Bateman Island

Today was our last chance to hike during the spring break and the kids wanted to hike Bateman Island again. Last time we stuck to the East side of the island so today we did the west.

Using 'Paint' program on my computer I highlighted the trails we hiked. The purple is what we did on Monday and red is what we did today.


Since the kids wanted to picnic, we each had our backpacks with our lunch and drinks


We found a great spot for our lunch where we could see the river. The kids were sitting on a big log. Unfortunately it must be a favorite spot since there was a lot of trash. We filled all three of our groceries bags and there was plenty of trash left to pick up.


The view from our lunch spot


Hayden and Ellie were having a competition on how many times they could hit the log in the water with a rock... I laughed at Hayden's stance... he is a goober


Hayden at Vista point


Ellie trying to clean up Vista point...hahaha


Taking a drink break as we starting heading back to the car


picture of the trail heading out

I didn't realize how much farther the west trails were to the east trails but Ellie was a trooper. Several times on the way back she would ask, "Are you almost there?" and I would respond, "Yes, we are almost there" and she would reply, "Great!". She did that about 5 times.

I wish I knew the distance of the trails so that I know how far Ellie is able to go. I want to do some trails outside of Tri-cities. I know there is some 3 miles loops ones near by. I guess Hayden and I could go and try it out during a weekend she is at Cliff's and it will help me get a better idea.

I am sad that there is only two more days of Spring break. I have really enjoyed the time with the kids. We have played sooo many games inside and outside and found their love of hiking. I wish we could get another week. I guess I have the week in between Spring and Summer quarter to look forward to. :-(

Spring break hiking

The kids and I have been enjoying our Spring break together. Monday we went hiking at Bateman Island and had a blast. I will post pictures later... once I find my charger to my camera and can get them downloaded to the computer.

Tuesday we went to help grandma in her yard for a little bit. It didn't last long because it was so windy and dirt was getting blown into our eyes. It has been postponed until Saturday. That is the only other day that grandma doesn't have an errand or an appointment. Busy life for a women in her 70's.

Today we went hiking at Chamna Natural Preserve. There are so many trails. We walked along the Vineyard, River, and Tree tunnel trails. I am not sure the distance we traveled was but all together Chamna has 11 miles of trails. We hiked long enough for Ellie to be tuckered out towards the end. There were plenty of little trails off the main one. They all headed to the the river and of course we had to walk each one of them.

These pictures were taken from my cell phone's camera

On one of the many side trails... I think they had found more garbage to pick up. We ended up with a black garbage bag full by the end.


I loved the parts of the trail were the trees were covering it. Even the desert has nice hikes.


Sometimes they do act like they love each other. Hehehe


Hayden being cheezy


Now that is a big tree trunk


This is part of the Tree Tunnel trail





Hayden LOVES hiking... now I need to make more of an effort to do hikes in our spare time... hahaha


Of course Ellie had to the same thing as her brother.


I had mentioned as I was awed by the surrounding nature that, 'God does great work' and then the rest of the hike Ellie would say "Mom, Jesus made this too!" It was cute.

At this point of the hike it was starting to drizzle heavier and it was a good thing that we were already heading back to the car. Ellie was doing the potty dance the last 15 minutes but wouldn't relieve herself behind the bushes.

At the trail head parking lot there was a port-a-let but she wouldn't use that either. "I will wait until we get home, mommy". She barely made it home. In a crisis I would use one of those disgusting toilets but apparently Ellie can't stoop to that level. Hehehe... She is a four-year-old diva! ;-)