Cowan's Gap 2009

Our annual trip to Cowan's Gap is never dissappointing. Every year has been different, but each has been so much fun. This year the swimming was okay for the first couple of days, but then it got cold and rainy and we actually came home one day early. Some friends came to visit us one day while we were there. I'm just glad they came before the rain did.

It is so nice to be out there with no cell phone signal and no computer.

This is a prime location for nature study. Let's start with the dead fish.

I love how children are so unihibited.

Then there was the trail around the lake that showcased a variety of trees. Each section of the trail seemed like a different "room".

These two pictures were taken about 200 yards away from each other on the same trail.

Then DD11, my nature photographer, delighted with all the flowers she found.

Of course, we engaged ourselves in typical camping activities.

I am also relieved that we were well protected on this trip.

Cowan's Gap

We enjoyed 4 fabulous days at Cowan's Gap State Park near McConnellsburg, Pa. In Pennsylvania we are blessed with our state parks. We went to Cowan's Gap on Memorial Day and stayed in one of their cabins for 3 nights. Our favorite cabin is cabin K because it has an outdoor patio under cover with a fireplace. So if it rains, you can still have a fire. This time, we were in Cabin C, which was just as enjoyable. We like the week right after Memorial Day since it's still considered off season, but it's warm enough to swim (usually). The cost of renting a cabin in a Pa state park is only $33 a night. There are no bathrooms in the cabins, but they are close by and they are clean. I don't know about other state parks, but Cowan's Gap's cabins have a full size refrigerator and an electric stove with oven. This helps to keep the cost of this vacation very low.

Here are some pictures of our trip. My husband taught the girls how to make a fire with flint and steel.

We took many nature walks and found abundant wildlife.

One day, some good friends of ours came to visit. When I took ds(3) to the bathroom, he found a snake on the driveway that was flattened. He picked it up with a stick and couldn't wait to show his friends. When we arrived back at the cabin, his friend found a snake just like my son's except his was alive!!!!!

This one found a salamander.