Part II - Nature, Animals, Playgrounds and...CASTLES!

After having been directed to the rear gate of the Rye Nature Center, Alex and I walked in. Suddenly our environment was transformed. The rush of traffic on Boston Post Road hushed and we were under a huge tree canopy on a dirt path. We'd only walked about 30 feet before we heard more birds and wind in the trees than traffic.

Alex was amazed at where he was. He asked a million questions about the woods and the birds and where the sun went. He wanted to know what the trees were. He spoke about the Lorax and reminded me that the trees have no tongues. We came across a pond and he commented that it was dirty. I told him that it was natural dirt. 'It needs to be cleaned.' he said. I told him that nature will clean it if people leave it alone.

We took a path to the left to come across a brand new playground. It hadn't been there two years ago. He was thrilled to crawl through a curving tunnel and climb into a shelter that looked like a bird's nest. Then I pointed out 'the castle'. He was originally not interested when I said we couldn't go in it, but I coaxed him over.

We were able to walk onto a solid patio of the house. Alex gazed down through the safety wire into the ruins. He said 'There's no king here, or queens. There's knights, though.' I asked about the knights and if he was a knight. He said 'No, I'm the King!' Eventually, he talked me into walking through some rooms that had no remnant roof. Eventually, I talked him into leaving the castle to enter the exhibit hall.

Thursday, April 29