We set aside last Friday to do a "big hike." The girls were given a week's warning that Daddy was off on Friday and we'd be slaying one of our giants.
It seemed like this heads-up went a long way toward helping attitudes on a hike of this length. The promised homemade subs, Pringles and traditional special candy for a picnic lunch probably went a long way as well.
Food is a great motivator, y'all! Add in the fact that we ate our picnic lunch seated along a quiet brook and it might've been the highlight of our hike!
This mine camp trail is historic in our area. I've blogged about it before. The railroad grades and switchbacks are intriguing!
We've hiked a few different sections of the trail, but this time, we wanted to do the whole loop. As you can see, the Blossoms were three years younger when we first hiked it.
Sure, the weather wasn't warm with optimistic sunshine, but the hike was scheduled. We don't like the weather to dictate our plans.
It's so unpredictable these days that if we waited for "more pleasant weather," we'd probably never get to hike. We had light rain on and off for about one third of the hike. For the rest, it was cloudy and temperate!
Since we had multiple layers and had ball caps on as well, we actually enjoyed the beauty the rain created. The gentle pitter-patter deep in a forest away from the things of man was peaceful and soothing.
We love a good water crossing! Since we are not opposed to jumping over creeks, crossing on miscellaneous rocks or questionable mossy logs or even wading right through it, Blossom1 was particularly impressed with the quality of this water crossing. If only all water crossings were this reliable!
Hiking along creeks provides great motivation for the younger hiking crowd. When we follow runs, our interest is always piqued. There's so much scope for the imagination in a creek!
At one point, we came upon a forest of evergreens that had been attacked by a contagious fungus. It looked a bit like a cursed Narnia forest, with all the pines frozen under the spells of the White Witch.
It stirred my imagination.
The Blossoms did so well! We had some terrific family time, laughing and joking and watching for the red blazes of the trail.
We trudged onward, completing 8.7 miles. Every one of the Blossoms walked the entire way. This is a record for us and because of this, the girls walked away with a strong sense of accomplishment.
The Rugged Mountain Man and I were pleased with this happy quarantine memory. It's funny how that much exercise that can be so invigorating!
Dominique
