While the polar ice cap melts...
It was at least 74 degrees Fahrenheit here on Saturday (that's 22C for our more Northerly friends). So we took a drive, and then a walk over a foot/suspension bridge to, and a hike all over, Belle Isle.
It was a fabulous day - one of those kind you usually are only fortunate enough to enjoy in late April or May around here. We took a picnic lunch and a camera and let the kids run and climb all over. I may have climbed, but not so much with the running - except after the youngest scamper. The boy has NO fear. At a certain point on the island there's a veritable playground of river boulders that are fantastic for climbing on. Logan would make these VERY poorly judged leaps from one toward another (over deep puddles or wide rivulets) and kept Mike quite on his toes. Literally.
As it's name might indicate (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), it is a really lovely and very fun place. Here's a bit of info for the curious: The island is approximately 54 acres, is the site of a notorious Civil War prison and the remains of a historic iron foundry are still visible. There are a few hiking and biking trails, also a defunct quarry filled with water and good for fishing (hopefully not your youngest out of. Well, nearly), and dotted here and there are the remains of a number of structures in various states of disintegration. Snapping pictures, I thought of the difference between such weathered markers of the past here in our relatively young country compared with those in say, Europe, where they have stood thus (and are likely to continue to do so) for much longer. I found them moving in their reminder of history, enjoyed the evidence of past architectural styles withstanding time, but have to admit they don't compare in impressiveness to those of older cultures than ours.
I'm still glowing with the pleasure of the day. Most certainly one for taking out later and reviewing with fondness. Sometimes life is so good it hurts.
Did I mention I took a lot of pictures?
The suspended foot-bridge. I never had a fear of heights until I had children.
Ethan was NOT enamored of the height either, or the fact that the bridge SWAYS. But he's always a good sport and had a fun attitude.
It's a nice view, though
I think they had a good time
As soon as we saw this, there was no question what would happen next
Same for this one (that's river water bubbling up between two boulders)
Queen of the World
Yes, a few of them had wet socks, why do you ask?
Logan is not the only one who lacks common sense (Three boys = we keep an old blanket in the trunk)
This lone, free-standing wall was very odd to come upon, especially since I think we took the looping walking path backwards (end to beginning). This is only the right side of it and there is nothing but brush behind it - no other part of the original structure.
Here's the left
THEN we discovered the (sadly in need of replacement - and sad reminder of some of our history) explanatory marker
This was the one thing I managed to be strong-willed enough to keep the boys out of despite their pleading. I only have one blanket in the trunk. (I had to promise we'd check it out on a drier week).
This was my favorite structure
And the marker for it
And who can blame them?
Gratuitous arty shot (the light really was gorgeous through the winter-bare trees)
And of course the gratuitous cute kid shot
(if you made it this far, I owe you a Tim Tam)
It was a fabulous day - one of those kind you usually are only fortunate enough to enjoy in late April or May around here. We took a picnic lunch and a camera and let the kids run and climb all over. I may have climbed, but not so much with the running - except after the youngest scamper. The boy has NO fear. At a certain point on the island there's a veritable playground of river boulders that are fantastic for climbing on. Logan would make these VERY poorly judged leaps from one toward another (over deep puddles or wide rivulets) and kept Mike quite on his toes. Literally.
As it's name might indicate (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), it is a really lovely and very fun place. Here's a bit of info for the curious: The island is approximately 54 acres, is the site of a notorious Civil War prison and the remains of a historic iron foundry are still visible. There are a few hiking and biking trails, also a defunct quarry filled with water and good for fishing (hopefully not your youngest out of. Well, nearly), and dotted here and there are the remains of a number of structures in various states of disintegration. Snapping pictures, I thought of the difference between such weathered markers of the past here in our relatively young country compared with those in say, Europe, where they have stood thus (and are likely to continue to do so) for much longer. I found them moving in their reminder of history, enjoyed the evidence of past architectural styles withstanding time, but have to admit they don't compare in impressiveness to those of older cultures than ours.
I'm still glowing with the pleasure of the day. Most certainly one for taking out later and reviewing with fondness. Sometimes life is so good it hurts.
Did I mention I took a lot of pictures?
The suspended foot-bridge. I never had a fear of heights until I had children.
Ethan was NOT enamored of the height either, or the fact that the bridge SWAYS. But he's always a good sport and had a fun attitude.
It's a nice view, though
I think they had a good time
As soon as we saw this, there was no question what would happen next
Same for this one (that's river water bubbling up between two boulders)
Queen of the World
Yes, a few of them had wet socks, why do you ask?
Logan is not the only one who lacks common sense (Three boys = we keep an old blanket in the trunk)
This lone, free-standing wall was very odd to come upon, especially since I think we took the looping walking path backwards (end to beginning). This is only the right side of it and there is nothing but brush behind it - no other part of the original structure.
Here's the left
THEN we discovered the (sadly in need of replacement - and sad reminder of some of our history) explanatory marker
This was the one thing I managed to be strong-willed enough to keep the boys out of despite their pleading. I only have one blanket in the trunk. (I had to promise we'd check it out on a drier week).
This was my favorite structure
And the marker for it
And who can blame them?
Gratuitous arty shot (the light really was gorgeous through the winter-bare trees)
And of course the gratuitous cute kid shot
(if you made it this far, I owe you a Tim Tam)