Thursday - Ranch Day and Thompson Falls

After a busy two days, we needed a lazy morning.  It was a PJ wearing, card playing, and book reading kinda morning.

This is where we tended to spend our downtime.  Often it would be the four adults lined up reading or chatting on one small couch and chair.  Midmorning we took a stroll down to the pasture and just happened to see Chester Jr. and the herd hanging out close by.  

SE was scared Chester Jr. was coming to get her because she was stepping on his hay.

Leo had mentioned some waterfalls that were nearby the ranch and were just as good as anything we would see in the parks.  Wow, was he right.  He gave us a hand drawn map and we set out for a truly indescribable spot.  We drove about twenty minutes up the mountain on a remote road to the upper falls.  We later looked them up and they are called the Thompson Falls.

I am a wee bit paranoid when I have my children around cliffs or waterfalls.  I warned them when we got out of the car to stay close to the adults and that they were not allowed to explore without us.  Apparently my paranoia rubbed off, and SE was terrified she was going to fall in which explains the face in the picture above.

Note the carvings and color in the rock they are sitting on.  The power of water...

We then walked the road down to the lower falls.  Leo told us these were the bigger falls and to be careful.  Y'all, there are no words!

Bear tracks

After seeing the water rush through the gorge, I really wanted to see the bottom and where it came out. We walked a little further up the road and found a trail called Syd's trail.  We started on it and were quickly closed in by the forest.  Not knowing how long it was or the condition of the trail, we headed back.  We decided to drive further down the road to set up camp for the afternoon at one of the spots we had seen along the river.  We found a small pullover and it was the perfect spot.  As we walked down to the river, we saw a trail head and wouldn't you know, it was Syd's trail!  We were very thankful we drove down instead of hiking this time.

Can you say Christmas card done!

Angie had been saying how she hoped to see a moose walk out of the woods to take a sip of water.  We didn't get a moose, but we got a big black bear!  Tripp thought he saw something in the other direction and was looking with his binoculars when James turned around to see this guy across the way.  Poor Angie.  She was digging through a bag near the woods when I yelled, "Angie bear!"  She thought there was one coming to get her!

My night in shining armor.  My feet were numb from walking through the water so James gave me a lift.

Mr. Eagle Eye

Angie and I ended the day in the lazy boys on the screened in porch.  Why had we not discovered this spot before now?????