This day hike occured on Saturday, April 3, 2021. It was an easy 3 mile loop. Participants were Mike Calabrese, Mary Gordon, Tom O'Brien and Jessica Lowry.
As usual we met at the church
at the rear parking lot. We left at 8:00 AM sharp and proceeded to Elanor C.
Lawrence Park. There was a lot of construction on VA28 at I66. They built a
flyover exit to Walney Road where this park is located. It was a left lane
flyover so I missed it. We had to drive to Westfields BLVD, exit there and
drive back along Walney RD to the park.
When we got to the park Jessica was there waiting for us. So we started the
hike around 8:45 AM. The weather was in the mid 40's and sunny. We did a
counterclockwise loop around the perimeter of the park. The trail was
muddy in some spots and had gravel or asphalt in other areas. There was a
lot of what I call 'scrub' in the woods surrounding these trails. The park
was clearing some of it in the north area of the park.
This park was named for Elanor C. Lawrence. Her husband David founded U.S.
News & World Report. The park visitor center and the adjacent
Cabell's Mill House were both built prior to 1800. The Mill House was a
guest house that housed many notable people.
So we went around the perimeter of the park. When we got to Walney RD we
crossed it and hiked a loop on the other side of the road. We also saw the
western terminus of the Big Rocky Run Trail. This is a 4 mile linear trail
that we plan to hike in 2022 provided that COVID restrictions are eased.
We then crossed the road, took one of the trails back to the visitors
center, said our goodbyes and went home. We ended the hike around 10:30 AM.
This was a very nice hike in a park with a lot of history. I'm glad that
we finally got to this one.
Mike C
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Beginning of the hike.
By Mike Calabrese
Interesting signage.
By Mike Calabrese
What is that?
By Mike Calabrese
Entrance Sign.
By Mike Calabrese
Meadow Stomper!
By Mike Calabrese
You better...
By Mike Calabrese
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