I’ve been back for a week. The oppressive high temperatures in the NOVA area make me miss the dry heat of the southwest and the cool breezes of the coast.

I am intent not to settle comfortably into an indoor lifestyle. It’s trickier to get outside when abiding in a sprawling metropolis, but there are quite a few nearby regional parks at my disposal.

One of them is Morven Park, a historic estate located in Leesburg, VA. The Ridge Trail was a leisure 1.3 mile stroll through a forested area dotted with landmarks from the past.

Yes, it was hot. Yes, there were ticks. Yes, I enjoyed every minute of it. The tree cover tricked me into thinking that I was a great distance from human developments.

I even saw some spotted turtles, who hung out near the path relishing the humidity.

I guess this would be considered Park #48? 🙂