On this Friend Friday, we decided to try a hike we hadn't done before at Big Soddy Gulf.
A friend of mine, from Soddy Daisy, had posted pictures of his kids at the swimming hole and I thought it would be a fun place to explore.
When we arrived, I was a little nervous because the parking lot felt kind of remote and there was no one else parked there. While we waited for our friends to arrive, we got out and read all of the signage at the trailhead.
The signs clearly said, "Beware of Bears" and the trashcan at the trailhead was bear proof. This made me a little nervous.
So I had a talk with the kids about keeping an eye out for wildlife and what we needed to do if we came across a bear. I also texted Daniel to let him know where we were and when we expected to leave.
The main trail in wide and flat, with a gravel and dirt surface on which my friend and I both easily pushed our strollers on it.
The first swimming hole we came to was about half a mile down the trail. Since there was no one in the parking lot, we were surprised to see vans and a ton of campers when we arrived there.
They were finishing up, but we watched them race homemade boats down the stream and look for fossils among the rocks.
The water was quiet cold and clear. Our kids jumped in, ignoring the cold water on this warm summer day.
When they started to look like they were turning blue, we got them out of the water and walked further down the trail to warm up while our littlest ones slept in their strollers.
We came across several more swimming holes, but they weren't really accessible with our strollers. The big kids warmed up and we went back to the original swimming hole to let swim for a bit longer before calling it a day.
The area is gorgeous, with beautiful turquoise water. The kids loved wading, swimming, and jumping off the rocks into the water. We will be back to this area for sure!
Yep you read that right. Jack biked just under 21 miles from our cottage at Whitetop Station down the mountain to Damascus on the Virginia Creeper Trail. We are still kind of surprised that he completed the ride. And with no whining or complaining.
In 2007 at our trailhead, 3 miles outside of Damascus, Virginia.
Loading up bikes for our family of four, 2017.
I have a lot of thoughts about this, and will hopefully find time to write them all down, but for now I want to share some of the photos from our trip and also take a little trip down memory lane.
Jack starting down the trail behind Daniel and Isaac, 2017
We were younger and more focused on the speed and mileage of the ride than we were on the experience. Our focus has changed a wee bit.
Me with a mountain in the distance, 2007
Jack and I with a mountain behind us, 2017
Ten years ago we rode 26.7 miles. It took us three hours to get to the top and an hour to get back to our car. This time around we biked 20.7 miles down (with two kids) and it took us six hours (which included a 1.5 hour stop for lunch at the Virginia Creeper Cafe 10 miles into the trip).
Reaching Green Cove Station, 2007
Jack arriving at Green Cove Station, 2017
Jack only mentioned once that his bottom was sore, but he never said he couldn't go on. He never cried or complained or whined. He just kept trucking. Our back-up plan for Jack was to strap his bike to the back of our trailer and let Jack ride with Isaac.
At a waterfall stop, 2007
Jack at the same waterfall stop,2017
With kids, we stopped a lot more often than when it was just the two of us. We counted every bridge that we crossed (they are numbered) –we crossed 30 of them if you are wondering; and we stopped several times to climb down the bank to the creek and throw rocks in the water. There was a slowness about this trip that was lovely.
The kids playing in the creek on one of our many breaks, 2017
We stopped at the scenic spots that Daniel and I made the effort to stop at all those years ago, but we also stopped and appreciated the quietness of the woods, and the gurgling of the stream a lot more often. Kids help you to do that – to choose slow.
Daniel riding across a hay field, 2007
Jack and Daniel riding across the same hay field and even doing the same pose, 2017
Isaac was a trooper. While we packed up for the ride, he made sure to put his toys in the trailer and he wouldn't let us forget his beloved bear. He took two good naps on the ride down, and loved getting out to play in the stream every time we stopped.
Isaac's bear rode with us down the Virginia Creeper, 2017.
On this ride we introduced Jack to the Camelbak bladder and he
carried his own water in his backpack. I think he thought that sucking
water out of a straw while you ride was the most amazing invention ever!
He drank so much water that we had to stop literally every 15 minutes
for him to pee. I wish I had taken a photo of him simultaneously peeing
in the woods and drinking from his Camelbak!
My heart about burst with pride as Jack passed this sign, 2017
As Jack passed the "Welcome to Damascus" sign my heart nearly burst with pride. I had completed this journey before and I enjoyed doing it again, but seeing my five-year-old son do it on his own gave me a joy and pride that I didn't know existed. I can't wait to do it again when Isaac is ready.
Daniel and I after a muddy, humid 26.7 mile ride up and down the Virginia Creeper, 2007
Daniel and I mid trip on a 20.7 mile ride down the Virginia Creeper, 2017
We reached the parking lot where our car was parked and Jack wanted to ride on (another mile) to the playground to play. We acquiesced. It's hard to turn down your son when he has worked so hard all day. He played while Daniel biked back to get the car and then load the bikes.
We made it to our car! After this photo, we biked an additional mile to the playground to play, 2017
Once everything, and everyone, was in the car, we drove to eat dinner. Jack fell asleep two minutes from the restaurant. Daniel carried him in and he slept in Daniel's arms while we ordered and waited for our food. When the food arrived, he woke up to eat. He must have been starving!
Jack passed out on the way to dinner, 2017
We were sure he would sleep on the drive back to the cottage. But he didn't. He didn't go back to sleep until we had made a camp fire and devoured s'mores. The next morning he was ready to bike the Virginia Creeper trail all over again! Our kids never cease to surprise us.
