One of my favorite adventure buddies, Cousin Jessie, has been out of commission for just over a month now. She gave me some excuse about wanting to sneak around the woods with her dad in an attempt to murder poor, innocent woodland creatures. I pretended I didn't know her (or what she was doing to completely harmless animals) and continued my adventures without her. With murdering season officially finished, however, she's ready to retire her rifle and resume the more peaceful sport of adventuring. I'm glad to have her back, despite the horrible things she's done! She had a few days off of school this week so we quickly planned an adventure in an attempt to cram every last bit fun into the days before the bitter cold arrives. Jump Creek was one of my very first adventures this spring and when Jessie made mention of wanting to go there herself, I was eager to see the canyon draped in fall color. The most fascinating thing to me about repeating an adventure destination is that there is ALWAYS a very DIFFERENT adventure to be found.
Our adventure started out with a bit of exploration for Jessie's sake.
After wandering around, seeing all I thought there was to see, I was at a loss.
What were we going to do next? When was the REAL adventure going to show up?
And then Jessie spotted this tunnel in the rocks at the base of the falls.
In an instant, our adventure had arrived!
I have very pronounced sense of curiosity and I love that Jessie does too!
We were both pretty intrigued by this tunnel.
Jessie decided, since we were without a flashlight, to crawl into the tunnel a bit and use the flash on her camera to light things up. She could see the tunnel was pretty significant. Now we were REALLY intrigued!
I just couldn't let it go!
Feeling particularly (and uncharacteristically courageous) I decided to crawl in further.
However, it wasn't long before my brush with bravery wore off and I eased my way back out.
IF ONLY WE HAD HAD A FLASHLIGHT! :(
We began following an obvious, well worn, yet steep trail in the hopes of reaching the top of the falls. However, it quickly became apparent that if we were getting to the top of the falls via that particular trial, we were going to have to . . . CLIMB!
SO WE DID!
Keep in mind, neither Jessie or I have EVER done any rock climbing at all!
I'm convinced that the assent we attempted was, to someone with the slightest bit of experience, quite easy. However, we (and particularly I) struggled immensely! In fact, we got to the point, right at the very top, where we simply couldn't climb any higher. We were not without determination though! I have always feared rock climbing due to a revolting fear of heights. Even though we never completed that final ominous stretch, I WAS BRAVE!
I climbed, despite feeling fear in the very marrow of my bones.
I CLIMBED!
I JUST WANT TO ADMIT THAT KIPPER WAS WAY BETTER AT CLIMBING
AND SO MUCH MORE BRAVE! WHAT A WOMAN!
Our determination to reach the top stemmed largely from the fact that
neither of us wanted to go back down what we had come up!
BUT WE DID!
I CAN DO THIS!
SO MUCH COMPOSURE!
FEELING THE ADVENTURE!
I WAS SO PROUD OF MYSELF!
KIPPER AND HER WEIRDO COUSIN
I spotted this teeny, tiny flower just before we hiked out of the canyon.
I'm quite convinced this is my last flower photo of 2008!
Just a tiny bit of summer left now!
BUT I DO HAVE TO ADMIT I HAVE SINCERELY LOVED FALL THIS YEAR!
FALL 2008
~LITTLE MISS GOOD DEEDS~
On my adventures I often get frustrated by unsightly garbage scattered about.
I figure if I am going to complain about it, I better do something about it!
SO I PACK IT OUT MYSELF!
Upon arriving back at the truck I discovered my headlight had been in my pack
THE ENTIRE TIME!
I could have explored that tunnel further! Drat and double drat!
Since we were already close by, we swung by Map Rock on the way home.
I LOVE THIS ROCK!
I love to just be with the images and imagine what they might represent.
Besides the UFO crop circle depiction, the road-kill chipmunk is my favorite!
AND THEN, since we had a petroglyph theme going on, we swung out to Celebration Park!
This is my favorite rock in the park. I call it the Time-Out chair.
I think it looks like the face of a boy with spiky hair and a girl with pig-tails!
I'm sure they carved their self-portraits while they were sitting there in trouble. :)
IMAGINATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE!
GUFFEY BRIDGE
Surprisingly the Visitor's Center was open and I was able to ask a few questions about the park, one being about the rumor that years and years ago the Air Force was allow to use this historic bridge for target practice!
IT'S TRUE!
This graffiti has never been covered up because it has historical significance.
The bullet holes peppered the area where the graffiti was already painted.
By the way, the fighter pilots were allowed to shoot at the bridge because it was scheduled to be dismantled and the steel salvaged and sold. Fortunately the railroad bridge to nowhere was spared from such a dismal fate and we are all able to enjoy it and its historic lore today!
FALL 2008
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