Day Hike in Jug Bay Natural Area - Chesapeake Bay, MD

On Wednesday morning, March 14, we decided to stretch our legs and do a 5-6 miles day hike in the Jug Bay Natural Area, which is not far from our campground.  The trail covers a wide variety of topography, from marshes and wetlands along Jug Bay and the Patuxent River, to hills and ridges with mountain laurel, birch, maple and other vegetation.

Here's Kathy, examining cypress knees in the swampy area:

The natural area also has a village of reconstructed cabins and other buildings from 18th, 19th and early 20th Century, including, most curiously, an original Sears Simplex Cottage and outhouse, which were prefabricated by Sears, ordered through its catalog, and the pieces delivered by train to the nearest train station.  Then a carpenter could construct the entire structure in a day or two.

Here's a photo of the exterior:

The cottage consists of three rooms:  a kitchen, a parlor and a bedroom.  Here's a photo of the interior:

By and large, the trees haven't begun to leaf out or bud, so we're hoping to get back to the area in April and see how it all looks in full bloom!