death hike

Sometimes we like to do stupid things, just for fun. This was one of those times. In the middle of July, where we live, it's hot outside. Really hot. And dry. And the sun? Blinding.

This day, Kenny got home from work and after we ate dinner, we decided it would be fun to go for a little stroll. Kenny told me about this little trail close by that was a short walk, and then we would be at water. That we would be able to play in. That was the end goal. A short walk, with a fun, cool pay-off.

The reality of it was, we ended up taking a downhill stroll, and we found the river, but it was just a trickle, and there was no where to play in it. We walked for about a mile in the 110 degree heat (we had brought no water...that was stupid) and not finding what we we looking for, turned around to avoid dying of dehydration and heat stroke. The return trip was at least doubly brutal, because a. it was still hot. b. we still had no water. c. we now had two kids in the stroller, one of which weighs around 50lbs. d. it was all uphill. For heaven's sake, by the time we got home, I was completely drenched and had to get into a cold shower to cool down. My face was bright red for hours from the heat. We all guzzled cold water.

The kids survived, and actually had fun with their little "hot dogs on a stick" (pussy willows) that we cut for them. And this is why we have not done much outside in the last month or so. We learned our lesson, that's for sure.