Oof!  It had been awhile since the last hike, and since I am doing the 52 Hike Challenge, trying to keep up a pace of one hike per week all year, I really needed to get back out on the trail – I’m way behind.  I also needed to get on the trail for my own sanity.  It’s been a particularly busy and stressful time at work and I needed to move my feet and breathe fresh air.  Check, and check.

Looking for something relatively close to our house, and short/easy enough to let the kiddos walk if they wanted to, we hit on Huntley Meadows Park.  Apparently we’ve been there before?  Steve remembers hiking there with Peanut in the Baby Bjorn shortly before she turned one.  I have no memory of this.  Guess I was sleep deprived?

The hike started with a nice, flat trail through the woods, and everyone’s favorite – explanatory placards about the wildlife in the park.  It’s mostly wetlands, which makes sense, because D.C. and northern Virginia is a swamp.  Peanut started the hike in the backpack, but Nugget wanted to walk.

Before long, the boardwalk began!  This must be a riot of green and life come spring.

We were a little anxious about letting Nugget walk the boardwalks, but he was wonderful – held tight to our hands and never tried to run off.  I carried him through certain sections that the geese seemed to like for their toilets – gross.  We were literally picking our path through mounds of goose droppings, and it was actually really smelly.  Yuck.  But only in sections.  I don’t know…

Spotted a few ducks out on the water.  This picture does them no justice – the males had the most gorgeous jewel-toned heads.

Eventually we made it across the wetlands to the other side of the park.  Although I love boardwalk hikes, I was kind of relieved to get off of the boardwalk this time – and away from the goose poop.

First thing’s first – we found an observation deck and climbed up to take in the scene from up high!  Nugget was particularly excited to have such a good view.  I guess when you’re knee-high to a grasshopper, it’s pretty exciting to get to look down at something.  Or he takes after his mom, who loves a good observation deck view.

Back on dry land!

And guess who decided to join the rest of the family with boots on the trail?  (She wanted to wear her school Mary Janes, and I vetoed them.  I was right, too – there were some muddy sections, and the rain boots were absolutely the correct choice.)

They both walked the rest of the hike – so Peanut walked the second half, and Nugget walked pretty much the entire thing (minus the goose poop sections).  I think they needed it, too.  The weather has been gross lately, and neither one of them has had enough playground or outdoor time.  A walk in the woods did us all good.

Oh, and the kids made friends.  We met a nice older couple who were in the park for some birdwatching but didn’t seem to mind our loud little critters.  They were grandparents and their grandkids are a little older than these two rugrats, so I guess they were used to it.  We walked with them for at least half a mile, maybe more, and the kids chattered their faces off.  They were patient and sweet, and promised that the kids were entertaining and not disturbing them.  Ha!

Such a lovely park!  I can’t believe I didn’t remember it!  We’ll have to come back when the birds return, and bring the zoom lens.

Have you been hitting the trails recently?