Nature Reset

On our way home from the Dirty Dash in Eugene, A reached her travel time threshold. Outside of Oakridge after a very short nap (she does not nap well in the car) she was making incoherent demands, and whining, and sort of crying, but mostly just acting like a newly minted two year old.

I knew we had to reset or the next two hours would be miserable.

So we pulled over for a short hike to Salt Creek Falls.

From the top of the falls, which is very close to the parking lot, you can hike down to the base of the falls.  The boys had to make the hike, but I wasn't sure about doing it with little K and no carrier.  Johan and the boys hiked down, A, little K, and I hiked behind at our own pace with no intention of going all the way.  We were making decent progress on our own, until a scowly faced lady walked past me on her way up.  At the time that she passed us I was carrying both girls, and wearing shoes that were never intended for hiking.  Rather than lauding me with praise, complimenting me on my strength and patience (among other things :-)  )  she frowned at me, mumbled something about me not being able to make it, and pointed out that I should not have my baby on such a steep trail.

Well, humph!  I didn't even want to go to the base, and I really was sweating and pretty miserable carrying both girls, but I just smiled and picked up my pace.  Now I needed to make it, and I am certain I would have...had it not been for the creek that we had to cross.  A got completely distracted and was having so much fun in this little flow of water that my resolve weakened, and little K and I were content to explore the "wawa."

The boys found us at the creek on their way back up, and I had help hauling my girls out of there.

It is always amazing what a little time in the woods can do for your spirit.  After our "nature reset" the rest of our drive home was uneventful, we even had time for some geocaching at a rest stop outside of Chemult.