There is a national park only a half hour away from Quebec City and we'd been wanting to get out there. Finally we found a time to do it! When we got there, the main road into the park was closed and we were sad because the hike we'd wanted to do wasn't accessible. But the ranger recommended another hike and we ended up loving that one, so it was just as well. The weather was so nice! Not too hot. Not humid. Just beautiful.
Teddy found and caught a toad!
The trail we hiked (L’eperon, if I ever need to know that again) was quite steep on the first half, but it had stairs and railings to help in the few hardest spots. It wasn't too hard for even Clementine. She had her gnomey backpack on happily at first, but then Sam somehow ended up carrying it for the last bit…tsk tsk.
A little rest
As we got up higher the views were SO pretty!
As we started descending the second half of the loop, the leaves were yellower on that side of the mountain. So pretty!
Junie found the teeniest toad!!
I hiked mostly with Gus since he was trailing behind the others. Malachi kindly slowed himself down to be near us too. Many of these pictures feature his disapproving back (he thinks I take far too many pictures).
I love being with that tiny Gus. He says such funny, sqiushy little things in his low, gravelly voice. So much like the little Malachi.
I guess I like the big Malachi too. Although, before you warm too much to his happy smile here, know that it was produced by strategem. Ky said, severely, to Teddy as I took a picture, "Don't smile that bad fake smile, Teddy!"
I defended Teddy: "It's not so easy to produce a genuine smile on command, Malachi."
"It is easy," he said.
"Do it then," I said.
And he did! Hmmph.
I spy Malachi
Oh Malachi! … It DOES look a very genuine smile, blast him.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have so many hike pictures of primarily the backs of whatever straggling children I am bringing up in the rear.