Three Falls

the weather is just perfect right now here in japan - mid 70's and sparkling skies. i feel like time is ticking steadily toward dreary, cold and damp winter....so we're savoring every opportunity to get out and explore. this morning i took b&c along with some amazing friends and their littles to hike to three falls. it took our little carpool about 45 minutes (+20 to reroute after a wrong turn down a teensy little side road) to drive out and park at the trail head. another 20 minutes to load up all of our essentials and kiddos into packs and we headed off. its a quick little hike through a very old, mysteriously beautiful gorge carved out over time along a stream bed with some small waterfalls along the way. the water is crystal clear and quite inviting - i can only imagine how refreshing it is in the intensely hot summer months. most of the path is carved into the rocks with some iron steep stairway ladders and handrails brought in by some kind souls long ago - they are quite run down and rusty, but still do the trick and kept us safely away from the drop-offs.  we found a lovely little lunchtime spot atop the rocks in the riverbed as the water was quite low.  betsy did great under her own power (and loads and heaps of guidance and helping hands from momma and my sweet friends). just as in everything else she tackles, lady bug was absolutely fearless and quite interested in checking things out. when she gets a little older, more coordinated and able to better understand gravity, she will be a wonderful little hiker...i look forward to the day when all our babes can ramble along on their own two feet, but curtis was perfect as could be riding along from his happy little backpack perch.

adventurous mommas and our littles setting out at the trail head

skip forward to lunch, we spread out on a big flat-ish rock in the middle of the stream bed

view up the hillside next to us during lunch

holly and lady a

betsy and lady a scampering on the rocks

back up the hillside

i just loved the sunlight filtering in through the trees and bramble - this felt like a very old, very special place.

down goes c and her little

up some super old steps with rusted out handrail

and back down again - steep stairs. betsy was a wild and crazy trooper: and my friends were saints for helping me keep track of her.  she is a fearless 2 year old: the worst kind. :)

three falls

etched into the rocks next to the stream bed

betsy adores porter. he was quite a gentleman, always waiting for her to catch up and showing her the way.

thankful.

view out the window on our drive home