Hike At Tuttle

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Yesterday was one of those days here in Kansas that starts with Mom and Dad in parkas, switching to shorts by afternoon, the winds kicking up, and us enjoying a sharp drop in temps and some snow.  Nothing stuck, but it was nice anyway.  While it was "parkas, no gloves" weather, we all jumped into the RAV4 and headed out to Tuttle Creek State Park!

Mom and Dad thought Eagle Pass Trail would be frozen enough still to not be too muddy (yeah ... Mom's shoes are still in the garage waiting for her to clean them ...) ... anyway, this pleased Maggie and me greatly -- we just LOVE Eagle Pass Trail!  Here we are with Dad, on the approach:

Left to right:  me, Mags, and Dad

Mom was trying to photograph teeny-tiny birdies, so we both walked Dad for a while.  When we hit the actual trail, I went back to walk with Mom.  I checked the River Pond for bigger birds:

"I see ducks, Mom!"

After Mom tried a few shots, Mags and I kicked it into gear:

Mags and me.  Can you tell she engaged her turbo blasters?

There's a really cool thing beside the trail that Mom always likes to look at.  Here I am, checking it out:

"There it is, Mom!"

It's a tree that bends in to form its own wreath.  I'm pretty sure it's a time portal or something.  I don't know where I'd end up if I leapt through it, so I haven't tried it.

Over on the other side of the trail, not too far away, is the warning sign about one of the eagle nests.

Maggie, tiptoeing past the eagle nest sign

We are very quiet near the nest and don't go off the path!

OK, let's get going! We're almost at my favorite part!

"Almost there!"

My favorite part?  And Maggie's?  Where the mulch path ends and the mud begins!

"Is this great or what?!?!"
"I'm having so much fun, I can barely stand it!"

All the sights and smells and sounds!  A great hike, family time ... and MUD!!!  I mean, if we don't have snow, at least we have mud!  It was so wonderful -- and it all did this to Mags:

"I can barely keep my peepers open!"

"Mom?  Maggie's ... tired!  I think we should take a moment to let this sink in!"

Never fear, though.  By the time we got home, she was ready to dive back into EVERYTHING, whole-heartedly.  That's my puppy!  ... I mean "sister".  Whatever.

I hope you enjoyed coming with us!  Isn't the Eagle Pass Trail great?!?!

Cammie!