A Day at the Baths

Yesterday (Sunday) we had nothing on the calendar so I took the big kids to 'Diana's Baths' in the White Mountain National Forest in (or near) North Conway, NH about an hour away.

Diana's Baths is an amazing stretch of a creek running down through a granite channel with waterfalls and pools carved over millions of years.  It is a fairly popular attraction and we waited in the car in line for a parking space for over an hour.  Actually, this was our second time going there - we went last weekend as well and waited in line for over an hour that time too.  BUT IT IS WORTH IT!! (even so, we'll probably go on a weekday next time)

Here's the proof!

From the parking lot, it is about a half mile walk up an easy trail to the creek.  Then the pools continue up in a daisy chain for about another quarter mile.  We started by walking up to a pool about half-way up.  We had to find a spot that wasn't overrun with families.  Notwithstanding the crowded parking situation, there were plenty of pools for everyone.

That's me!

SO REFRESHING!!!

After eating lunch and playing in our quiet pool for another hour, we walked further up to look for a waterfall to play in.  And we found a good one.  

However much they may squabble, these two are thick as thieves.

I was the only one who ventured into the heart of the flume.

It was kind of a lot.

On the walk back to the car, the kids climbed up a fallen tree leaning against another tree to see who could get further up.

They tied.

Then we were off to the main drag in North Conway, NH for ice cream at Mckaella's Sweet Shop.

We all had a very fine day.

Sawyer is like this

This is our boy.

He makes funny faces. 

He catches tadpoles. 

He is full of joy. 

He catches polywogs.

He pulls his pants up too far. 

He loves his ice cream. 

He takes after his big sister and loves her very much 

So splendid!

July 4th Weekend - 2 New Swimming Holes

July 4, 2020 has came and went, but we didn't let it go to waste.

On Thursday afternoon (July 2), Sadie and I went for a long ride on the Bethel Mountain Bike Trails in the rain. Sadie was a trooper! And she has a new mountain biking nickname: Swamp Doggie - on account of she never met a puddle she didn't splash through.  

The trails we were riding are nordic ski trails in the winter and we found some of the xc ski trail marker signs along the path.

Although Swamp Doggie complained that she was "miserable" and the ride was "horrible" whenever she fell or got stuck on a root, she had a great time and was excited to get home and tell mommy about it.

On Friday (July 3) we all drove over to Rattlesnake Flume and Emerald Pool near the Maine/NH border.  I think it is inside of White Mountain National Forest, but I'm not certain.

There were too many people in the pool when we arrived so we walked downstream a bit and had lunch on a rock.

Then, after the big crowd had gone, we made our way back up to the flume and pool and went for a dip.  It weren't warm.

Afterwards, the kids were tired and didn't want to walk back down the hill.

We stopped on a bridge to look at "the gorge" - it was simple gorge.

So that was a really good day.

Then on Saturday, July 4th, we went to Step Falls trail and walked up to the falls and pools. I'm pretty sure this is within the boundaries of Grafton Notch State Park, Maine.

The littlest one is pretty comfortable splashing around in streams and pools and waterfalls.

That evening we had a little celebration with bbq and sparklers.

So, happy Independence Day, y'all!