Happy Trails to You!

Me and my Dad!

Does it ever feel like pulling teeth to try and get your children to do something? I was one of those kids who was not thrilled with the idea of going on 14 mile hiking and camping trip into the Sphinx Lakes, (btw that was just the hike into the lakes… don’t forget about the 14 miles back!) but now as an adult I sure appreciate the beauty and effort made to make my childhood so wonderful!

A Douglas Fir pinecone.

I can now successfully identify constellations and the difference between a Douglas fir and a redwood pine cone. Just in case you didn’tknow – a Douglas fir pinecone, according to a California Native American myth, explains that each of the three-ended bracts are the tail and two tiny legs of the mice who hid inside the scales of the tree’s cones, which was kind enough to be the their safe house during forest fires.

My dad always makes even the littlest of tasks an adventure for us.  Although it might be a little hard to get us going, we always enjoy everything once we did it.  So if you are having a difficult time motivating your child to do something, just remember that those memories you are creating with them WILL last a lifetime.

Recently, my dad retired, but he’s not slowing down! Soon he is leaving to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, (which runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington). I will be there in heart when I am not there actually hiking along with him.  It is not every day that someone’s idea of “retirement” is a 2,650-mile national scenic trail!  Check out the PCT website.

-posted by Miss Beth, who is wishing her dad happy trails and looking forward to hiking part of it with him!