Hot Springs Hike

It was a weird experience for me when we went on this hike, because I always feel like we go here often, practically every year. I remember the first time so clearly—Goldie was sad and dragging behind, and Sebby was helping her along by telling her little stories—and then it seemed like we kept it up most years after that. But when I tried to look it up, it turns out the last time we went was in 2016! Six years ago! And everything was different back then! Everyone still at home and at homeschool, Teddy just a little babykins, three tiny little girls that needed lots of help and three big boys that were the helpers and adventurers.

And now! They're gone! All gone! The tiny girls and the adventuring boys. Replaced (somehow!) with big adventuring girls and little sturdy brave boys. It just felt strange and confusing for those memories to be layered on top of each other, with me missing Abe and Seb and Ky and their exuberant love of this place, and feeling a little empty without them, but also watching the girls do many of the same things the boys used to do.

Time is weird.

But! On the upside, Malachi stayed home with Clementine, so I didn't have to carry her. And it was the most beautiful October I think we've ever had—with the leaves staying bright and vibrant much later than usual. Everything was unbelievably beautiful.

We tried specifically to avoid going during Fall Break, but when we got to the trailhead, the parking lot was packed—and we've never seen anyone there before. So it must have been Fall Break for someone after all. I was worried that it wouldn't be fun because there were so many people. But lots of them must have been hiking onto different trails, because our trail wasn't crowded. Even at the hot springs themselves there weren't too many people—and we talked to another big homeschooling family that was there, so that was fun.

It was a beautiful warm day—too warm if anything, because it's easier to enjoy the hot springs when the air is a little cooler. We started out with jackets but didn't wear them once the sun came out.

Vibrant reds!

(Sebby and Goldie, 2015)

Remember how I told you that Marigold got so sad years ago when we hiked this, and had to be jollied along by Sebby? Well, she repaid that debt in full, helping Ziggy just as Seb once helped her. She told him stories and made up little games, and he walked sweetly by her side nearly the whole way. He was a great hiker, and proud of it—he kept saying to me, "Did you notice how good of a hiker I am? Do you think people see how brave and good I am?" and "Look Mommy, I fell down and hurt my knee SO MUCH, and I didn't even say anathing!" and "Once Bunny and I were hiking and we both fell down, and I broke my leg, but I didn't even cry a single bit!"

Junie 6 years ago.

And Junie today, still a friend of the trees. 

Gus wanted me (and only me) to hold his hand on the way up, but other than that insistence, he was easygoing and good-tempered. He was so cute! I love hiking with him and holding his hand and listening to his little conversations. 

Yay, the bridge! This always feels about like halfway.

Gus decided it would be cute for me to take a picture of him sitting on every little rock he could find. So I have about 10 pictures exactly like this one, of him sitting and looking up at me sweetly with his little rosy nose and cheeks.

At last we made it to the hot springs. There are several of them that are really too hot! At least on a warm day. But there are a few pools that feel just right, and we happily stayed in those.

Ziggy was verrrrrry cautious. He put his feet in for awhile, but mostly stayed out and played "lifeguard."

Teddy liked the same little spots here that Abe used to like—the warm bubbly waterfall, the little rock "waterslide." He reminds me more and more of a young Abe these days. I even have a picture of Abe in this same spot:

I miss him!

Gussie was not nervous about the water at ALL. He hopped in and promptly became even rosier than he had hitherto been. Every once in a while we made him get out so he wouldn't get too hot, but he always slipped back in when we weren't paying attention.

Daisy then and now. She didn't seem to mind this pool in the old picture, but she said it was too hot this time!

Teddy (or Abe?)

Gus being a lifeguard, because he does whatever Ziggy does

Goldie then and now

We finally managed to tear ourselves away from the warm water. It's always so hard to get dressed while hopping up and down trying to keep your wet feet out of the dirt and trying to get your wet legs into your pants. Doubly so when trying to help small children do all those things. But we did it eventually.

The hike down was just as pretty as the hike up—maybe prettier.

I love the orange and yellow reflections in the water here.

Leaf queen!

Not sure if we could possibly have gone to a more beautiful place. Hopefully we get there again sooner than six years hence!