29. LAKE MACBRIDE STATE PARK (IOWA), USA

Lake Macbride

Recently, while visiting USA, we had a great family reunion. Three generations of our family were present. We wanted to go somewhere where there was something for everyone…for the toddlers as well as for us, the oldies. The choice fell on Lake Macbride which is a State Park in IOWA State, about 40-50 miles away from Cedar Rapids. Our son said, “Oh, it is a huge park spread over some 2000 acres. It has a lake where there are facilities for fishing, boating, swimming and camping. There are facilities for day picnickers also with grills, seating area and slides etc. for children. And it is very very green. Mom, you’ll love it.”

Hubby, always having eternal curiosity about anything new, shot a volley of questions, “Why is it called Macbride Lake? Who is Macbride? Is it a natural lake or man-made? Is this natural forest?”

"Too many questions! I don't have all the answers! Why don't you 'Google'  it?" How I wished Google was there when he used to ask me the hundreds of questions as a kid and I used to endlessly struggle with various Encyclopedias.

We did ‘Google’ for it and collected the information about the history and origin of Lake Macbride. We learnt that an effort to conserve the creek and the woods of this area was started off as early as in the early 1930s by IOWA City Chamber of Commerce and the Park was opened to public in the year 1937. The area was named after Thomas Macbride who was a Professor of Botany in the University of IOWA and was known as the “Father of Conservation” in IOWA State. He had focussed on the need for developing such parks in the countryside of IOWA state way back in 1895. As a result, IOWA State today has a number of such parks. I have already written earlier about two such parks called Kepler State Park and Lake Palo area. What a visionary Thomas Macbride must have been, we discussed. The park also touches Coralville Lake which is one of the largest artificial lakes of IOWA State.

With our initial curiosity satisfied, we were eagerly awaiting our visit to Lake Macbride the next day. Armed with ready to cook stuff, a crate of juices, coal, lighter etc, we were on a nice long drive which took us to our destination in about an hour.

As we neared the Lake, we noticed some people were carrying their own boats on the trailer of their car so that they could do boating in the lake. Some other less adventurous ones had two bikes hanging on the rear of their cars so that they could bike along after they reach the venue. I must acknowledge, the people here know how to live and enjoy life.

The tall trees formed a very dense forest all around.

Once at the Park, it was a wow moment. What a place! It was a huge dense forest. Sun hiding behind tall trees, undulated slopes, blue water in the lake….total bliss..we were at our wit’s end. Soon we identified a place where we could picnic for the whole day. Once our cars were parked there, it became our area and no one else would come there. I couldn’t help thinking of our picnics back home where the number of picnickers is so high that we invariably had to struggle to find a place for our durries.

Sibling bonhomie

Grandkids were elated too and kept running up and down. Playing soccer was difficult but they were happy to find a playground with slides and cushioned floor. My younger grandson, who is all of 2.5 years, saw a long thin root of a tree and pulled me to that place pointing to it and saying, “See, Dadi…snake!”

Green was the colour of the Day

Children lighted fire in the grill fixed there with the coal they had brought with them and put some fish and veggies for grilling. Soon, the grilled delicacies were ready and it was lunch-time....Finger-licking and yummilicious!

One could spent hours on the lakeside.

Going around the area and soaking in the beauty of nature was an extremely satisfying experience and we did not want to leave the place. But all good things have to come to an end and so did this wonderful day. We left the place promising ourselves to return soon.

The  grass was in competition with the tree leaves to get some sunshine.

As we were leaving, I was silently trying to remember William Wordsworth’s words, "I gazed -- and gazed - but little thought... What wealth the show to me had brought."  

My state of mind was also similar. Only, I had replaced the Daffodils with trees.

 I wander'd lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

                                             

                                                                                      ( William Wordsworth - 1770-1850)

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