A-Z Us: A

One thing we love? Adventures.

 I love random little trips doing random little things. Midnight runs to Wal-Mart for bread can turn into adventures because they're just something out of the ordinary. In fact, when we lose our way while driving, I tend to say, "We're not lost, we're exploring!" because we know that we'll eventually find our way... but we might also find something fun along the way. 

Here's one: During our first married summer, Carson bought me a bike (Craigslist, obviously). We went for a few (I think a literal few - I rode that bike exactly three times) bike rides while we lived in Naches. I wasn't used to riding on real hills, so the trip was mostly pure torture, and it was a very hot day.

The benefit of riding a bike instead of riding in a car is that you notice things you wouldn't if you were going by at 50 miles an hour instead of .5. Carson spotted a "do not enter" sign and thought that it would be a great place to enter, and even though I protested, that's how we found this little waterfall and pool. It was beautiful. Carson swam, but Washington water is just too cold for me, so I dipped my feet in. Somehow, I slipped and skinned my knee when we were hiking/exploring around there.  

I did like that cute bike bell. I wish I'd have kept it!

Later that day, after we'd rested from the world's most difficult bike ride (it wasn't really), we took off in the car for more rambling exploration. I don't remember what this was, but I do remember stopping the car and walking over this water on the log. 

We ended up going up this mountain. Our car wasn't made for it and the road was rather rutted and steep. But we were thankful when we made it to the top. There was snow up there - and this was summer! We were the only people around and we enjoyed a panoramic view of Mount Rainier and dozens of other mountains from this radio tower site.

It looks fake, doesn't it?

It got washed out, but Mount Rainier was between our head in this picture.

And there it is!

Snowballs in July. My little Southern mind still can't quite understand that.

Carson, of course, had to cross more boundaries and see the view from the tower. I was not tall enough to join him. 

We've had quite a few other adventures of this nature, and I love doing things like this. Getting in the car and driving today won't provide the same views as it did when we lived near mountains, but doing this has given us a better idea of where we live, shown us some obscure but fun places, and given us lots of time to talk while we're on the way to where ever. Now I'm itching for another adventure!