Hiking to some falls...

E started out the holiday Monday working, but made us gloriously happy when he took the afternoon off.  Nature, being just a hop skip and jump from our front door (or just out our back - you should see our backyard slugs - holy moly!), hiking was an option, though it was already past noon.  This is a novelty for those of us used to dealing with train times from Grand Central :)

So, we tossed together a picnic and drove towards a fall we had heard was beautiful.  En route, we pulled off the historic scenic "highway" and were wowed by a short walk to a little waterfall.  E and I both agreed, this spot was what inspired the Wichita Zoo's indoor rainforest exhibit.

Popping back into our schnazzy car (I'm slowly falling in luuuuv :)  Its groovy to not "need" it all week, but its equally groovy to be able to jump into it on the weekends :)) we rounded a few more bends and hit Multnomah Falls.   Its a huge tourist destination and we quickly realized.... not exactly what we wanted on a holiday respite.  So we kept driving, around another bend... and landed an empty area with glorious trees and a picnic table.  Yah.  That's what the New Yorkers needed: no crowds :)

Though we didn't realize it at first, this being Oregon, of course there were fantastic hiking trails, right there.   Running and skipping about with glee, the child discovered what looked to be a deer trail.  But a very well used deer trail... hmmm.  He insisted (by running off into the greenery and disappearing) that we check it out before picnicking.  As I followed him, I realized this was actually a human trail.  A delightfully non-paved, naturally winding yet well marked, purposeful trail that connects different areas of the gorge.  I could barely get the child to contain his enthusiasm and return to our redwood ringed picnic table.  But the delights of the picnic basket (fresh cherries!!!) did the trick :)

Notice P's "collecting sack."  Never leave home without it ;)

What followed was a three mile (round-trip) hike that so enthralled the child that he never once slowed or asked for a lift.  The weather was glorious.  Cool enough that the hiking never had E breaking a sweat (the horror) and dry enough that we never required gear.  Though, at one point, the trees cleared and the sun shone down through what looked like floating diamonds.  No, make that slowly falling diamonds??  We all stood, totally transfixed, by the gloriousness of it.  It was the finest mist we have ever witnessed, each tiny droplet falling separately enough from the others that it could be followed down with our eyes.  They were so tiny, they weren't even "wet" to stand under.  Had we not been modern, you know, science-y humans, I'm sure the word "magic" would have crossed our lips...

 P's favorite past time (other than collecting and running) on this hike was rolling rocks down the mountain.  We spent lots of time watching rocks roll...

The cliffs here are amazing.

You can't see it in this pic - but the gorge is behind the boys.  We climbed a good distance, and the view over the river and mountains beyond was pretty fabulous.

Since we had just happened upon this hike, we had no idea where it led.  Extreme happiness erupted when we saw it culminated in this gigantic waterfall that you could walk behind :)

The view out from under the waterfall was breathtaking (the pic does it no justice).  It followed a rushing stream, down the mountainside to the gorge.  We spent a long time, just chillin', under the falls.  It smelled amazing and the sound was huge.  Heading back down, we bumped into (!) our new neighbors (with a five year old and a seven year old - both boys)!  It quickly became obvious that being homeschooled does not necessarily hinder one's social skills...  E and I were happy to laugh at the coincidental meeting and part ways awkwardly.  The child would have none of that.  He skipped to them and invited them to hike down with us.  Then he pulled out his collecting bag and presented each of them with a present.  This was followed up by a precious inquiry to how their hike had been, and would they like any help finding the type of lava rocks he was collecting?  Yah, he's got more social graces than E and I combined...