Yesterday we set off to McKinney Falls State Park to take a little hike. We got there shortly after 10a so we weren’t hiking in the worst of the heat, but it was still very warm. The trail we chose, Onion Creek [giant pdf trail map], is about 2.8 miles long and paved (we didn’t realize this) the entire way. It winds past one set of the waterfalls and then through the unimproved campsites and then spends a couple miles meandering through the parkland. It is, as I would say, “Texas beautiful”. Not really much to look at, but lots of Oaks and cactus everywhere. Mostly flat with the exception of one hill and benches spread out every half mile or so. The kids lasted about 5 feet before wanting to climb into the Ergo or the Sherpani. From there on out it was in the pack, out of the pack, in the pack, out of the pack, in the pack … you get the idea.
Jillian in the Sherpani at the start
Trading. Now it is Wesley's turn.
After the hike we stopped at the visitor’s center (closed this weekend FYI) to have lunch. Amber packed us a picnic of PB&J, watermelon and ice water. Yummy cold ice water.
Eating lunch.
Eating lunch and refusing to have his photo taken. It didn't work.
After lunch we headed home. But we were still hot and tired so what could be better than some ice cream. And pop. And chips.
Amber with her Snickers ice cream.
Wesley eating his BlueBell Rainbow pop.
Too impatient to even unwrap it.
Jillian showing off what is left of her Rainbow Pop.
It was fun, but frustrating. The kids were seemingly worn out before we even got out of the car. The same kids that can fly around my house like the monkeys from the Wizard of Oz are worn out after two minutes on the trail. Any crazy dreams of thru-hiking the AT (at 765 times as long) are certainly waning.
Tags: hiking, McKinney Falls