Today is the last day of Emily’s Christmas break. Which means it’s the last day of my break too. She has to get up at 515am. I do too. I get up to get animals fed, including Emily breakfast and lunch, pack up her car and send her off. So I have to get up early with her. See, vacay is over.
To celebrate the end, this morning we got up, not early, got dressed and drove out to Hidden Falls Park. We hopped on the Hidden Falls trail. Destination…Hidden Falls. You thought something else? The trailhead is about 4 miles from our house. I needed to reserve a parking space (it’s limited space) last night for today. The drive took fifteen minutes. Which seemed inordinately long for four miles.
The walk to the falls is about 3.3 miles mostly even ground or downhill. Which means mostly uphill on the way back. When you’re most tired.
There were quite a few folks out for a hike today. I never felt alone. Of course I had the ladies with me too. The trail is well groomed by bikes, horses and the feet of a lot of people. So, no need to pay attention to the trip for fear of tripping and falling down. The trail itself starts in the open and drops down into a gulch if sorts complete with river. Feels like you are deep in forest with the sound of water and birds. Kinda nice. At the end we came out into a clearer area and hiked down a ways and there they were – the Falls. Nice, not awe inspiring or huge or amazing. But they are our falls so it’s enough. We spent a couple minutes looking at them, took photos, then walked up the hill to a different viewing point of a different set of smaller falls. Again, some photos and viewing. No one else there. Nice.
We went across the river, by bridge, and caught a different trail back. Remember I said downhill all the way there? It was actually uphill all the way back to the parking lot. And quite the haul. But, 90% was on car size, gravel roads. So that part was not so bad. We tricked out as quick as we could, no stopping or resting. Under an hour.
As outings go, this was pretty awesome. I can see it would be a great way to spend pleasant afternoons.
Next up, we hit Starbucks. Because we did not get enough coffee this morn. And I had none. So we coffeed up.
Not much else going today. Watched some football, and the right teams won. Cleaned the house. Cut up the Christmas tree. Like I said, not much. We roasted a chicken for dinner, by we Emily. She cooked up some Brussels sprouts too. I hate them. She loves them. Add on some broccoli ( for me) and it’s a feast. Very good. Marika had to open a bottle of wine, a Bordeaux. Surprisingly good. A little ice cream to chase it. That’s my day.
We are watching TV. Bad TV. As always. Bed will be early because 515am is early too.