Day 2: Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Yes, Donna and I have successfully completed our Junior Ranger Badge for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You will have to thumb through all the pics to see the swearing in ceremony.

The park focuses on the Erie Canal. We hiked the pathway alongside the canal. I couldn’t help but play over and over again the song I learned in Miss Brodie’s music class in sixth grade. “I knew a mule her name was Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal …”

We saw remnants of locks, the Boston Mill store, with the old gas station, and hiked our way carefully down and up the snow covered steps to see Brandywine Falls. The two ski resorts were making snow and people were on the mountain.

The weather was great. Sunny, no wind, while in the mid-thirties we could not have asked for a nicer snow melt covered day.

The park rangers continue to be amazing. Warm, friendly, and very helpful suggesting to us places to see - we go over the map and mark it up with them - and then we go through our Jr. Ranger Book and complete what we can in the Information Center - then we create a plan to head out and get to the places we need to see to complete our book and just experience the wonders.

As Donna and I explore the National Parks - Having the Senior Pass is GREAT! We have paid thousands of dollars in taxes over the years - we feel like our money went to support these parks and the people who work there to keep them in good condition.

Also, the variety of the parks is wonderful. None of them are the same. They each have their own personality and character.

Please enjoy the pictures, go to the end to see the Paul & Donna swearing in ceremony. The parks are know a safer and nicer place with Rangers Paul & Donna on the job!Read more