Don't Yell at Me

     The other day my kids and I had a fantastic time at our local lake.  It was a hot day, but I was excited for the first afternoon of summer and a family bike ride.  We made it there fine. It was not a bad ride at all, even though my 11 year-old was sure it was too hot out to be riding.  We zoomed right past the parking lot attendant without paying a thing, and we had a great easy time at the lake and in the sand. I didn't even have to worry about bringing towels.  Everyone would just wind dry on the way home.  Our only trouble was the big left turn we needed to make on the way home.  Emma(my 9 year-old) did not get started as soon as the driver behind us wanted her to and he yelled something out his window to me like, "Get your kids off the road during traffic."

What a scuzz.

Does he expect me to stay clear off the roads during the hours of 5-10am and 3-8pm each day?
Are my children to stay safely in homes playing video games their entire lives?

Do you know that it is always, always old men drivers that yell at me and my kids on our bike(s)?
(just something I've observed)

And of course, it's not all old men that yell.  Its just when there is yelling, its coming from an old man.

But I shrugged it off and home we rode.

Or so I thought.

Today, we wanted to go to the lake again.  It was a beautiful day. Simply gorgeous.  It would have been beyond perfect to ride there today, BUT...... I hemmed and hawed and thoughts kept coming....

"What if we get yelled at again?'
"What if there is more traffic on the road?"
"It is high school graduation day."
"What if the roads are full of crazy graduate drivers celebrating and texting while driving?"
"What if their impatient dads are on the road too trying to hurry home to get the graduation party going?"

"What if they are all so impatient and distracted and reckless that they don't see my little Emma trying to get her bike pedaling across one of their intersections?"
(of course I am right next to her the whole time in my bright yellow big butted bike, but still...)

I wasn't able to shrug off that yeller as I liked.

We drove to the lake, and now my car seats are wet and covered in sand and I have a large load of sandy towels to wash and dry AND I didn't get to ride my bike today.  I love riding my bike and I love having my kids do it with me.

Old man driver who yelled at me, I repeat, "You are a scuzz."

People of my town. You have only one road through town. We don't have much choice of routes.
***Be alert, watch for bikes, share the road, and have some gosh darn patience.

And my cuties will wave and smile at you,
Kayla Marble

November Hikes

Ever since our eyes were opened to how fun it could be hiking as our family back in October, we have become addicted.  It is such an easy, no fuss, no cost Saturday afternoon activity.  And even in this super late fall time, you still get to see some gorgeousness. 

Appalachian Trail at Bulls Bridge, Kent, CT.

*we biked to Bulls Bridge a two summers ago

We did not far on this hike at all.

We came upon this awesome swinging vine and spent our time trying to Tarzan.

The day ended when a branch, broken off by some wild swinging, fell and hit poor Emma in the arm. She wasn't too hurt(as in it didn't even bruse), but insisted on being carried home. 

It's good to know she fits in the baby backpack if ever there is a real need.

Indian Council Caves Trail, Barkhamstead, CT

We really wanted to make it to the caves, but we only had two hours before it would be too dark.  We hiked for an hour and thought we were getting close hikers coming the other direction said we had another 15-20 minutes to go before finding the caves.

That's when we turned our tushies around to try again another time. 

I was not "into" getting lost in the dark with all those kiddos.

We are kinda bad trail sign followers, but at least it lead us somewhere nice.  This detour to the "marsh" may have also contributed to our not making it to the caves:)

 But it was a good thing we turned around when we did.

This was the last pic I took on the trail.

Getting a bit spooky.