Trudging Along: Black River WMA

About a week ago, we went to the Black River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). I wasn't feeling well so we did a flat one - and we started later in the day. Both big mistakes! Liam was tired to begin with and he prefers difficult, technical climbs over flat trails. He actually has a harder time when it's easier. Go figure!

It was VERY swampy and buggy and we reapplied bug spray twice and still ended up being eaten alive! Since Liam had cellulitis after some bad bug bites a few weeks ago, that worried us. We gave him Benedryl and put antibiotic cream on the bites as soon as we got home. 

Since then, we've purchased CHIGGEREX which is an awesome after-bite soothing ointment. Please note that this is an affiliate link, but I only ever recommend products that we love! 

Well... I'll let the pictures speak for themselves....

Looking a little droopy already and we hadn't even left the parking lot!

Well this should be a blast given the enthusiastic look at his face...

(note the sarcasm)

It was pretty

After 0.25 miles, Liam was asking if we'd gone 2 miles already...

Not really!

Pretty fungus

We liked this little swampy area,

but so did the bugs!

Duck weed

This was the most scenic part of the hike

Lovely purple flowers lined the swamp

Moving along... 

A Christmas tree! In July!

Some very cool ornaments

Maybe we'll bring one along next time and hang it up...

If Liam lets us go back...

Super cool!

Back to the task at hand...

Mile 1! And we were aiming for 2 miles out and 2 miles back...

Would we make it? 

The bugs were SWARMING

Well this was nice too.

This was on the way back.

I didn't get a picture of the Mile 2 marker because Liam was so insistent on turning around.

Liam had fun in the mud!

The happiest he was on the entire hike.

He completely soaked his hiking boots.

Squishing around was so much fun!

Stomp, stomp!

Finally... a smile!

What a mess!

But at least he was happy!

Enough pictures, please!

The evening light hitting the swamp and fields beyond

Neon green!

Being silly.

I like silly!

Silly is better than mopey! 

Goofball!

His Angry Bird t-shirt was wearing the sunglasses.

A little flower toward the end of our hike

Leading the way out.

So that was that! Not a super exciting hike, but I wanted to share the photos with you anyway. Not every hike can be a Tammany or Huckleberry Point! Sometimes you just need to get out and stretch your legs. And we hadn't gone in a while so it was nice to walk in nature.

This week we plan on hiking up to the Overlook Hotel in the Catskills and then Palisades next weekend (Liam's choice). Soon we'll go fossil hunting at Big Brook and I'll share pics of that too!

Until next time,

Mary

Beating the Heat

I'm a bit behind on my posts! About a week ago, we hiked at the Black River WMA. That'll be the subject of my next post. For now, I'm writing about how HOT it is around here! The heat index has been up to 100F. I know that's not super hot by some standards, but by New Jersey standards it is! 

So my bright idea (no sarcasm intended - this time) was to buy a pool. Not an expensive pool - in fact, the cheaper the better. But I wanted something with good reviews. Something large so we could all splash around. 

I found this inflatable pool on Amazon - only $29.99 and it got pretty good reviews. I decided to take a chance and bought it.

Here it is. In the interest of being transparent, this is an affiliate link, but I promise my review is 100% honest. 

INTEX INFLATABLE POOL


When we got it and blew it up with a battery-powered inflater (much easier than a manual pump), we saw that it had a drain plug... perfect! Much easier than flipping the whole thing over. We tried it out the other day, filling it with garden hose water. BRRR! Was it cold! But we had a BLAST spraying each other with the hose as it filled the pool! It's a BIG pool so it took quite a long time to fill. By the time it filled completely, we were about done. I will say that the bottom, when wet, is very slippery so be careful! We also put down a tarp underneath to protect it. 

We haven't bought a cover for it, but you can find one HERE.

The next day it was a little deflated, but still usable. We filled it up again and for some reason, the water felt colder than ever! But while it was sizzling outside, we stayed nice and cool cold. 

Here are some pictures from the first day:

My bathing ensemble.

Not quite brave enough to wear a swimsuit so I wore a tank and HOT PINK shorts.

Also men's Crocs.

Don't hate me because I'm fashionable!

\

The pool before it was inflated.

Note the tarp beneath it. 

Jon blowing it up.

BOING.

Inflated!

Actually it took a while.

Liam was SO excited that he had to sit in the dry pool!

It was spacious!

Lily looking lovely!

All of the pictures at this point are after the pool is mostly full.

While we were having a water fight (our poor neighbors - we were LOUD!),

I didn't want my camera to get wet.

So these pics were taken after I got out.

He stole my sunglasses

This is serious business.

Monkey business, that is!

Dancing

Gotcha!

Payback! 

Now who has the upper hand?

Cheesing it up for the camera!

Dancing like nobody was watching.

Or maybe hamming it up like everyone was watching...

MAJOR SPLASH ACTION

Encore, encore!

Rolling around, letting all the water out.

He always puts on this face when he's super excited!

A guy could get used to this!

That face!

We heard Lily playing with something

and that something got VERY VERY VERY loud!

I went over and found this cicada.

It was huge!

It rolled over on its back and I thought for sure that it died of fright

FOOLED YOU 

Look at those beady eyes.

More splashing fun 

We invited Lily in the pool - no go.

We tried to get her inside in the air conditioning - nope.

She was super hot, but refused our help.

Instead she dug a hole under the playset and hung out there.

My super hot pink shorts!

Until next time,

Mary