The Return to Flat Rock
Its been a long, long, LONG winter. Massive snowstorms in late March and early April made it feel like the Narnian Ice Queen had arrived in Boston. But spring has finally sprung and with it a return to our favorite local hike--Flat Rock Sanctuary. It is a really beautiful place with good trails of moderate difficulty and a big reservoir (or five) for excellent rock chucking.
Isaac has stomped through the hills of Flat Rock for three years now, but this is the first hike that he was able to hang with us. There are really four parts--a march up the hill, a long walk down a dry river bed (though it was not so dry today) called Flat Rock Road, and then the reverse. At the end of Flat Rock Road there is a large reservoir. Isaac made it all the way up the hill before he requested a shoulder ride. We made our way down the long slippery river bed with no issues, and then we found the reservoir. It is still cold out, but we are spring delusional, meaning we think it is 70 when it is actually 50. Even I-man joined in, occasionally telling us "The Sun is coming out."
At the reservoir Dad brought some plastic baggies from the grocery for rock hunting. Isaac and Mom then depleted the bags and chucked the rocks in the reservoir. We saw our first bit of wildlife, probably a bowfin, as it was up on the shore (bowfin can both breathe air and take oxygen out of water). Isaac threw a big plopper and it flipped into the water. It was pretty long, probably about 10 inches. After a few 'stachios and orange slices, we started to make our way back, but not before I snapped a picture of I-man and his best girl:
Isaac has stomped through the hills of Flat Rock for three years now, but this is the first hike that he was able to hang with us. There are really four parts--a march up the hill, a long walk down a dry river bed (though it was not so dry today) called Flat Rock Road, and then the reverse. At the end of Flat Rock Road there is a large reservoir. Isaac made it all the way up the hill before he requested a shoulder ride. We made our way down the long slippery river bed with no issues, and then we found the reservoir. It is still cold out, but we are spring delusional, meaning we think it is 70 when it is actually 50. Even I-man joined in, occasionally telling us "The Sun is coming out."
At the reservoir Dad brought some plastic baggies from the grocery for rock hunting. Isaac and Mom then depleted the bags and chucked the rocks in the reservoir. We saw our first bit of wildlife, probably a bowfin, as it was up on the shore (bowfin can both breathe air and take oxygen out of water). Isaac threw a big plopper and it flipped into the water. It was pretty long, probably about 10 inches. After a few 'stachios and orange slices, we started to make our way back, but not before I snapped a picture of I-man and his best girl:
On the way back, Isaac sat on Dad's shoulders and we tapped every single yellow dot trailmarker on the 3 mile trail. One fun pitstop along the way was a pee break where both Dad and Isaac peed outside, while Mom looked on green with envy and yellow with something else.
We came home and had smoothies, carrots, and popcorn for lunch and warmed up, even though, yes the sun was out. It was an amazing spring day and a great preview of what is to come this summer.