In Pursuit of a Hike

We are full into our fall schedule now. Lex and Eli have both started soccer which means weeknight practices and Saturday morning games (in different locations). Lex is back into piano which means weeknight lesson and many weekend performances. School is busy both for me and the boys. Committee meetings, lesson plans, and paperwork for me. Curriculum night, packed lunches, permission slips, library books for the boys. You know the deal. It's busy. And I love it. Weekends are great for us because we get to reset as a family. We have lots of downtime, catch up on things at home, and try to get out and do something. Usually hiking. Not always. But usually.  We've hiked so much around here now that we have a menu of trails from which to choose, depending on our mood, our available time, and our energy. We know where to find long trails, short trails, rugged trails, and grassland trails. We know trails with elevation and flat trails. Trails with river views, creek views, and...

During this past Memorial Day 3 day weekend, we could not get enough hiking. The times we were not on trails (or spending time with friends at cookouts), we were at home researching trails and finding places on the map to explore. This final day at  Eagle Bluff Conservation Area  was one of the BEST hiking days we have had in a while. We were searching for the ever elusive famous lookout. On day 3, we left with a plan (as opposed to the other days when one adventure just led to another). We started early on this last day because we knew we would be asking a lot out of Lex and Eli and their little legs. We wanted them to be well rested before this hike. For those of you who have also been searching for this trail and lookout, the way you enter is through the Providence Access to the Katy Trail. From there, head north on the trail. The theme of this hike should have been "Turtles, Snakes, and Frogs," because we saw them all. And lots of them. With the water levels up along th...