We walked back to the PEEC where there was what looked like a big crystal ball resting on top of the roof.
The crystal ball was actually 2,653 plastic bottles put together in a sphere shape called a SkyPod. The purpose of the exhibit was to encourage recycling and using reusable bottles rather than throw-aways. Plastic bottles take over 500 years to decompose so this exhibit should last until about 2515!
Our first hike of the day was to two waterfalls. Most of the hike is over boardwalks that cross through the woods and over the streams.
The first waterfall we reached were Silverthread Falls which are very unique because of the tall narrow passage through which the water cuts through the rock dropping 80 feet.
After walking a short distance further, we reached the bottom of Dingmans Falls, the second highest waterfall in Pennsylvania.
It was so beautifully framed with the autumn foilage around it...
...that I just had to kiss somebody. Fortunately, Chuck was close by! :)
We climbed up and down a series of steps and a short walking trail to the top of Dingman Falls.
The view from the top was pretty amazing too.
On the way back down, we noticed the decayed log with lots of mushrooms growing out of it. Even dead, the trees serve a purpose.
On the way back to the car, we paused for one more moment to look at Dingman Falls...
...and then Silverthread Falls...
...while walking through the beautiful fall canopy of trees.
Our next hike was to the Raymondskill Creek Trail. After eating our "picnic" lunch at the car, we walked a short distance down to the Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania.
Here again, it was such a beautiful day with beautiful waterfalls and beautiful leaves and beautiful weather that we just had to sit and take in the scenery for a while.
We walked further down to Raymondskill Creek.
...and when we reached the bottom, the scenery was no less beautiful.
Another special place to just enjoy nature...
...or build little rock cairns like these little ones along the creek.
Our cairn builder, Bonnie, began construction of her masterpiece,
and after carefully selecting and stacking the rocks,
we think hers was the best without a doubt!
We left Raymondskill Creek behind us and headed back up the trail.
On our way back to the campground, we stopped at the pond near the PEEC again to see if the water on the pond was any more still so we could catch that perfect autumn picture with the reflection of the trees.
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| The Leaf Peepers in Action! |
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| Pond at the PEEC |
By now, you may be getting tired of me talking about all the beautiful leaves. It reminds us of another leaf story from years ago. The weather forecast was calling for freezing temps and the water lines at Chuck and Jerry's camp on Kentucky Lake had not been drained so they were concerned the pipes might freeze. It was during the middle of the week and the guys were working so they could not go. I knew I could drive down there and back taking Crystal with me who was 4 at the time before Tafanie would be home from school. I invited Chuck's mom, Virginia, to go with us and the whole way down there and the whole way back she kept pointing out to Crystal how pretty the leaves were. And, like what we have been seeing here in the northeast, the leaves in middle Tennessee were at their peak of autumn color. When Chuck asked Crystal later that evening how she liked the ride to the camp with Grandma Kelley, she told him it was fun but all Grandma Kelley talked about was how the pretty the leaves were over and over and over.
Maybe as we get older we just appreciate things like the color of the autumn leaves more and maybe we have a little more time to appreciate them. Whatever the reason, I think these leaf peepers would agree, this Autumn Leaf Tour is AWESOME!!!! :)
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