Big Trees, Beach, and Dock, Bald Eagle State Park

Swimming time grows short in central Pennsylvania, as Labor Day has passed and all of the state parks begin to close their beaches. My husband and I have gone swimming as much as we can this summer. I try to exercise every day, alternating among walking, swimming, and riding bicycle. This was swim #23 for me for the summer, but who's counting? I almost hesitate to admit that I've taken more showers at state parks this summer than I've had at home!

We'd planned to do some shopping and errands, but as soon as we started packing the car to go, my husband reconsidered: "The heck with all of that, let's just grab some burgers and go swimming!" So we stopped at Burger King in Bellefonte for two $5 bags, ate our fill, and then headed for Bald Eagle State Park.

The summer season grows long in the tooth, and the beach was nearly deserted. I think at one point, I counted ten people total, including us. Nobody was really swimming, and since it wasn't a weekend, there weren't many boats on the water. It wasn't breezy either, so the water surface was still, and glassy, and perfect for reflections.

My husband dropped me off by one of the marinas (see photo in the extras), where lots of boats were docked. I often see herons there, but not on this day. I did enjoy the huge trees, and the boats, which made it look like we might be in some quaint New England town, but we weren't. A cormorant arrived, and then left, with great fanfare and splashing and flapping of wings; as it lifted up to go, it looked like a huge, dark BAT. Which made me giggle, but then again, I am easily amused.

I got to the beach area to find my husband had brought my daysack and chair from the car. I grabbed my daysack and went into the bathhouse to change into my red suit, which, as it turns out, is my favorite suit this summer. I've bought others, but this one just wins. It goes on easily, it fits well, it feels comfy, it keeps all parts covered, and it dries quickly. Those are all WINs.

And then we swam, and the water seemed cleaner than usual, and stiller than usual, and I wished once again that I had cameras in my eyes so I could show you how beautiful the reflections are from the surface of the water. It was sublime, and we swam a long, long time. I saw two large birds above us in the sky, and I wondered if one might be a bald eagle, but its head wasn't right. Maybe an osprey? But its head wasn't right for that either!

When we got out, we went and sat in the sun for a while, and then headed for the outdoor showers. They offer cold water, which can be pretty darn shocking, but mine almost seemed to warm up to room temperature by the time I was done. Scrub scrub scrub. Then into the bathhouse to change back into my regular self.

As I was rinsing out my bathing suit in the sink (this I highly recommend if you swim in ANY water, either chlorinated or not, as it's often way dirtier than you might think), a lady came in, huffing and puffing, and we had a brief interaction. First, where were the toilets? (I pointed.) Second, were there showers here? I said Yes, outdoors. Third, were the showers warm? I said Nope, they're not.

Then she asked me if there are many bears around the park, and I told her quite honestly, not many, in my experience. In fact, upon considering it, I realized I'd only ever seen ONE bear at the park, in the whole time I've been visiting there (which is to say, since the 1980s). But then again, I've never CAMPED there.

Then she told me her story. She was camping out at the park overnight in a tent, and she heard a loud animal noise. I asked her if it might have been a deer, and demonstrated the snorting noises they can make when they're unhappy to discover you in their path. She said No, it was a Loud-Animal-Breathing noise. She was just SURE it was a bear.

She did have a Very Large Flashlight, she said, and the thought pleased her. So she got it out, and looked around, and though she didn't see anything, there was motion in the bushes and weeds. So she fled from the tent to the car, and that's where she spent the rest of the night!

We both left the bathhouse, and as I did, I saw my husband sitting in his chair by the snack bar, which, bizarrely, was open. It's not supposed to be open on a Wednesday, but it was! He insisted that I absolutely MUST have either a dish of ice cream or milkshake, as otherwise, he would HEAR me complaining about the ice cream or milkshake I didn't get to have, all winter long.

So, in order to oblige him (I'm nothing if not the dutiful wife; I aim to please!), I did a public service, and went inside and ordered myself an August Pie milkshake. The snack shop lady and I chatted and she asked if I'd seen any bald eagles. I said I saw some big birds but they didn't seem like bald eagles OR ospreys. Somewhere in between. 

She informed me that they have BABY BALD EAGLES there. And so maybe that in-between bird that I saw was one of those. And the milkshake - oh my! It was very sweet, and fruity, and good, and I sat in my chair and drank it, and I looked at the beach and I pondered, and I felt very, very wistful indeed.

For I knew a thing I hadn't told you until now: this was the day that was going to be our LAST SWIM of the year at Bald Eagle State Park. We can't quite get a straight answer yet as to exactly WHEN the swim area will close, but they indicated it will be SOON, perhaps as early as sometime next week! (I've just sent them another email, asking.)

And so I took many, many photos. And they were wistful photos, because they were shots of something I knew I wasn't going to be having anymore, anytime soon. Once the swimming area closes, we typically don't go back to Bald Eagle State Park for a while, maybe not even for months. 

When I got home, I combed through all of the pictures, was delighted with the set, and how wonderful it looked there, and I posted many of them on Facebook. Before I went to bed, I showed my husband the photo slide show for the day, and we oohed and aahed over what a beautiful day it had been. Just a real peach, for late summer into early fall.

But I've got an update on that last matter. You see, we had such a great swim there, and it was so gorgeous, that my husband and I DO plan to try to get back in the coming few days, for ONE LAST TIME. Apparently, we just can't say good-bye to Bald Eagle State Park!

I've got two photos for you, both featuring big trees. The one above is the tree we sit beneath in the shade before we swim. You may see the lake and its swimming area on the other side of the tree. In the extras is a shot of the marina and its docks, with the lovely colorful boats, and a huge tree to the left, casting its shade. 

Bald Eagle State Park, I cannot say goodbye to you yet, but I am working on it! Here is Wynonna Judd, with It's Never Easy to Say Goodbye (the performance is less than a year after her mother's suicide; so much love to you, girl; be strong!). And I'm adding Night Ranger, with Goodbye.