Western Adventuring

One of the best things about our new place is that the children only go to school four days a week. Their last school tried to sell Fridays at school as Fun Friday, but the kids weren't buying it.

These are the real Fun Fridays. No school, only adventures with Daddy, who is a guy who knows how to have a good time.

This past Friday, we went to a, ahem, "lake" that used to be a state park that got turned over to the county, who apparently sold it. We didn't know that at the time, though.

Poppy had her inaugural ride in The Pack. A big moment.

This gate was locked. We thought it was public, so we went through it.

And walked down the long road towards . . .

The lake. Can you see it? No? That's because it was essentially a shallow depression with maybe a foot of water. The children were unimpressed.

About this point, we realized that way at the end of the road was what looked like a ranch house, and this was probably private property. So we didn't go any further.

Next we went to a nearby canyon.

Hello there, western scenery.

The road leading into it was . . . dicey.

This picture does not do it justice.

Comments from the children regarding the road:

Cubby: I'm going to call this Death Pond Road.

Jack: This road is beautiful! But scary.

Charlie, when we got to the bottom: My prayers worked!

Poppy had nothing to say. Perhaps she was stunned into silence by all the jouncing in her carseat.

We had a brief picnic.

During which A. counseled the children not to wander off, because there were mountain lions around that would be happy to eat a child. Have fun, kids!

There was an even briefer attempt at fishing for catfish.

During which they found a crawfish.

And went wading.

I sat on a blanket with Poppy, keeping her from eating rocks and shading myself and her with A.'s shirt.

I have not yet adjusted to the western sun. I may never adjust, actually.

A. congratulated himself on getting the Chevy Express van, which apparently has superior traction. Important, considering one tire suddenly sank at one point in a foot of sandy mud when we were turning around, and then A. had to gun it up one particularly steep and rocky section of the road on the way out.

Brave little (big) van.

We made it out without incident, though, and the children all claimed to have enjoyed their adventure.

A Fun Friday, indeed.