Pocomoke City Cypress Park

Esther and I are on a small kick of visiting local parks. Despite the natural beauty it is perilous boring on Chincoteague Island in the winter time. A few days ago we visited Shad Landing State Park (Maryland). There was not much going on, but it is an extensive park located on a canal connected to the Pocomoke River. Their claim to fame is that this is the northernmost location of Northern Bald Cypress. There are many of them in the swampy area close to the river.

When we had occasion to visit Pocomoke we decided to take a look at their Cypress Park. This is kind of  a mixed park. The cypresses appear in a swampy area. (Note the knees at the bottom.)

A boardwalk wanders through the swamp, taking you to a pond.

The pond is kind of peaceful looking.

It is connected by a side channel to the Pocomoke River, so it isn't properly a pond.

Getting there at this time of year involves navigating a bit of very moist ground where the board walk peters out. Then you cross this small bridge to get to the pond.

The rest of the park is located near Bridge Street, where there is a draw bridge. In addition to a boardwalk along the river there are play areas, picnic tables, a skate park, and a bandshell.

This is miles and miles from the point where the Pocomoke empties into Chesapeake Bay. But there are some really good-sized sailboats moored here. I would guess 40-50 feet on this one.

Strangely, it's origin is McLaughlin, South Dakota. McLaughlin is a far-away spot in an Indian Reservation. It is about 10 miles from the banks of the Missouri River. It is not clear whether the Missouri is navigable at that spot, nor whether the intervening dams to the south have locks.