Adventure Girl Exploring

  Spring Break should be fun in the sun, perhaps on a beach with an umbrella drink.  At least for other people than the Ruckers it might be.  Last year I think I spent spring break moving dirt and manure into my raised beds  and the year before we went to my grandparents.  This year we were ready for some adventure.  We haven't had much in the way of adventure since Jack hurt his leg almost a year and a half ago, but he is much stronger now and the limp is lessening.  We have a rather big trip planned in May so we need to start getting back into shape as far as long walks and hikes go.  Since Jack had to work this week and since we girls haven't really explored the northwestern part of the state, we joined Jack in Alva.  He did have to work, but his schedule allowed him some time every day to go adventuring. 

 The first day did not bode well.  Bella started off all right, but as soon as she found out that the Gloss Mountains were part of a state park, she was angry and pouty.  Apparently she wanted true groundbreaking adventure, the sort where no one had ever gone before.  She just couldn't grasp that all the state wonders were already discovered and made into parks.  

'  Bella, fueled by indignation, made it to the top of the mesa long before we did.  Once to the top, she forgot about being angry.  There were rocks to chuck off the top, geocaches to be found on the top and down the sides, fissures to poke into . . . enough to keep a kid happy, and there was no one there but us.  One of the fun moments was discovering that between the time we got to the park and the time we were ready to come down, an enterprising young romantic had hauled in rocks to spell out a prom invitation that could only be read from the top of the mesa.  As we were descending, he was rock climbing with his young lady friend, headed to the top.  He got style points in our book.

We had expected drizzle that day and were not at all bothered that the drizzle never happened.  Going down that mesa would have been slick work.  We still had some afternoon available and Jack and I wanted to let Bella have a taste of less tame exploring.  East of Alva, there is a canyon that runs across private land.  In the side of the canyon are caves, including a fairly large one.  Faulkner Cave has recently been opened to the public, but it isn't "tame."  There is a rough map available online, but basically, one climbs a fence and treks across a pasture toward what is obviously a canyon.  There are flags marking the path once close to the cave, but we found those on the way out rather than on the way in.  Bella forged ahead and found a path down to the creek in the bottom.  Since there was quite a bit of water still, we had to go along the side of the canyon wall until we got lucky and found the cave.  It was no where as grand or huge as Alabaster Caverns, but it there was no hand rail, no walkway. Just craggy rocks, darkness. spider webs. and what appeared to be a giant rat nest of sticks and grass.  We had flashlights, but no rubber boots.  Bell didn't mind wet feet so she forged into the cave as far we could still see her.  Not counting the side tunnels, the cave was probably close to the size of my kitchen.  The entire canyon just begged to be inspected - there were logs fallen across the creek, mysterious looking algae, and I am sure if it had been warmer, snakes.  We would have stayed longer, but could suddenly smell smoke - there were wild fires a few miles away, but we know how fast they can move so felt we needed to call it a day while we were safe.

The next day was Alabaster Caverns and rain and cold and more rain and cold.  The Caverns were amazing - I am not sure if Bell enjoyed the sleeping bats or the cave more, but it was a successful day.  Apparently Faulkner had fed her desire for the untrampled wild and she was ready to appreciate what someone else had found.

It was not a glamorous few days.  Jack has a five gallon hot water tank so I don't even think I successfully shaved my legs while there.  That is okay since sleeping in a little camper trailer with an 8 year old four feet away is not conducive to romance of any sort.  There was the rain and the cold.  That said, it was a well spent few days.  Seeing Jack and Bell climb up and down all those rocks, watching him show her how to separate the layers of crystals into glass like sheets, just being with the two of them so filled my heart with contentment.  I always appreciate his patience with Bella and his willingness to share wonders with her.  He is not a "go play and leave me alone" dad.  Instead he is the man who wrestles with her at night, helps her fill my car with rocks during the day, and then holds my hand  while he drives us across the river towards home.  I can live with a few non glamorous vacation days if it is with a man like that.