Hiking at Gooseberry

Now that I’ve finally calmed down a bit regarding the issue of loosing my toddler a week ago Wednesday and people calling the police (which incidentally resulted in a surprise visit from Child Protection Services earlier this week to investigate our family and which placed me in a very bad emotional state for days), It’s probably a fine time to blog about that Wednesday morning before Mr. Trouble on Feet wandered out the door.

The big kidlets were in school, I didn’t have any lessons, and Dr. Peds was off of work, so we zipped up the North Shore and had a great morning purchasing candy (yum) and pies (from the Rustic Inn Cafe . . . double yum) and hiking at Gooseberry State Park.  We didn’t have time to go any farther up than Gooseberry, but we had a splendid hike there.  It was a lot of fun to spend time with Dr. Peds and Mr. Trouble on Feet, who is really a great hiker for someone his size.  He joyously hiked on his own two feet all the way to the mouth of the river, except for one small section of the trail which was next to a very steep cliff.  He was less than joyous about riding the backpack near the cliff and most of the way back to the visitor’s center, but by that time he was tired and hungry, and fussing about that is quite understandable for someone who’s two.  We threw rocks and driftwood in the lake.  The trees were beautiful.  The weather was perfect.  It was a fantastic morning.

By far, Mr. Trouble on Feet was most thrilled with access to this drinking fountain in the visitor center.  He just could not quench his thirst any other way and spent large quantities of time in front of it.  He was sufficiently drenched by the time we left.