Winter is Coming? Or Has it Gone?

Did spring arrive in the wrong season? Is it going to leave only to return again at the proper time?

I texted John McM after church. It seemed too nice to stay inside. We traded a few texts and decided to meet up and walk the trails near the Long street bridge and 250. 

We parked near a body shop which brought it's own brand of fun.

The boys got a kick out of the car-less dashboard. Water had frozen into ice discs in the cup holders that Shane scooped out and threw.

There was a mini-beach under the bridge.

It was much cleaner than I expected. I kept scanning for broken glass, but other than an old umbrella it was safe (To which I said to John, "You know how I know we're adults? I see that [umbrella] and I'm looking for reasons not to pick it up where a kid looks and says, 'Treasure!'" To which someone much of heard me, because a kid did say, "Treasure!").

I liked the Star Wars tagging. Shane had a hard time reading with all the funny letter sizing and wear, but Yoda's wisdom rang true.

John and I eventually got the kids to move on along the path. The boys seemed to think they could outrun bikes instead of moving out of the way, and poor Eli was upset whenever he couldn't keep up with the older boys.

We made it to some bamboo relatively drama free. The boys would have loved to really gone exploring if John and I had let them.

However, we had another bit of fun news: More kids. I got a text from Ryan's dad, Chris, about doing something outside. I replied that we were already out on a trail and could do something later. My thinking had been that Dylan, Shane, and Eli were doing well and I didn't want to rock the boat. I didn't want to just start inviting people John didn't know either.

The next texts I got indicated Chris and his kids were on the way.

Looking back at the text, I saw how it could be read as an invitation and, you know what? I'm glad it was. Ryan, Sarah, and Chris joined us at the bridge.

Sarah is Eli's age, so he had a friend now. Ryan is Dylan and Shane's age. I was a little worried that Shane would pair up with one boy to the exclusion of the other since he was the only one who knew everybody, but it was better than fine. It was great! The more the merrier!

The kids would have happily stayed on the 'beach,' but the dads were ready to move along. We walked across the bridge to the trails on the other side.

I've driven the bridge hundreds of times, but walking is a different experience (Random: Someone from our small group saw us, honked, and waved. It's a Cville thing!).

We headed south on the trail.

The group spread out, rubber banded, and changed continuously.

We found good walking sticks and went at it.

Dylan, Ryan, and Shane tended to run far ahead of everyone. Eli and Sarah stuck closer together with Eli sometimes trying (and failing) to catch up to the older boys. Chris is a Montessori parent and less worried about his kids being out of sight than John or I. He stopped to watch and photograph some rapids and didn't catch up until half a mile down the path!

We might have gone farther, but we were already at least 3/4 of a mile in and (the adults) knew we'd need to backtrack.

We didn't make it all the way to Riverview park, but it was a good hike when I called the boys back!

A group of older walkers came laughing ahead of the boys. They shared with me that "the ringleader" had suggested that the boys all sit and wait calmly and peacefully while everyone caught up!

I can see any of the boys saying that. That only makes it funnier. It will have to remain a mystery!

We stopped at a hill on a bed. There was a slope down to the river and one leading up.

Chris sat on the hill and the kids all went up.

...and they continued to go up!

The slope was much steeper than the picture suggests. Eventually, John and I climbed up part way to assist and make sure the kids didn't continue over the top ('Montessori Chris' remained unconcerned, ha!).

The boys walked slower on the way back. Shane invented some sort of game that was a mix of World of Warfcraft, Plants vs Zombies, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Trollhunter references (Ryan plays Fortnite.....and the others should be obvious if you read semi-regularly). Somehow, Shane was level one hundred or infinite with "all the best weapons," and he had the boys doing things to earn EXP and level up.

Many zombies were eliminated.

I found myself between groups. Chris and Sarah ranged far ahead. Then it was me. Then the older boys. Then Eli and John in caboose.

It was a nice trail. I checked timestamps and we were out for just over three hours! This is winter!?

Sam and Henry were out when we got home. Shane spent another hour and a half on the porch bouncing on an old mattress with them!

This game would not have been Carrie approved.

Will was out, so I hopped back and forth to make bagel bites near the end. Shane would have loved to have played past dinner, but I was tired from the busy day outside!

I may try to gather everyone again for another trail walk sometime. It was a lot of fun!