Ockey Family Adventures: Escalante Day 3

We slept in a bit this lazy Sunday morning. Our breakfast was quiche delivered from the local bakery delivered right to our refrigerator. After showers we loaded up the van and headed over to Petrified Forest State Park right here in Escalante. We weren't really excited for this part of the itinerary as we'd hiked the steep trail before, but at least it was a short drive. Things got a little more exciting when Mark spotted a loon on the lake. Then we started up the trail.

We visited this park on a previous trip, but we had a great time anyway.

Seth is all about being in pictures now.

The boys love bird watching. Can you see the loon out on the water? I didn't think so.

There he is all zoomed in.

The loop to the petrified wood didn't seem nearly so steep in the cool air as it had on a scorching July day last time we tried it. The hike was pretty enjoyable. In fact, we even did the longer loop to see a few of the finer petrified wood specimens. Though we only spent an hour or two, it was still fun.

The morning was cold but beautiful.

Dax is only in pictures under his own conditions.

The petrified wood is really colorful.

This upright stump was the coolest thing we saw.

The trail was very steep, but it seemed easy to us.

After petrified wood, we headed twelve miles out Hole-in-the-Rock Road. The boys really wanted to play at Devil's Garden. The road was mostly dry and far smoother than last time we went. Unfortunately, the sun was behind a cloud and a nasty wind was blowing. But by the time we finished our picnic lunch in the car, the weather had turned. We climbed and chased and even played hide and seek. Dad, in his green shirt, hid in a juniper right above Dax's head whistling like a bird for the longest time. We almost had to drag the boys away from there kicking and screaming, but we wanted to make it to our final hike.

The boys love exploring in Devil's Garden.

Sometimes their climbing scares us!

We're glad Mark is still a kid and not a teenager with his nose stuck in a phone.

Seth liked exploring.

This is one of two arches in the area.

The sky and clouds were beautiful (along with Dax).

Metate Arch is the other arch in the garden.

A rousing game of hide-and-seek took place.

Here's Seth hiding from Dax. Dad is in the tree hiding from Dax, too!

Dax especially loves climbing around the rocks.

Escalante Natural Bridge is a three mile hike, but you have to cross the river five times. The water is really high and cold right now, too. We weren't too sure what to expect, and we didn't have any shorts or wading shoes, but someone in the parking lot told us to just go barefoot, so we did. The sand was soft, and the river crossings were fun. Mostly they never got over knee deep, and the bottom wasn't too rocky. We only had one small cut and one sliver on the entire hike. The boys loved squishing through the mud and sand though, and mostly it went without incident. Only Seth slipped and fell headlong into the water, and luckily that was on the last river crossing on the way back, and we were within fifty yards of the car. We took dozens of pictures on this hike, and we giggled and told stories the whole way. The natural bridge was really impressive, too. It was massive and had a really cool echoing wall behind it.

This is the kind of hike you don't forget.

Being barefoot made it really fun.

Sometimes the trail followed the river. Sometimes it went out on the flat.

The river wasn't too deep or fast.

Dad carried Seth on the deeper crossings.

The water was really cold!

Seth was a good escort for Mom.

The bridge is just behind Mark. It was beautiful.

Dad got that new shirt at Anasazi State Park.

Everyone was all smiles on this unique hike.

Seth liked crossing the stream.

The bridge was huge. It also had a nice echo.

The boys liked to wiggle their toes in the soft mud.

Dad has some pretty good picture faces.

This was the final crossing.

We had one more restaurant we were supposed to visit on this trip, but it was a pizza place. We ordered a kids' cheese pizza for Seth, and he did really well with it. Mom, Dad, and Dax shared a meatlovers, and it was really delicious. Mark quietly ate a cinnamon roll, which he did enjoy.

Mark is trying to look like he's not going die sitting that close to a pizza.

After we arrived back at the yurt, we decided to light a fire and roast marshmallows. The owners of the property came out and talked to us for a long time. They told us about their business and showed us the smaller yurt while the boys played tetherball. Then after roasting our marshmallows, they spent time in the hammocks and swings. It was nice to hang around relax a little, and our aching feet really needed it!