Stratton park closed for upgrades

 Stratton Park, in Bethesda, MD is closed for upgrades.  The park is being made ADA compliant.  The changes include a pave path to the baseball field, replacing the path to the playground, and a paved path that goes by the tennis courts and basketball courts, then continues on to Democracy Blvd.  They are also replacing the grill with two grills, one of which is ADA complaint.  I previously covered the planned upgrades.

The whole park is currently closed and the pavilion, playground, basketball courts, and tennis courts have a fence around them. The park will remain closed until winter (no word on if it is the beginning or end of winter).

 The equipment and piles of gravel are stored in the parking lot.

 The path up to the pavilion and tennis courts is being re-done.

 The new grills will be located in this area.

 The playground area is fenced off.

This is where the new path that goes by the tennis courts and out to Democracy Boulevard will be.

Go Visit: Tubing at Harper's Ferry

 A great summer adventure is to go tubing on the Potomac River near Harper's Ferry.  It is only an hour's drive from Bethesda and it is a fine way to spend a hot summer day.  There are many outfitters that will rent you a tube ($20 to $30), drive you to the river, then pick you up again when you are done.  I went with Harpers Ferry Adventure Center and was pleased with how they run the operation, but I am sure that there are many other good outfitters.

The strength of the rapids depends a lot on how much rain there has been.  The rapids are class I to class III, which is not too strong.  The above picture is representative of the type of rapids there are above the railroad bridge.  Below it are some stronger ones.

It will be hot, and you will be out in the sun the whole time so bring plenty of sunscreen and water.  You can bring food and pull up on a rock to eat it (make sure it stays dry and pack your trash out when you're done), Also, shoes that you don't mind getting wet are a must.  Children should be over 12, I'd suggest one child per adult if they are 12 or 13.

Space ships abound

 I got a box from Amazon today and on the inside flap it said:

SPACE SHIP
Assembly Instructions:

1. Place box on floor
2. Carefully place space traveller in box
3. Blast-off noises

I love it, but my astronaut conscript was not amused.