the one

There's always one trip or one event that happens each summer... and you think...."This is the one. This is the one they are going to remember for the rest of their lives. The one they'll tell stories about beginning with ...'remember when we...' "

And last week we took that trip.


It was spontaneous as usual. The tentative plan was to go to the mountains after JP got home from work at noon. But we were all kind of tired by then and weren't up for the drive. So 'the river' popped into our heads again. We went down there one time, but it wasn't the right place. We were looking for where you can hop across rocks, wade in to your waist, and watch the rapids whiz by. You'd think after living here my most of my life, I'd know where it was...but I didn't.


So we ended up here. Let me first say....this is not the right place. But you couldn't tell by the smiles on all our faces as we raced up this super cool walkway. We just knew that there was a river full of rocks for us to jump on just waiting on the other side of this huge wall. (It was the flood wall, by the way.)


So we get to the top...and there's a great view of the city...but no way down. (And as I'm gazing down, I don't see any hopping rocks either.)


This is what we saw. And some blankets drying underneath the bridge. The kids thought scientists were doing some kind of experiment with them. I suggested they might belong to someone who had no home, but they couldn't understand that.


So we got back in the car, a little disappointed, trying to formulate a new plan. As we're driving, doing our best to avoid an argument as to where to go, I see some signs for Belle Isle. So that's our new plan.

Now THIS is a bridge to cross.

Unbelievable.

A foot bridge right under the car bridge. You get amazing views of the river and city...


... a gentle breeze, and a little bouncy motion every now and then that makes you VERY uneasy, but it's definitely worth it.


Here we've reached the other side of the river. If we only had gotten this far, it would have been worth it. A helicopter flew by why we were on the bridge, a summer camp of about 40 kids were SWIMMING across the river so we stopped to watch them from above, and there were numerous bikers and dog walkers crossing that were extra entertainment for Diego.


But check back for the next part of the trip. That's where it gets good.