The beauty of freedom!

There is just one week left before Erin's school years commence. She is absolutely ecstatic about starting kindergarten, but of course she does not realize that it means her freedom will be somewhat kaput very soon. However, I am aware of it and am taking advantage of this time we have left filling days with various activities. We had no plans for Tuesday so in the morning I interrogated Erin about what she would like to do that day. Being Erin, my child informed me that she would be delighted to go to a beach.

"Bummer! We do not have an ocean, we only have mountains around here." 
"Than we can go hiking!" was her reply. So hiking we went!

After filling our water backpack and grabbing a few snacks Erin, Danny and I piled into our Bessiemobile and to the mountains we went heading east to the Battle Creek trail. The trail leads to a pretty waterfall and is slightly over a mile long both ways. Even our Little Monkey can manage that distance.

Everything did not go smooth. When we arrived at our destination I discovered that my silly child interpreted "Erin put on your pink shoes" as "Erin put on your pink flip flops!" Yeah! My bad! I ought to have checked before leaving house, but it was too late. At that point a couple hiking ladies came of the trail with their absolutely filthy dogs (No pun intended! Dogs have all the rights to get filthy on dusty trails leading to waterfalls), who looked like experienced kind of folks. Hence being new to this dragging a 5- and a 2-year-old to the hills I asked how long the hike took. After studying my crew and their attire the skeptical looking hiking ladies told me there was no way we would make it to the end, though we could probably get to the brook and splash in it. Challenge accepted, to the end we would go!

Up the trail we started. Erin pranced around like a wild pony and Danny walked kicking every rock in his path. I am not sure how many groups overtook us, but I did not mind. We were in no hurry in our flip flops and  sandals (The skeptical ladies also told me I would ruin my pretty sandals. Ha! They were wrong. I have already ruined them last summer. You can not ruin the same pair of shoes twice!) In about 20 minutes we came to an area covered in finest dirt I have ever seen! Kids were impressed, hence they proceeded stomping around and tossing it in the air creating a dust cloud. They looked like birds taking a dust bath!

After they became sufficiently filthy we moved on in the direction of a brook that became our second stop on this adventure. Danny kept walking, though as soon as he discovered that he could drink out of the backpack hose he insisted on being carried while slurping water out of that hose. The kid is a camel judging by how much he can drink when given the chance.

At the base of the brook Erin and Danny threw rocks into the water which amused them for a good 10 minutes. I have to admit that I myself am partial to tossing rocks in the water.

 

After this stop we continued until the waterfall (that the skeptical ladies did not think we could make to). I helped Erin on the steep hills and carried Danny here and there. I admit that more appropriate footwear would have made it easier, but we made it there even without it. So kudos to us!

Erin was delighted about making it to the top. So was I, particularly after cooling down in the waterfall mist. Can't think what is more refreshing than standing near one. Danny carried on with the rock tossing. By that time he was rather tiered and was happy to sit down. I considered offering the snack, but decided against it. I have nothing against eating with slightly dirty hands, when out in the nature, but Pooky's and Danny's hands stopped being "slightly dirty" at least 30 minutes prior. Snacks had to wait!

After resting a bit we headed back down. The view was stunning! If I were a poet than this would have been a proper moment to stop and pen a verse or two. At that moment, I was mostly a mom holding on to her kids tight so they would not face plant on a steep hill. On the way back Erin kept picking up rocks to take home, oh! and leaves, and acorns. I refused to store those treasures in my backpack (note to self: have her bring her own next time). I was tiered and hot, not a good combination for offering freight carrying services. Erin refused to leave anything behind and kept dropping and picking her load every few steps. Despite that we eventually made it back and were so thrilled to see our old Bessie. After we got home Danny boy went down for a three hour nap. My crew was exhausted, but happy. What else does a mama need!

Ta ta for now!

On the side note. I have so much respect for the pioneers who walked to these frontiers thought mountains and valleys, in cold and heat, with only little warm water to drink and not the tastiest of food to eat. I think about many children of 2- and 5-year-olds who had to make this journey on foot. What an exceptional generation they were!