THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 19, 1995 TAG: 9509180231
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MOM, I'M BORED
SOURCE: SHERRIE BOYER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
SEARCH AS I may, I can't find a single pick-your-own cotton field. So we did the next best thing. We found a field and studied a plant up-close, keeping our feet on the public path and our fingers on absolute notice.
While this was the day's goal, we discovered, again, that the means is always as good or better than the end. With this in mind, we recommend Lone Star Lakes in Suffolk.
This marvelous public collection of 11 lakes, trails, picnic areas and fields for archery, model plane flying and horseback riding, is truly a splendor amidst the suburban growth that is peppering Suffolk.
And to make it even better, several sections of the walking or driving path border on cotton fields.
But now I am getting away from the lakes.
Maddie, Sam and I (Allio was at school) had a wonderful time exploring a picnic area nestled in a tremendous grove of pine trees. The ground we walked was as cushy as bouncing on a bed; the carpet of needles was so thick.
Maddie spotted a secret passage beyond the dried up creek bed (past the ``troll'' bridge), and off we wandered, ducking down under the overhanging branches, walking a hidden pine trail through the woods.
At its end, we discovered a rickety dock out to a green-covered lake, unmoving and silent. The green, we found, was some form of algae, very thick and very soft. We poked in sticks and wondered why it was green.
Occasionally a bullfrog jumped and the algae would open a fissure to the dark water and then close as if nothing had changed.
Near the park entrance are lots of areas from which to view the water. At one boat ramp, we paused to skip stones and listen to the distant quacking of ducks. Only when we realized that the white spots on an island to our right were moving did we realize the noise came from a crowd nesting there.
All 20 of the ducks paddled over to visit. When they realized we had nothing to offer, their quakes turned to hisses. A few chased us up the ramp. But we stayed close enough to marvel at their individual differences and to get enough close-up views of the inside of orange mouths to last awhile.
Maddie caught daddy long legs; Sam spotted water striders. We wished for a boat (there are no rentals). We wished for a horse (again, no rentals). We wished for the fishing pole forgotten at home. And we wished for cotton to pick, an airplane to fly (Maddie, not me) and a bow and arrow to zing through the archery fields.
There was a lot of wishing that day, yet we were still happy for the adventure, grateful to have discovered so peaceful a spot.
Next time we go, though, we'll be more prepared. After all, this a BYO (bring your own) kind-of park: BYO horse, canoe, plane, poles, bait and bows. And if you do, you'll find lots of ways to use them.
To get to Lone Star Lakes, take Interstate 664 to exit 11A. Follow Route 337 (Portsmouth Boulevard) west about 3 miles, then veer right onto Route 125 west (Kings Highway). In 6 miles (just before the Chuckatuck intersection), you'll see a sign on the right for the lakes. The name of the road is Bob House Parkway, and it will wrap around toward the park entrance.
The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset through October. Beginning in November, hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If the entrance gate is manned, you'll receive a map of the park showing picnic areas, trails, etc. We picnicked to the left of the entrance, just down the road toward the horse trails. There are picnic areas to the right as well. And both lanes offer a close-up look at cotton fields, which border the park's paths. These fields are privately owned, so you'll want to look only, from the path.
Admission for picnicking or hiking is $1 per car; all other fees are per person. Fishing, boating, archery and model airplane flying permits are $2. Horseback riding is $3. You must pass a safety course to use the airplane field. For more information, call 925-6325. by CNB