We arrived at Buckhorn State Park in the late afternoon after parking at a church midway to wait out a thunderstorm. We’re in no hurry, so why drive in the heavy rain?

Our campground has large spaces tucked into the trees that make them seem private except for the neighbor you may have across the road.

Castle Rock Lake near the campground is full of filamentous green algae, much like the surface water we find in Iowa. But the trees let you know you are further north — pine and spruce in the forests.

We walked around the campground after our arrival, then took a longer hike the next morning. We found a pond along the Barrens Nature Trail that had excellent water quality; it must be more protected by the surrounding woods that isolate it from farm fields.

The grass and fields look like they have had more recent rain than at home. It’s fun to find the mushrooms that come with wet weather.