August 5- Mount Hope

 Kimberly and Grace

 Sun going down on the mount....

 This wasn't planned...ahem!!!!

 Pretty Gracie

 Luke having a rest

Yum!

Mt. Hope...I just couldn't make it!

 We are officially "past peak" here in central New York.  It is hard to find any red leaves, but I found this one.

 This is not the usual way to get to the trails...but I guess it is the fun way.

 Grace and Kim climbed right over....

 Luke, on the other hand, climbed up one side of the gate, and then sat at the top until Becky lifted him down.

 I think Kim hiked about 4 times as far as the rest of us by running ahead then running back to us...over and over again.

 We started at the bridge, taking the flat trail...I didn't think my knees were up to the hilly trail. (And I was correct)

 My five girls...we are only missing Alexis.

 Luke

 Mark out on a limb

 Kimberly Irene

This is the bridge that is exactly the halfway point of the walk...if you continue on the trail it gets very steep and hilly...this was the first time I knew I couldn't make it around the loop.

I headed back the was I came...on the flat trail.  I feel defeated!

Exploring Oneida Creek

For full disclosure: If you are heading out with the kids on a new hiking path and there is a big sign stating "trail washed out"....don't pick this trail to head down, no matter how nice it looks because after walking a half mile you will come to a 30 foot drop off, into the creek where the trail was indeed..."washed out". But, for the children's pleasure, instead of walking back, you can challenge the kids to get to the bottom of the 20 foot ravine on their behinds. They will make it easily, but this momma will give them quite a laugh as she makes her way down the slope.
The trout lilies are in bloom along the creek.

Gracie-10

Yes, it is still winter coat weather in the evenings.

Beautiful violets.

mouse-eared hawkweed

It took all Luke's courage to balance his way along this giant fallen tree.

Kimmy wasn't brave enough to make it across.

This is Kimmy's cougar face.

The Oneida Creek is running quite low for springtime ( our lack of snow and rain is beginnign to show) ...but it is perfect (and safe) for exploring.

Gracie out on a limb.

It was cold and the water is pretty deep beneath this log...I didn't want to have anyone fall in on this cold evening, so I made Amy and Grace sit and scootch along the log. I think this may have been a little more dangerous than just letting them walk across the creek.

My beautiful Gracie-10 and Amy-17

The first trip up Mt. Hope this spring

Today we made our first trek up Mount. Hope. The water was running high and fast out of the resevoir. We had record rain in April and we could tell this afternoon.
The maple leaves are just beginning to show themselves. I am always amazed at the autumnal colors they have as they emerge.

We found a few "fiddleheads". I am sure many more will appear in the next week or two.

Wake-robin (or purple trillium), but I prefer "wake-robin" because the name is so fitting at this time of year.

white trillium

The kids wanted to pick a bouquet to bring home, but I informed them not to pick trillium. They droop and die within minutes of picking them. We saw many that had been thrown along the trail that had been picked. It made us a little sad to see them tossed away.

I don't know what tree these blossoms are from. They were in very large trees. If you can help us out with identification, please leave a comment.

"Whose that trip trapping over my bridge!!??"

We always image a grumpy troll living under the wooden bridge.

It's still VERY cold water

No trolls under the bridge, only a bunch of my kids.

I'm not sure that vine will hold you, Amy.

Kimmy really wanted to bring home this "walking stick".

Luckily, we managed to talk her into leaving it behind.

Into the sunshine

There is not a speck of green anywhere to be found, but the sky was blue, the sun was shining and the children were happy as we took a walk along the Erie Canal path.

Our section of the Erie Canal is 1 minute drive time from our house and a perfect spot to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Mark always seems to catch a glimpse of wildlife on our treks. Today he spotter a kingfisher, a weasel and this beautiful cedar waxwing.

Another wonderful hint of the springtime to come.... hopefully the next trip down the canal we will see something GREEN!!

A Day at the Lake--physical education and nature study, all rolled into one