I’m writing this in bed, exhausted from a loooong 7-hour hike with Hazel. Her biggest hike ever. A huge loop, up and over a pass. Proud of our champion. Proud of Will too, who chose to do the hike solo and banged it out in 4.5 hours. Justin rocked a trail run. Everybody got after it in the Tsehlanyane National Park.
Hazel is an explorer. She notices and observes unlike the rest of her family who tend to pound out the miles with their heads-down. She loves to take time to soak in trailside wonder. We saw a few bugs and beetles. Flowers. Most baffling was a crab. Hmm. Mountain crab? River crab? Remarkably we saw zero other hikers. Must be offseason ;)
Mostly we saw the stunning peaks of this region. They are so distinct. And lovely. And there were creeks and a particularly amazing three-pool waterfall. It was a hot day, and every creek crossing was an opportunity Hazel to dunk her head :)
We’re chatty hikers. Descending from the high point, Hazel declared that talking would help pass time. It would be relief for our tired legs. So she dove right in. We covered religions of the world, reproduction, childbirth and surely more whimsical topics too but I forget. Probably Taylor Swift’s love life.
The last few miles were a bit of a zombie march back to our river house. I don’t love zombie marches but I have so many fond memories of long slogs home at the end of long days in the mountains. Especially from my years in Alaska and California. A quarter mile from the house we crossed a river again, with a huge deep clear pool. I dove right in, shoes on, fully clothed. Divine.
After the hike I had a Coke on ice. I don’t drink Coke often, but when I do it’s heavenly. Hazel’s drink of choice was sparkling apple juice. Chin-chin!! Cheers to Hazel!!
Go Hazel!!
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