Skip to main content

Two November Hikes

 

With our busy schedules and the sun setting so early I feel like we hardly get outside when the sun is out. Today our goal was to spend time outside. We decided on Coldwater Spring as we hadn't been there in a few years. We weren't the only ones with this idea as the road was lined up with cars. 

This is the opposite of our typical avoiding people during COVID mantra. But we were still able to generely avoid people.

I convinced Theo to bring his doll carrier. He liked the idea once he figured out he could put his hands in his pockets while still holding his baby.

Coldwater Spring was nearly empty, it seems every one else was at the off leash dog park.

It's only worth a brief visit. The trails and dog park below are the real attraction.

Some areas were a little muddy from the recent snow melt. 

We meandered down towards the river through the dog park. Of course once the kids spotted the bluffs they had to climb it.


I found a fort for the kids the play in.

It's fun for the kids but I feel like these makeshift forts are just as bad as the stacked rocks.

In Minneapolis, I suppose it's fine.

Meadow tried climbing up this steep bluff.

We tried to go down to the river but it was packed full of people. We blazed our own trail through the woods.

Somehow we spent more than two hours here. Not bad.

My other goal this weekend was to clean Meadow's art/school desk area. We had picked up more school supplies and her desk area was getting out of hand. As you can see.

Meanwhile Meadow was having another birthday party. This time for her American Girl doll.

The next day we made a list minute trip to Mankato. To get us out of the house quickly we picked up donuts for breakfast.

Sorry, we can't tell you why.

Mmmm...donuts.

I had wanted to go to Minneopa State Park but most of the park was closed to hunters. We were a little nervous about going, as my dad said, some people really shouldn't have guns. So instead we went to Sakatah Lake State Park. I was surprised when we arrived that the parking lot was empty.

We did the hiking club trail here and only saw one other person on the trail.

Theo brought along Teddy for the hike.

We still dressed in bright colors to be safe. Although Scott and I don't own any bright colored clothing.

We're mellow like that.

Theo and Meadow could be seen from far away.

Theo was really proud of carrying Teddy on his shoulders like papa carries him. When he lets me, at least.


I wasn't expecting to cross so many creeks in the park. Or maybe it was the same one.

In one part the almost dry creek bed wound back and forth to the lake.



We spied a few shrooms here and there.

Don't worry, Meadow did not eat any bark for real.

In our rush out of the house I forgot mittens for Theo.

We still went to Minneopa State park to see if the bison viewing area was open. It was closed but the waterfall could be seen. We could only view the falls from up above everywhere else was closed for the hunters. Will have to come back again next year.

At least the kids loved it.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Backcountry Camping with Kids in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Day 1  Back in May I stumbled upon Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I had no idea there was a National Park in North Dakota and that it was the northern end of the Badlands. Usually our summer vacations coincide with Scott's work trips. Since he didn't have any this summer I thought we should take advantage of actually taking a vacation. What, my workcations are always classics? I suppose a second real vacation this year wouldn't hurt. We definitely have more time than normal. As long as we took Covid-19  precautions and avoided people. We finally settled on a time to go. Blake joined us so we borrowed our dad's van so we could ride together. Scott had just driven from Michigan the day before. Blake had met my parents in Wisconsin to get the van and then drove from Duluth to pick us up. I offered to drive since I literally only drive twice a month.  I was still pretty tired from a long drive home. Don't @ me for doing this, as the kids say. Our kitty has been havin

Mille Lacs for the Day

Yesterday I made yogurt and today it was ready to go in the fridge. 

January 31, 2008 aka Scott's Birthday

If we don't feed kitty when we get up he whines Scott gets a free meal from Noodles. lucky. Cevonne and I decorate her apartment while he's at school. She stuffs the pinata I work on the cake. the pinata is ready Cevonne has better handwriting My attempt at making a Holga shaped cake. I pick up Scott from school and he is surprised. A couple of weeks ago in his sleep Scott told me that he wanted a Batman pinata for his birthday and that I was going to forget. He doesn't remember saying this. He wishes for a pinata for his birthday next year. We gobbled up the cake Scott gets ready for pinata smashing time After one swing it opens Scott is excited for candy We all go back to the cube because kitty is hungry and to get our drink on kitty wants in on the fun too for some reason because it sounded good at the time. we take the bus to psycho suzi's we order a lot of food the birthday boy gets drunk We take the bus back but only make it halfway home. We missed the last bus an