Fall Getaway - Day 2

We woke up Monday morning to overcast skies and wondered if our plans to hike to various waterfalls was a good idea. Should we opt for a local museum in case it rained? Or maybe an apple or pumpkin farm so we wouldn't be stranded in the woods if it began to pour? Nope. We came to hike, to see the fall colors, and to be outside. Onward and upward!

Our first hike - and I use the word hike loosely since we were with three kids - led us to Hooker Falls.

It was a brisk 65 degrees, the sky was overcast, and there was a light breeze. The colors were far from peak, but there were brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange everywhere. The weather and the colors were wonderful.

The first trail we walked was supposed to be about a mile. But, given that my boys made multiple detours to further explore and investigate, the mile grew to be much longer.

The faithful map-reader and captain of our hiking adventures kept us informed at all times. Or maybe it was just an excuse to avoid walking through the bramble to get closer to the river, which the boys wanted to do every chance they had.

We felt an occasional sprinkle here and there, but nothing that put a damper on the day. We didn't get wet and we didn't get cold.

At last, our first view of Hooker Falls. Nothing short of beautiful. Can anything create a sense of God-awe like the raw beauty of nature?

We walked further down the trail to see if we could get a better look from the bottom of the Falls. And boy-oh-boy did we!

Grady Lee asked if he could take a picture... his skills are improving since this time he actually captured entire bodies, including heads. Ha!

Not wanting to be left out, Micah wanted a turn as well. I decided to spice things up a little bit.

After exploring the Falls, it was time to hike back to the car and make lunch. It was almost noon and Annalyse was letting our family, and every other hiker in the area, know that she was ready to eat.

Grady thought maybe she was just tired of riding in the carrier and wanted to get down and walk. Lil' Miss Darlingness trudged up the hill, ever so sslloowwllyy, but every so cutely.

A few more side-expeditions on our way to the car, which meant lots of new leaves and rocks for pockets, and finally we were back and ready to rest and eat.

Once we "had lots of new energy because of all the healthy food we ate, except for the cookies because those don't give good energy they just taste good," we were off to hike to Triple Falls.

I know, you're probably tired of seeing the same kind of pictures over and over again. I just couldn't stop taking them. The colors. The Falls. My family. My finger was in clicking overdrive.

Whewee! We reached the top, briefly enjoyed the view, and then dashed down 112 steps (all the while thinking to myself that we had to come back up each and every one).

Triple Falls were stunning. If Grady and I were without kids, it would have been an exciting place to explore and climb. So much to see and discover, but with three little ones it was best to stay on the flat and dry rock. Much to their dismay, we didn't let them anywhere near the water. It was deceiving to the eye because it didn't seem to be rushing very fast, but one simple slip and a little body could have easily washed away.

Thank you, Grady Lee, for your bravery and politely asking a nearby woman to take our family picture. She did a fairly good job and you get all the credit!

 

At the top of their lungs: "My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!"

She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes. She'll be coming 'round the mountain when she comes. Oh, she'll be coming 'round the mountain...

Would you please stop taking pictures of the waterfalls and get a load of this beautiful stick I found? It's a keeper for sure! I found the souvy-groovy of all souvenirs!

After spending a lot of time enjoying the falls, it was time to face the 112 steps back up. Surprisingly, the boys did great and never even stopped for a rest! I was panting and out of breath but wasn't about to be outdone by my kids so I huffed and puffed to keep up.

I mentioned earlier that the skies were overcast and threatened rain. The fantastic experience for my boys was that, no sooner did we load up into the car and hit reverse, and the rain started to pour. We made it back just in time. It was the perfect moment to stop the car, fold our hands, and thank Jesus for holding off the rain so we could enjoy a wonderful day.