RA Trip to Sweetwater Park

April 1, 2000

We planned an RA trip to nearby Sweetwater Park with fishing and exploring on the agenda.

We eventually wound up at the old factory, which is the most familiar place along the Sweetwater Creek. Our group consists of Michael York, Rod Nave, Johnny Huffman, Michael Anderson, Brian York, Jason Anderson and Matthew Bryant.

Traveling to the park, we soon had a number of boys on the bank of the lake with fishing poles.

Ray Collier, Jr acts as fishing coach as Matthew Bryant and Jason Anderson try out these rods and reels.

Michael York and Michael Anderson casting from the lake bank.

Ah, the joys of fishing! But there were also other interesting things to do, like climb out on the slanted trees that reach out over the water.

Actually, the lure of climbing out on the trees took over after a while, and everybody was doing it. On one tree, we have Johnny Huffman, Brian York, Michael York, Matthew Bryant, Jason Anderson, Michael Anderson, and Ray Collier, Jr. Who started all this?

Then from climbing out on slanted trees, Michael York moves to climbing up a big knotty, warty tree.
Brian York climbs up among the new leaves of spring.

Ray Collier, Jr. climbs up a large tree leaning across the trail. You can certainly see that we have the new growth of spring at the first of April.

Matthew Bryant has a go at this big slanted tree.

OK, now we are back to seeing how many guys we can get out over the Sweetwater Creek on an overhanging tree. At least none of them have fallen in yet.

Johnny lends a steadying hand for Matthew Bryant and Brian York so they can see how high they dare to go.
We alternate between "out over the water" and "up among the leaves.

Jason Anderson is going to get just a little bit higher.

Ray watches as Matthew makes one last tree climb.

Posing by the New Manchester Mill, commonly referred to as "the factory" is the final step of just a crazy, fun trip with the boys.