Hiking at Turkey Run...Continued

Remember our obliterated week last week? Made for some fantastic podcast fodder. We hope you enjoy! :)

Listen here!

And now, a continuation of photos from our hiking fun!

We planned to stop at a picnic table for lunch, but alas, I needed to eat before we found one. So we just found a little rocky ledge and set up our lunch. Ryan and I brought turkey, cheese, and bread for sandwiches, and I'd made banana bread cookies and protein balls for dessert/snacks. We had water bottles and Gatorade, so we were set! (And we got a lot of weird looks from people hiking past us!)

Right after lunch, we went down in this canyon area called the Punchbowl. You can hear more about this on the podcast, but basically when we got into the Punchbowl, we found every other person in the park that day. It was crazy crowded with people of all ages - and dogs. Some were intense, some were terrified, and many were impatient. It would have made a fascinating study for a sociologist.

Once we got out of there, we had to cross into the next section of the park. I'm not sure I can explain it well, but I'll try. There was a narrow part of the canyon that was kind of like a two lane road. Half the road was a creek and the other half was a rocky area you had to climb up and down. It was so narrow. It could almost fit one person. Several people tried to wade through the creek half, but once you got so far in, it was too deep and debris-laden to continue. (Plus it was just too cold!) So you had to wait your turn to go up and over the really narrow rocky "stairs." But there were people crossing in both directions. So a line would go from one way and then a line from the other. There were kids making the trek and dogs, and there were several in both camps that were terrified. The wait was long and filled with some impatient people, but we got through!

Ryan went first, then the camera and I went, then Amber, then Shawn. And then you can see the line of people (and a dog!) behind us waiting to go. See what I mean about narrow? Rock as high up as I can see to my right, and if I fell to the left, I fell in the creek.

 Top!!

 And back down. (Ryan actually took this one as he went down ahead of me.)

 Down....

At the bottom I had to jump across the creek and I only made it because a really nice (and not impatient) man was standing on the other side helping folks across. (Ryan stayed back to help Amber.) The other guy pulled me over safely.

The views at the bottom were totally worth all the anxiety.

We decided to head back toward the lodge so we could rest for a bit, get a snack, apply bandages to blisters, have bathroom breaks etc.

And that's where I had to conquer another fear. This bad boy:

Why yes! That is a suspension bridge.

Sweet mercy. Help me.

So you're probably exhausted. I'll save the last little bit for tomorrow.... :)