Norma had been planning this trip for quite some time. The original plan was to do a river tubing trip on the North Branch of the Potomac River with the help of Tracks and Yaks. But that fell through due to unfavorable river conditions. So instead, we were to do a train ride one way followed by a rail bike ride back to the start.

We met in Cumberland, Maryland, a place nicknamed "Queen City" because it was once the second largest city in Maryland, after Baltimore. There, we boarded a train called the Frostburg Flyer which took us on a slow, scenic ride to Frostburg, Maryland.

In Frostburg, we ate lunch and then toured the Thrasher Carriage Museum.

Norma did a lot of planning for the kids but overlooked Daphne. We were fortunate she could join us on the train. But the rail bikes were a different story. We inspected the bikes and figured that Daphne might not be well suited to ride one. Speaking to the fellow in charge confirmed this. So instead, the plan was for Daphne and I to take the train back while everyone else rode the rail bikes. Here's Daphne and me looking out the train, saying good-bye to the rest of the group.

I slept most of the way back. Daphne was well-behaved and I think the other passengers were impressed by her.

While Daphne and I took the train back to Cumberland, Norma and her extended family used their own muscle to pedal the rail bikes about eight miles back.

Based on what Norma said, they weren't exactly the smartest in distributing muscle. Laah, Norma's youngest sister, was stuck with two little girls who contributed very little in terms of pedaling. Bikes weren't supposed to touch but pushing Laah and her passengers was the best solution so that's what the riders behind her did.

Norma managed to get stung by a wasp or hornet on her ring finger. She didn't take off her ring and her finger swelled up significantly to the point there was no chance of removing the ring.

Daphne and I arrived back in Queen City long before the others. So we did a little exploring. I took us under an elevated section of tracks near a waterway.

Next, we walked on the levee, high above the North Branch of the Potomac River. I looked for a way to get down to the water but found no way to do so legally without having to walk far.

I saw some kayakers who made it up to the Bridge Street Spillway.

Daphne and I walked across Bridge Street into West Virginia. We turned around at Blocker Street and retraced our steps back into Maryland.

The two of us walked along the Cumberland Canal Basin and then found a big horizontal rock on which to lie down. But I didn't stick around because when I looked up, I saw a bald-faced hornet nest.

Eventually, Norma called to let me know they were back and then Daphne and I walked over to meet them.

Laah and her kids went home while the rest of us went to Little Meadows Campground in Grantsville, Maryland. The name is a little confusing because Norma and I had also stayed at a Big Meadows Campground but the two are nowhere near each other.

Joyce (Norma's middle sister), her husband (Jimmy), and their kids had already set up their campsite by driving their camper in. Norma, Hazel (Norma's mom), Daphne, and I stayed in a cabin.

Our cabin had a refrigerator. I think it had air conditioning but I really don't remember because the temperature was so mild all weekend. We really lucked out with the weather. No rain either.

There was a separate building a stone's throw away that had running water for a sink, toilet, and shower. There was no water in the cabin. The biggest complaint was the lack of hot water. Only cold showers for us unless we wanted to use the ones closer to where Jimmy and Joyce stayed.

That night we ate dinner at Jimmy and Joyce's site. All the rest of our meals would be there. No eating out.

Compared to other campsites we've visited with Norma's family, Little Meadows was pretty boring. No bouncy pillows, swimming pool, mini-golf, gel guns, snack bar, gift shop, or arcade. Not surprisingly, there weren't many kids there. While almost all the spots were taken up by a camper trailer, a lot of them were empty. I think folks rent their spot for the year and just show up once in awhile.

So what did the kids do? The oldest girl is a volleyball player so she practiced her technique. In the pic below, she's sending the ball to her brother.

The younger kids spent time in Little Meadows Lake. There is a beach and a very small swimming area roped off from the rest of the lake.

We tossed around the flying disc until it broke. The two youngest were having a hard time throwing and catching but we were patient with them.

The kids also brought their bicycles.

Norma and her family had passed by this campground numerous times over the last several years but this was their first time here. I suppose it is a good place to relax but if you actually like doing stuff, I think there are better options.

I spent some time taking photos of wildlife.

On a rock in the lake, I spotted this turtle.

Turtles shed their shells, specifically the scutes (the individual plates on the shell), to accommodate growth and to remove bacteria or infections. The scutes grow from underneath, pushing the older ones off. This shedding process helps turtles grow, stay healthy, and maintain a streamlined shape for swimming.
- from Google AI Overview

At first, I was regretting not bringing a boat until I learned that they don't allow folks to launch their own personal boats. But you can rent one of theirs, so that's what I did. They had recreational kayaks and canoes. No SUPs. It was only eight dollars to rent a boat for the whole day.

I launched from Little Meadows Lake boat launch and then paddled around Little Meadows Lake. It was very boring and unnatural.

I pulled ashore and then portaged across the East Lake Road isthmus to a smaller, unnamed lake. This other body of water was everything Little Meadows Lake was not. It was scenic and natural.

I paddled at a snail's pace to absorb and enjoy the scenery. Would I have preferred being on a SUP? Probably not. Some sections were very shallow with lots of tree stumps just below the surface. In contrast, I think other sections were extremely deep. I wondered if this place was once a quarry.

In one of the shallow areas, I stopped to admire the dragonflies and damselflies such as the pair at the top of this page and below.

Norma drove by with Daphne, who she passed to me.

I saw three beaver lodges in this tiny lake. I also heard one slap its tail on the water. Later, with Daphne in my boat, we saw the biggest beaver I'd ever seen crawl from the shore into the water as we passed. Not counting its tail, it was about two-and-a-half-feet long.

I saw lots of fish, mostly sunfish. Jimmy said they stock the place for fishing.

I also saw a couple of sunfish nests.
Sunfish nests are shallow, saucer-shaped depressions that male sunfish create in the sand or gravel of ponds and lakes to attract females for spawning and to protect their eggs. The males vigorously defend these nests from other fish and predators.
- from Google AI Overview

In the pic below, look closely at the depression on the right and you'll see a sunfish guarding its nest.

Our cabin was right near where I portaged, so before returning back to the bigger lake, I took Daphne back to the cabin. Then I paddled back to the launch site, returned the kayak, and walked back to the cabin.

On my walk back, I saw an area where a creek flows into the lake. Both the creek and the spot where it entered the lake looked very red. I've heard this indicates the presence of iron.

We drove a very short distance out of the campground to the Meadow Mountain - Little Meadows trailhead. Hazel was with us and I was glad she was willing to walk as far as she did.

The section of trail we were at is really a gravel road. It is made for off-road vehicles, particularly snowmobiles.

Norma walked with some of the kids from the trail to the campsite, cutting across an open field. The rest of us drove back.

After packing up, Norma, Hazel, Daphne, and I went over to Jimmy and Joyce's camper for breakfast which was really more of a brunch.

Next, we headed over to the beach on the west side of Little Meadows Lake. Here's the eldest girl with Hazel.

We posed for one last photo.

We left the campground and then went out for ice cream. I had the peach sundae which was very good.

Norma and I took Hazel back to her house. I set up Hazel's internet browser configurations and fixed (really just adjusted) her blinds while Norma worked on getting Hazel's new phone set up. Daphne waited for us patiently.

We ate dinner and then began the long drive home.

Norma's stung finger was looking a little less swollen. I don't think I would have taken it as well as her.