My parents were excited to plan a birthday adventure for us on Friday. We didn’t wander very far because of Covid worries but they successfully found a place that I had never been and that I thoroughly enjoyed.
They wouldn’t tell me where we were going as they thought the surprise would be more fun.
Turns out we went to Cross Mound Park near Tarlton. This park exists to preserve an Indian mound that is in the shape of a cross. It sits atop a hill with some walking trails through the woods around the mound.
I didn’t get a decent picture of the mound. Honestly, it’s low to the ground and would be hard to make out if you didn’t know what you were looking at – one reason I’m really glad it has been preserved in this park.
The crown jewel of the park is a beautiful pedestrian bridge that was built by the WPA in 1936. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed millions of Americans, mostly unskilled men, to construct buildings, roads, bridges and other projects across the country. It was part of President Roosevelt’s 1935 New Deal to help struggling Americans survive the Great Depression.
Today we can thank the WPA for countless things like hospitals, courthouses, parks and fairgrounds. They even employed artists, musicians and writers.
This bridge is the only remaining WPA project in Fairfield County and it was rehabbed a few years ago. It’s a suspension style bridge with steel cables and tall concrete entrances on either end.
The bridge spans Salt Creek which happened to be a bit low during our visit. I scurried right down the bank to skip stones and take in the view of the bridge from below.
While the park is just outside a village, it is peaceful here, serene. It’s one of those places that hides in plain sight, providing easy access to the sounds of nature- the trickle of water, a woodpecker overhead, the call of a frog in the distance.
The walking trail to the mound is a bit steep but the trails at the top of the hill are easy and pretty.
We also drove some roads none of us had been on, did some antiquing, saw a 600 year old white oak tree, and had a picnic lunch.
We are off the beaten path, simple pleasures kind of people so it was a good day, just wandering around and seeing what there was to see.
It’s hard for this control freak to appreciate a surprise but they did good planning this adventure!
I’ve completed another trip around the sun and am starting my 43rd year of life today. I contemplated doing some kind of snazzy post about 43 things I want to accomplish this year but that seems like a great way to be disappointed during a pandemic.
4. Working from home suits me. I like the quiet and find that I’m typically smarter, faster and better at my home desk than my office desk. The transition back into the office has been a challenge.
Today is my birthday. If all goes according to plan, I will be off on a grand adventure with a friend today. The last couple of birthdays have been really hard for me but I’m actually ok with this one. 2018 got off to a rocky start but I’m thinking this day will mark the start of something great. These are optimistic words and probably famous last words but I’m sticking to them.