much we liked the area, took in the sights, enjoyed our time outside and brought home farm fresh goodness for everyone to enjoy.

It is so hard to be around the house and spend that kind of time with your kids, so it really was, a perfect day.