SUNDAY: Leafpeeping Paddle or Hike (w/margarita picnic)
Details
Join us Sunday for a casual foliage hike or paddle (sorry, no rentals) around scenic Clopper Lake. Afterward enjoy a spirited picnic celebrating Día de Muertos!
KEY DETAILS (please read):
OVERVIEW:
Sunday should be a beautiful fall day — with an extra hour of sleep to boot! Set your clocks back and crank your fun-meter forward for a scenic land or sea lap around the lake at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, MD. Afterward, we'll gather at the edge of the water to enjoy friendship and fall foliage views at an optional free picnic. In honor of the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday, your host PapaDuck will provide Mexican-themed snacks, sweets, and pre-mixed margaritas for all to enjoy. Bring a portable chair.
RSVPs:
This event is cross-posted. Please RSVP with only one meetup group. Also, please answer the RSVP question and indicate whether you'll be hiking or paddling.
MEETING:
Everyone will meet in the Boat Center area (follow signs after entering the park) at 11 am for joint introductions. Hikers should park in the upper Boat Center lot; paddlers use the lower lot near the launch ramp. Entrance to the park should be free (fee collection typically ends in late October). IMPORTANT: The Boat Center is closed for the season, so there will be no boat rentals and NO RESTROOMS at our meeting point, but you can stop and use the restroom near the tire playground (on the right as you drive toward the Boat Center).
HIKING:
The incomparable Carmen has graciously agreed to lead the hike. Yay! The Lake Shore Trail loop is about 3.5 miles total. Pace will be casual and the fall foliage views should be fantastic. The trail is natural surface and can be rooty, but is otherwise rated as easy with minimal elevation gain. Hiking shoes are ideal but sturdy sneakers will work. Well-behaved dogs who keep their owners on a short (6-foot) leash are welcome.
PADDLING:
PapaDuck (aka Carl) will lead the paddlers. We'll put in at the Boat Center ramp in the lower parking lot. Again, you'll need to bring your own boat or board; no rentals are available. We'll explore the lake at a casual pace, enjoying awesome autumnal views and a curious collection of critters, including turtles, jumping fish, blue herons, cormorants, kingfishers, and possibly even a bald eagle.
PICNICKING:
At the end of our land and sea adventures, we'll reunite for an optional scenic picnic in a clearing right at the edge of the lake. Given that Sunday is the first day of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday honoring and celebrating the departed), PapaDuck will provide free Mexican-themed snacks, sweets, and margaritas. You are also welcome to bring your own individual lunch and beverage. IMPORTANT: You MUST BRING A CAMP CHAIR or blanket, as no picnic tables will be available.
Thanks very much for your attention. We hope to see you Sunday! :)
----------------------
Please note: A "yes" RSVP is your digital signature attesting that you have read, understood, and agreed to the group's Liability Waiver and Release, located here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mD_vRF62MaCBUyVsx_qzi72hCpaZsqr_/view