Lee State Park

We had all been affected by Woods Bay.  How could we have escaped the wildness of that place?  We left a bit uneasy.  Woods Bay had reached inside our spirits and touched it with a sense of foreboding.  I wanted to be done.  I wanted to gather my babies and go home.

But I couldn't.  The only logical way to accomplish the Ultimate Outsider challenge is to follow the lines of parks and visit all that are within the same vicinity.  Our group was called to press on and so we journeyed to Lee State Park.

We needed Lee that day after Woods Bay.  We just didn't know it.  The research I had done suggested that Lee was a favorite of equestrian enthusiasts.  We were prepared to make Lee a short stop.  Get the stamp, stretch our legs, get out.  But Lee unexpectedly caught us up in a much needed embrace.  Lee refreshed us.  Lee comforted us.  Lee drew us in and has not yet let us go.

Each park has a spirit about it, much more than curb appeal, each park has a pervasive culture.  As you enter the property you sense it.  As you explore further, the air fills with the heart of the place.  The park personifies.  It swells of gregarious quiet.  It smiles; it beckons; it leads.  We follow.

Lee is a deep park.  The road draws you deep into its center.  It is a gift built by the CCC lovingly and with purpose for the enjoyment of families and the refreshment of souls.  The spirits of those young men who labored here are alive at Lee.  You can feel their pride as their ghosts watch children run between the parkitectured shelters and splash in the artesian wells.

We pulled into the parking lot and Anchor went into the office to inquire about the trails.  He came back after a few minutes smiling and shaking his head.  He opened the door, "Come on.  Everybody out" he instructed.  "What?" I asked.  Anchor again shook his head and laughed.  "The folks here were so excited that we're visiting that they told me to hurry up and get everybody so they can say hi and show them the nature center."

Seriously?  It was Saturday night and close to 5:00.  It was time for the office to close and these rangers were insisting  on staying open late to welcome our sojourning family that they had not been expecting, all six of us, nasty and smelly from the rain and recovering from foul moods.  Seriously?  Yes.

That is what Lee does.  The artesian wells were well placed here.  They must be a sort of mascot of refreshment and rejuvenation .  The waters of the wells and the sweetness of the air have thoroughly infected those who work here with the same spirit of welcome and refreshment.  The love and comfort springs from those who love Lee as the water springs from those dated wells.

We gathered our children and came to where we were welcomed by two older gentlemen who seemed themselves to be straight from Mayberry wearing the biggest "Glad to know you" smiles.  They overwhelmed us with sincere joy at the meeting of us- at their opportunity to welcome us into this park that they loved so well.

Lester proudly showed us the giant display featuring the native animals and plant species of the watershed.  Rick had carefully prepared coloring sheets, crayons, bookmarks and informational packets for each of the children.  They chatted, they welcomed, they won our hearts.

Lester and Rick became Lee State Park for us.  Their sincerity and joy warmed the the stone picnic shelters and gave comfort to the shadows of the low hanging trees.  Visiting with those two men remains one of the brightest highlights of our entire journey.

Reluctantly, we left our new friends so they could close the shop.  We explored the trails and the boardwalk.  We picnicked at the shelters.  I watched my children playing among the grandfatherly trees laden with spanish moss.  We crossed the bridge, skirted the pond and discovered the two artesian wells flowing freely and gently and yet with a consistent steady force into the pond below.  What joy shone on my children's faces as they splashed themselves and each other with the ice cold water!  The spirit of Lee laughed along with my children and smiled with each splash.  Lee lives to refresh and to restore.  Lee's culture is that of love.