A Mini Hiking Trip with the Girls

This school year I started implementing a reward system for Emery when it comes to her grades. The first six weeks she made the A-Honor Roll so she chose the option that involved a sleepover with two friends followed by breakfast at a place of her choosing. There’s never really any pressure because, for the most part, I let her know that I just want her to try her best. That’s what’s important to me. However, our little system has given her a bit of an incentive to ask for help when she’s struggling with a certain subject or problem. Because she really wants to earn that prize at the end. So, at the beginning of each six weeks, she and I come up with two new reward options which give her a goal to work towards. At the end of the six weeks, when I get her report card, there are two rewards she can pick from to “cash-in” based on those grades.

For the second six weeks, she made the A-B Honor Roll. She came really close to all A’s with one 89. So, her choices were to either go see a movie or go hiking with two friends. And well, my daughter loves the outdoors. So, we headed out to a local state park. Thankfully, we had some pretty amazing weather. The girls had a blast hiking some familiar trails and crossing the river barefoot. Multiple times. They spent the afternoon talking about the fish, and what it must have been like for people years ago that lived in those areas. They laughed and talked about school. What subjects they liked, and what they didn't. As they sat on a rock Emery said, "You know, we all have friends at our schools. But I hope we stay each other's best friends forever." There were a few instances when they all walked ahead and asked Emery how she was feeling about her dad. And of course, she looked back in hesitation but I nodded letting her know it was okay to tell them. They spoke about it briefly before heading over to more rocks. Hugs all around. And just seeing that made me happy. It's nice to know that these girls all care about each other. That Emery has two friends that listen to her when she's sad or happy. That they get to come along on our adventures and share stories. But most importantly, I'm grateful that Emery has all of this. That she has an abundance of family and friends who love her. 

As we left for the day I thought that this should happen more often for her. I want her to continue to enjoy exploring the outdoors. I want to give her and her friends the opportunity to go outside, share secrets, and spend time with one another. As often as possible. So, it looks like this may turn into a tradition. Grades or not, I want to give her as many more of these moments as I can. 

Taos, New Mexico

Back at the end of August we went to New Mexico for a short last minute vacation with my family. I tried to summit Wheeler Peak, but didn’t quite make it. I wrote about our little adventure here, and here. What I never got around to writing about was our second day there in Taos. We were able to explore the town, and even walk around their local farmers market. We ate some great food, and sampled some CBD products. We were able to check out some local shops, a neighboring town, and even walked across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It made for a pretty great day filled with family, and laughs. And there was something about Taos that drew us all in. Maybe it was the simplicity of it, or the laid back way of life? Maybe it was the cleaner air, or the mountains? Whatever it was, we just hated the idea of having to leave it all behind. We often found ourselves talking about how we were all meant to live there, or at the very least a place similar to it. Sadly, our responsibilities came calling. And as we made our way up the winding road that led us back to Texas I couldn’t help but to look out the rear window. Trying my best to commit it all to memory. To remember what it felt like. How it made me feel. I know that we’ll go back there one day. And maybe the next time I'll make it to the top of Wheeler Peak. Until then I have some pretty great moments captured that can take me back whenever I start to feel that pull.

For our second full day in Toas we all woke up and headed across the street for some much needed coffee. My legs were slightly sore at first, but all other signs of us having hiked over six miles were practically gone. We all climbed into the van, and made our way to the center of town which is called the historic district. After snagging a few shirts, and souvenirs at the little "I LOVE TAOS Co." shop we walked out into the plaza which was holding a farmers market. Y'all, this place was so neat! They had food cooking, and it smelled heavenly. Several vendors had both regular, and vegetarian/vegan options. They also had several musicians playing their music, and people dancing around. Swaying out in the lawn. We made our way over to "Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory" so that the kids could get some chocolate covered bananas. Minus the chocolate for my nephew. Then we headed back out to look at various vendors that were set up around the plaza. We stopped to sample some honey that's made by the "Taos Honey Co.". They let us know more about their company, and the products that they offered. They even have have a CBD wellness line of honey that's THC-free hemp infused. It tasted really yummy, and we ended up buying a small container. 3 oz. lasted about a month. Next up we checked out the local outside library. We browsed some of their books, and they had some pretty great deals. Emery ended up buying something she wanted before we made our way over to a booth with a huge banner that read "Wumaniti Earth Native Sanctuary". We spoke with the founder of the company, and she explained what their mission was all about: Sustaining Agricultural,  Economic and Healing Lifestyle within Cultural Communities. They offered a wide range of products, which I'll post about on their own, but out of everything I sampled I enjoyed the oils the best. Once we were finished browsing the booths we headed toward this really neat little toy store called "Twirl" so that the kids could explore. Y'all this place was so cool! Not only was it a toy store, but they also had an outdoor play place for the kids. And on the second floor they had a huge room filled with toys, plush chairs, and various games that the kids could play. We spent about an hour in that place, and the kids had a blast.  

After all of the shopping we got done it was time for food. When we asked a local for recommendations we were directed towards "Orlando's New Mexican Cafe". Now, don't let the "Mexican" in that name fool you. They did not, I repeat- NOT, offer rice and beans. I know, right? Once I got passed the shock, and as it was quickly pointed out to me that the name read "New Mexican" I moved on with my order. I opted for the "Create Your Own Bowl" selection with chicken as the main meat. And let me just say that the food was actually really tasty.  It was a perfect day out so we opted to sit outside. Everyone talked, ate, and laughed. We left with full bellies, and I totally recommend that you check out this little cafe if you're ever in the area! 

After our late lunch we headed out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. This sucker is 1,280 feet long, y'all. It's also the second highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System. We walked to about the midway point, and it was a little unsettling. The wind starts to pick up, and you can feel the bridge vibrating as cars drive across it. I held on to the railing as I made my way down, but once the bridge hits open space I could feel my stomach drop a bit. They had these emergence call buttons placed on both sides of the bridge, and you kind of find yourself wondering about how often they've actually been used. We took some pictures, and leaned out a bit to see the drop below. My dad kept telling us "No dejes ir! No sueltes la barandilla." (Don't let go! Don't let go of the rail.) the entire time we were walking across. And once we made it to these sections that jutted out I was scolded a bit for letting go, and allowing Emery to stick her hands out. Once we made our way back to the car, we drove across the bridge, and pulled into a rest stop that had a trail entrance. Make sure you have cash if you ever stop here as they have several little vendors that offer hand made items. We walked a few feet passed the entrance before we noticed a section that veered off to the left of the trail. This allowed us to get closer to the edge of the drop off. And with a somewhat queasy stomach I walked out as close to the edge as I could get before finally sitting down. I can still remember my hair whipping around my face, and the small adrenaline rush that came with being inches away from that edge. We could see a rain storm making it's way in the distance, and just as we started the walk back to the parking area we saw a sandstorm headed our way. All of the little vendors started packing up their things, and we all climbed back into our van in order to head off towards our next destination. 

For our final stop we headed back out towards Wheeler Peak. Before you actually get to Taos Ski Valley there is a small village with shops, and then there are several areas where you can pull over in order to camp out or spend the day. We found a little section where we could walk around, and headed down towards a little river. The water was so cold, but Emery had a fun as she walked across a section in her bare feet. I snapped a few pictures, and after about thirty minutes we all climbed back into the vehicle. I looked into stopping at this little community called Taos Pueblo, but they were about to close to visitors. For the cost to get in, we’d only have about twenty minutes to explore and it just wasn’t worth it. However, if you ever get the chance to go visit I’m betting it would be a pretty cool experience. It’s a Native American community which is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited one in the United States. I was actually bummed that we didn’t get to go in. And that’s about all for our adventure. We ended up heading back to the hotel so that everyone could hop into the pool. We were greeted with a sandstorm just as we headed into our rooms which was such a cool thing to witness, y’all! After some pool time we all had dinner, and then turned in for the night. We had an eleven hour drive the next day, and we needed to make sure everything was packed. 

Looking back, it was such an awesome trip. I wish we could have stayed longer. We spent time as a family, and we laughed so much. It’s trips like that that I want to have more of in my life. Being able to enjoy the company of the people I love most in this world while exploring new places is such an important thing to me. And I want Emery to always remember that. I want her to know that even when things are hard you should always appreciate the time spent with family. You know? Be in that moment. Love your family. Enjoy that time together. Because life passes by all too quickly. And when you start to look back you can see that those moments are truly priceless.

Wordless Wednesday

Wheeler Peak - New Mexico Part II

Have you ever seen a movie where a group of people start off on an adventure, and they just look so damn happy? They're all goofing off, and the trust is just so real. But then things take an ugly turn. There are tears, and yelling because obviously someone wasn't fucking listening. Yeaaahhh, this is the part of our hike where shit got real, y'all. We started off at a pretty decent pace, and as we passed these two older women they told us that we’d be up there in no time. “Y’all are doing great!” they hollered after us. We all took turns taking the lead as we hit switchback after switchback through the forest. We stopped to take a few sips of water, and get a breather every now and again. Never for more than two or three minutes though. And I remember that I kept saying, “Why the hell did I let y’all talk me into this?!” Kim and Carlos were quick to comeback at me with some smart ass replies, and I’d just bitch a little louder. At this point, my dad took off ahead of us because we we’re going too slow for his liking. Show off. And once we finally made it above the treeline onto this hillside I stopped. My head had started to hurt a bit, and it’s as if I could feel the liquids in my stomach sloshing around. My brother gave me some water, and a ClifBar to help my stomach settle a bit. I tried to milk that stop for as long as I could, but then my brother said “Alright, Raquel, get your ass up and keep moving. C’mon, one foot in front of the other. You’ve got this.” I was tempted to smack him with one of the trekking poles he had given me. “SHUT. UP.”, I grounded out. Reluctantly, I got back on my feet and pushed forward. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. We hit about two more switchbacks, consoled a crying/tired Emery, and then came across my worst nightmare.

With just two miles left to go we hit a section of rocks. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Raquel, they’re just rocks.” Well, yea, but these suckers were of all shapes and sizes. Some were sturdy, and others could cause you to twist an ankle. Or break something. Or fall. And the air was definitely thinner by this point which made breathing pretty damn hard. My fingers felt swollen, and my arms felt like they were being weighed down. I shook my head. "Nope. I'm not doing this." My brother looked over his shoulder at me, "YES, you are." I kept shaking me head, "No. I'm out. Send Emery back down. I'll wait here." My brother kept walking forward as he said, "She's already way ahead of us, and she's doing fine. C'mon, keep moving." Now, what I really wanted to do in that moment was throw the trekking poles at his head and tell him to shut the hell up. Instead, I gave myself a little pep talk, “Alright, bitch. You’re going to cross this whole section of rock, and then you can rest on the other side.” And you know what? I crossed that whole damn section! Woohoo! As I wobbled my way across the last few feet my brother said, "See? You did it. I just had a talk with Emery about you not giving up so you better not let me down. Don't stop, keep going." By this point my upper body was basically horizontal and I was dragging in ragged breathe after ragged breath. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. I took another break, and looked up to see that Emery was already a good switchback length ahead of me. "Stop looking up," my brother said. I stuck out my tongue. "I can't help it." I managed to say between breaths. I slowly shuffled forward, pausing to lean on the poles for a moment. When I looked up again all I could see was grass which made me think that the hard part was over. I stood there thinking, “C’mon. The rough part is over. There is no way you’re going to let pocket Mexican outdo you on this.” Oh, how naive I was. My sister-in-law waited for me while my brother bounded ahead of us to catch up with Emery. I swear he's like a goddamn billy goat with the way he was balancing, and leaping across several sections. I flipped him off before grabbing a hold of the poles, and swallowing the last bit of ClifBar that I had. I steadied myself and slowly made my way over to Kim. She let me get ahead, and as I rounded one more section I looked up. “What. The. Fuck.” 

That’s right ladies and gentlemen the last mile to the summit was not only steep, but also made up of mostly huge sections of rock. And that right there is when I called it. “Nope! Pocket Mexican can have this,” I thought to myself. My head hurt, and my legs were jelly. I felt swollen all over, and nauseated with every movement I made. “Dude. That’s it. I’m done,” I told Kim. And as I sat there overlooking the valley, and the trail we had just come through I was finally able to take it all in. We saw some huge chipmunks, and marmots rolling around. I could see the clouds rolling towards us, and tiny specs that were other hikers making their way up. I took deep breaths and thought about how proud I was of how far we got. Emery got even farther which I'll write about that later -- proud mom over here! I knew I had pushed myself passed my limits. And I know that we only had about a mile left but by body was protesting with every little twitch. Kim signaled to my brother and let him know that I had called it. So, he and Emery headed back down to where we were at. He gave me a hug, and told me he was proud of me for getting that far. "You gave it everything you had. This is all that I wanted. For you to push yourself. And look at how much farther you got than when you originally said you were done." He pointed at a few specs coming up below us to show me where we were when I had last told him I wanted to cry, and head back down the mountain because of the pain I was feeling. And he was right. I was totally okay with the reality of me not making it to the top, and so proud of how far I did get. Since the forecast had called for thunderstorms we pulled our raincoats on, and switched packs with my brother. He took off to go meet up with my dad, and we sat there for a moment longer enjoying the view before we started our way back down.

And man was coming down 10x easier than going up! We did end up getting some rain and hail once we passed Williams Lake. Talk about an experience. My brother and dad ended up catching up with us about a mile before we got to the van. We all piled back into the vehicle, and as tired as we were we all still laughed about some of the more intense moments we had had. "You were acting like you were trapped in the dead zone on Mount Everest," my brother joked. He and my dad then laughed about how fast we made it back down. Like there was a fire lit under our asses. As we all scrambled to grab chips, and water my dad informed us that he had made it to the summit about an hour before we turned back down. Show off. Ha! I'm totally kidding. I was super proud of him for that! How many guys in their fifties can say that without even training, or having previous hiking experience that they were able to summit the highest peak in New Mexico? My dad is a total badass! He also told us that those two older ladies had made it up about an hour after he did. Yup, they totally spanked us. Now, once we made it back to the hotel I made the mistake of not following instructions. I had about 28 oz. of water total, and took a lukewarm shower. Then while everyone else headed out for food I fell asleep which is apparently a no-no. This caused my elevation sickness to get a lot worse, and when I woke up my head felt like it was going to explode. I felt like I was going to throw up every time I moved, and my feet were shaking. When my brother came in to check on me he found me hugging the toilet, and I was forced to go outside. I had to drink a lot of water, and Kim gave me some Emergen-C. Then we walked around for about forty five minutes before I started to feel better. Thankfully by the next morning I was back to feeling 100%, and I was ready for the next part of our trip: Getting to explore Taos, New Mexico.

Wheeler Peak - New Mexico Part I

On August 16th my family and I piled into a 15 passenger van, and headed off to New Mexico for a last minute mini vacation before the little had to start school. The plan was to spend Thursday driving, Friday hiking/summit Wheeler Peak, and Saturday exploring. We’d head back home on Sunday and have one day to recuperate before going back to work on Tuesday. We had talked previously about the route we’d take to hike our way up the mountain, and when I looked up the mileage I wasn’t that concerned. You see, when you think 12 miles round trip it doesn’t seem that bad. Do the math: that’s six miles up, and six miles back down. People RUN 26.2 miles for fun. So, walking roughly the distance of a half marathon doesn’t seem so bad. And I had been previously told, ahem, that my short stature would benefit me as well. “Makes it easier”, they said. But what really sealed the deal was when I was told that one of my brother’s friends had made it to the summit the last time they had visited. So, I was like, “Pffft, if pocket Mexican (nickname for that friend) could do it, so can I.” Well, when we finally arrived in Taos we had a perfect view of the mountains, and my brother pointed at one while saying, “Hey Raquel, you see that one? That’s the one we’re going to hike.” Y’all, my eyes felt like they were going to bug out. I’m not going to lie I started to get nervous, and I believe my exact words were, “Oh. Shit.” We checked into the hotel, drove around the town a bit to get familiar with it, and then grabbed dinner before heading back to turn in early. The entire time Wheeler Peak was in view just trying to intimidate me. The next morning we were up at 6 am, grabbed a light breakfast, and headed out.

Looking back, I should have known that this was going to be the toughest thing I would put myself through to date. When my ears started to pop and we hadn’t even made it to the trail entrance I should have seen it as the red flag that it was. As we made our way through the winding road the temperature started to drop, and I felt like a bundle of nerves and excitement. Also, fear. Not even gunna lie. I was telling myself that this was going to be a great adventure, and I couldn’t wait to get to the top. Once we made it as far as we could by car we all climbed out of the vehicle, attempted one last potty break, and double checked to make sure we had everything in our backpacks. And y’all I just want to take a moment to say that I totally thought I was a “hiker” before that day. How cute, right? When someone asks me what my hobbies are I’m like “Oh, I like to run, read books, watch movies, and go hiking.” HA! Hiking my ass. I didn’t even know what REAL hiking was until after that day, y'all. I threw on my sweater, made sure Emery’s shoes were double knotted, and sent one last text to my mom about us making it to the park. “Are y’all ready?” Carlos asked. And with that, we set off.  

There was a lot under construction in this area when we got there. About ¼ of a mile passed the trail signs we finally arrived at the trail entrance. We took a few pictures, and I noticed that my breathing was already a bit off. Nothing horrible, as it felt similar to when I jog, but it was noticeable to me because well...we weren’t jogging. By the time we reached a mile my brother had to give me his trekking poles. I didn’t think it would make a huge difference, but they totally did. So, if you're a first timer I definitely recommend that you snag a pair because they make a world of difference. As we made our way up the trail we talked about the most random stuff, and joked around. We were subjected to some off key singing compliments of my brother, and sister-in-law. Yes, we're that loud group of Mexicans. And as we were getting closer to the two mile mark we started to run into several other hikers who were already on their way down. I couldn't believe that some of these guys had already made it to the summit and it was only 8 am! The temperature was about 48 degrees at this point, and we could see the transpiration (I think that's what it's called) coming off of the trees. And that alone was something pretty cool to witness. But the views were really something else too. Every once in awhile I would take a deep breathe, and look around while trying to commit it all to memory. And also to try and catch my breathe. Still, even the most beautiful of views wasn't going to keep me from complaining once my breathing got harder. Sorry, y'all. I followed along while mumbling under my breath, "Uggh. I can already tell this is going to be rough, why did I let y'all talk me into this?" And to make it worse, at the time, my brother would holler out "HEY! Y'all know what's just up ahead?" We'd answer with, "NO, what?" or "Is it the lake?" And he'd let out this big laugh before responding with, "No. A great place to take a picture!" And this is about the time I told him where I was going to shove his trekking poles if he didn't cut it out. 

We finally made it to Williams Lake (2 miles) after a few small curves, and my breathing was definitely more labored. I felt like I had been running those two miles at a little over my normal pace. Again, we were just walking. But y'all, when the lake finally came into view I held my breath for a moment. It was a spectacular view. You almost didn't want to keep walking forward because it would disturb it's perfection. The lake was on the low side, but we had a clear view of the surrounding mountains. The dew was glistening off of every surface, and the warmth of the sunshine felt amazing. I grabbed some water, and checked to see how Emery was doing. We adjusted our packs, and since Carlos told us it would probably get hotter we decided take our sweaters off. As we took in the scenery one last time I realized that this was almost at the halfway point. so I got a little overconfident. Word to the wise: don’t get overconfident as it will just bite you in the ass later. We took a few more pictures, and then with one final "are y'all ready" from my brother we began heading up the actual mountain.

Trail Runs - Proctor Lake

About two Saturdays ago my brother came down for a visit. The night before I was informed that we’d be getting up early in order to hit some trails in the tiny town I grew up in nearby. By a lake. And as much as I wish I could be one of those women that loves to spend her time by a huge hole in the ground that smells like stinky fish I’m just not. Still, I was promised that it would be a challenge and that there would be some decent views. I was also told that my sister-in-law would be joining us. She didn’t-- that’s right Kim, I’m looking at you. So, with my kid jumping up and down at the idea of going on a trail run with her tio I agreed. The sacrifices we make, am I right? We ended up inviting my other sister-in-law, and made a plan to get up around 6:30 the next day. As we all got up with the sun we layered up on bug spray and sunscreen. My brother arrived shortly after, and we made the 15 minute drive over.

Mind you, I hadn’t had any coffee at this point. I was a little doubtful about these “views” I was promised, and a little skeptical about the trail in general. I had lived in this town my whole life, and I’d pretty much seen it all. I could not have possibly missed something this great, right? Well, as we turned down the highway by the lake I realized we were passing by the more “popular” locations. And when we finally parked it was over by a closed off section called High Point Park which has been closed off to vehicles for years. Now, a little history for you: Our tiny little town had a bunch of idiots that liked to cause trouble and be violent towards others. High Point was the location that they all gathered at in order to participate in such mischief as drug deals, fights, and/or stabbings. This is why we can’t have nice things. So, in order to put a stop to it, the gates came down permanently. Now, several years later, as we got out of the vehicle we could still see the paved loop but everything else was overgrown. And that’s about the time that I looked over at my brother and asked “We’re supposed to go running...in THAT?”

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the answer was yes. I’m pretty sure my eyes bugged out a bit. You see, I hate snakes. I mean, I really really hate snakes. And do you know what comes out mid-morning in tall overgrown grass? That’s right, SNAKES. I was vocal about my concerns, but my brother told me to quit being a baby. This sentiment was echoed by my eight year old, and so I finally agreed to suck it up. Since they were the fearless ones they took the lead, and my sister-in-law and I brought up the end. The paved section ended at about .25 of a mile and then it was all grass, and sand. Spider webs, and thorns. And yes, even a snake. Though it was a baby, but you better believe I jumped. I kept looking down, and anytime the grass got taller than me I would sprint; eyes closed. Because I just hate the feeling I get when I'm not being able to see what’s around me, or hiding in the grass right next to me. However, as we got to the one mile point I started to relax a bit. I looked up, and around. My sister-in-law and I walked for a few minutes, and every once in awhile the little and my brother would have us stop to look out at the view.

And you know what? He was right. We found ourselves in a section that’s hardly ever touched by anyone else other than the occasional runner, or hiker. It was quite, and peaceful. It didn’t smell like stinky fish, and there were some section that caused me to really push myself to make it through. And we didn’t even finish the whole thing! At mile two and a half we decided to turn around in order to make it back home in time for breakfast. But most importantly coffee. We talked as we ran/walked our way back. Cracking jokes, and talking about certain movements going on in the world today. We stopped along the way to look at bones, bugs and interesting looking rocks to take back to tia. We actually had a lot of fun, learned a few things, and it was like discovering this tiny hidden treasure right in our own backyard. Now, will I ever attempt this run on my own? Probably not. But if you're ever in the area...

Caddo Lake State Park

On May 18th Emery, and I headed up to Mount Pleasant for a girl’s weekend. The following day we would all head out for a day of hiking at Caddo Lake State Park in order to celebrate my nephew turning one soon. Yes, while most people celebrate with cake and a party we decided to get out in 90-degree weather for a hike instead. Originally, my brother had wanted to summit Guadalupe Peak since our last trip didn’t allow for it. But seeing as how he wasn’t here we had to improvise. So, the following morning we all got ready to make the hour and a half drive to Caddo Lake. 

Now, in order to not make this one long ass post let me just give you the rundown. This park is open daily, and the cost to get in is $4 per person. Kids 12 years and under are free. Likewise, if you have a military pass-- which we did thanks to my brother. Now, if you’re an avid hiker that likes to have various trails available to you this park doesn’t really offer that. Caddo Lake is mainly for camping, fishing, paddling, and offers cabin rentals. They're available for small groups as well as for larger events such as reunions. I believe, based on the maps, that Caddo has a bit less than 3 miles of hiking trails available. However, I felt like this was perfect for a day trip. It allowed us to explore the majority of the trails, and still have enough time to rent a canoe in order to explore the Saw Mill Pond which I highly recommend. The canoe rental was, I believe $10/hour, and seated three to each canoe. The life vests were available there at no extra charge too. We took turns paddling out, and honestly that isn’t a bad price. We were all able to take a turn around the pond. Also, fair warning, this park does have alligators. My sister-in-law had previously told us about them, but also assured us that we wouldn’t encounter one. So, we didn’t see any on our visit, which Emery was totally disappointed about. I, on the other hand, was totally okay with it. They do have designated swimming areas for us humans, which we didn’t see on our side, but always make sure to ask at the office or check the website for warnings.

On the day that we went it was hot out. And humid as hell. However, the trees are so tall that they blocked a lot of the sun while we were hiking. It felt about 5 degrees cooler than what it was which turned out to be really nice. There were certain areas where a breeze would come through and help cool us down which was much appreciated by all of us. Just don’t count on having that happen a lot. And since the trails are pretty short I didn’t see any water stations along any of the routes so make sure that you bring your own water. Bring your own snacks if your peck-ish too. Also, there are three restroom areas but definitely go potty before you head out as the location of these bathrooms are on complete opposite ends of the park. Other than that, it’s pretty easy to navigate your way around. And the views were pretty great as well. I definitely recommend Caddo Lake for those of you with families that just want to get out for a day trip, or overnight camping. Or if you just want to spend some time outdoors with some friends for the day. This place is also pretty perfect for those that are new to hiking too. Like me! The trails offer just enough challenge to make you feel like you're really getting in a work out. 

Overall, I really enjoyed our visit. Emery had a blast running on the trails, and she was able to help paddle the canoe which she enjoyed. There weren’t a lot of people out when we were there, but in a more secluded camping area we were able to see a lot of tents set up so we know there were quite a few others out there. It was very peaceful, and quiet for the most part too. Now, the pond does lead out to the actual lake, and according to the park website it has over 50 miles of paddling trails. However, I can’t tell you much about that because we didn’t attempt it. There were too many other boats on the water in that area, and with it having a steadier current we weren’t sure how we’d manage with the kids. We all had a great time though! By the end of the day we were ready to head back home for some dinner. Our plans of late night movies, and junk food quickly turned into showers followed by bedtime. The kiddos were both tuckered out, and so were the adults which made it pretty easy to just call it a day. Now, we can’t wait for my brother to come home in order to go out there again. Next time around  if we have more time, and more people we just might venture out a bit further out.

The Calm Before Thanksgiving

I had told my daughter, weeks before this past Thanksgiving, that I would take time off in order to take her hiking again during her holiday break. As luck would have it I was able to get the Monday before Thanksgiving off which gave me a nice three day weekend. I had planned to take her out for two days so we could explore the closest state park a bit more than we had during previous visits. Only, that Friday is when everything happened, and our weekend was thrown into a bit of chaos. 

However we were able to salvage some of the plans. We were able to invite two of my daughters friends along for a day trip. That Monday, my friend dropped off her daughters early in the morning, and we headed off to explore. We didn't focus on what was going on in our life at the time. Instead they all ran around, and climbed through trees. They played in the water, and were able to see dinosaur footprints. As we hiked the trails they talked about the flowers, the fish, and the animals. They giggled over chips, brownies, and water. I heard them talking about school, and how much fun they were having on break. After a few hours we made it up to the "peak", and sat at the edge over looking the whole park. They talked about how little everything seemed, and how big the trees were. They talked about how cool it would have been to see dinosaurs in real life. When we finally headed back down to our car it was well after 2 pm, and all they could talk about was food. We had a late lunch at Burger King per their requests. Read demands. And once our bellies were full we started the drive back home. They made it about thirty minutes before they all fell asleep in the back seat. Content. 

And do you know what was so amazing? That even though my daughter, and I were going through something that was unpleasant we were able to have a good time. My daughter laughed, and smiled. She enjoyed skipping up a hill, hand-in-hand, with her two best friends. They were all so happy just being little kids. Running around outdoors. There was still so much more for them to explore they explained. It was a wonderful day for all three of them. They still talk about it, months later, and ask me if I'll take them again soon. Overall, it was a wonderful day. One that I look back on, and see the silver lining of what we went through. I can still hear the giggles, and the splashes. And I remember the big hug that I received from my little as she proclaimed "Mom, you're the best! Thank you for letting the girls come spend the day with us!" It made me feel happy. It made me feel like no matter what happened next everything was going to be okay. There was a moment on that drive home when I looked at all three of them sleeping,  leaning on each other, and I knew that my daughter and I were going to be okay. That we would be able to get through this because we had so many good people in our lives. And that day was exactly what I needed to feel some peace. To feel some calm that I wasn't quite sure I needed until that very moment.