We took a trip out to nature today and made the nearly two hour drive up to House Rock State Park this morning. Arriving, we were totally bummed to learn that some giant storm or natural disaster of some sort completely destroyed the whole area about a year ago, taking out the bridge and downing giant trees trees up and down the path to the waterfall. Of course, that didn't stop us! Matt trekked through the bush to find a way to the path and we hiked through the forest till we reached the waterfall at the end. A waterfall that is MUCH changed from when we last visited it two years ago! Downed trees have shifted giant boulders and the waterfall at the peak is almost unrecognizable, it's so angry and full. We didn't spend much time at the top as the downed trees and boulders have made some pockets of water that clearly have something dead rotting away in them, so we hiked back down and spent the rest of the afternoon contributing to the booming rock tower population and soaking up some sun. It was an awesome day, I just wish it weren't so far from home!
** eta** So apparently the bridge was removed because of rot damage? Which seems weird as it was this huge sturdy thing when we were there two years ago... Speaking of time passing... My kids.Aren't they amazingly huge?? It was a mind boggling day, it seems like our last visit was just yesterday but it was actually 2 years ago.. and the change was intense! Two big kids, able to follow directions and act ( somewhat) safely, scramble over rocks and trees all by themselves, cannonball in to the river and play in the waterfall with no help from me. I mean, the last time we came Kael was just over TWO!! And even with a clear path it was quite a child containment nightmare. I love babies. I really do. But yesterday was just a magical day of really truly appreciating my big kids for being just who they are. Bonus, there was a lot of unprompted hand holding as the two littles helped each other over under around and through the forest. Mama just melted a million times.
