Greeley Ponds

We had been super lucky so far this vacation with the weather, but today Tropical Storm Isaias was making its way up the east coast and into our neck of the woods.  The good news was that it wasn't going to be in our area until late afternoon around 4:00 or 5:00 so we still had the majority of the day to get out and play.  Given yesterday's "5 mile low-key hike" that ended up being 10+ miles, my kids had every reason to look at me skeptically when I told them this hike would be "easy" (I know, I know.  I wouldn't trust me either, but the hike really is rated as easy.  Promise 😉)  It runs partly along an old logging road, so it is soft, wide and not technical (rocky or root-y).

You'll also notice that in the photo below the sign says Greeley Ponds, as in plural, more than one.  I don't know why, but I assumed it was only one pond.  Hikes are named imaginatively all the time, take for example a hike we did recently, Wolf Rock.  The sign said look at the formation of the rocks and use your imagination.  I'm looking at the rocks thinking "all I see is a pile of rocks."  So, in my brain I'm equating rocks not having anything to do with wolves to ponds meaning pond.  This probably makes sense to no one but me, and is me trying to explain away not fully paying attention to the details of the hike.  One benefit though, my not fully researching the hike, surely prevented my children's inevitable, completely justifiable revolt, because I'm positive it trimmed some distance off of the 3.4 out + 3.4 back= 6.8 total.  Almost 7 miles on a normal day would have been o.k. had we not just hiked 10+ the day before.  And let's be honest, had I realized there was another pond beyond the one we initially arrived at, I would have reasoned, "We've already come this far.  Don't you want to see the other pond?!?!?!"

But I didn't know, so we didn't continue beyond the first pond (now I've got unfinished business- joking/not joking).  It was an easy, chill walk, on a grey, dreary day.  The Oldest was in an artistic sort of mood and after a few races and a stick battle with his brother, and a toad catch and release, he asked if he could take take photos with the camera.  Well, of course!  I handed the camera over and it is always interesting to see what he sees in the world through the lens.  It can be beautiful (and funny sometimes) to see what catches the eye of a child so I've included a few photos below 😊📸

Straight forward mileage here 😄

I love that their stride it perfectly in sync.

I did not even suggest a slight detour for only ".8" which is "less than a mile."

This sign did plant a seed for a future hike though- so stay tuned...

What hike would be complete without a toad?!

AT this point, I gave Number 1 the camera. 

The following photos were taken by him as well.

I enjoyed looking at them, I hope you do, too.

(I think he should take photos more often.)

He handed the camera back to me when we got to the pond.

I thought the pond was lovely in a dark and eerie sort of way.

The trail continued on around the pond (on its way to the upper pond it would turn out),

so I walked partway around and took a photo.

By the way I just asked my husband while typing this,

"Did you know there was another pond after this (pointing to the photo)?"

Husband: "Yeah"

Me: 😠 

(I jest, I jest)

Heading back from the pond, descending the soft, wide trail engrossed in conversation.

I was admiring the wildflowers as we emerged from the forest.

When I looked up from the wildflowers,

I noticed that it had grown even darker and more menacing outside.

That put a little urgency into our steps.

Appears like the rain is a'coming

Thank goodness we were close, because with .0001 left to go to the car, the heavens erupted and unleashed some seriously heavy rain.  Tropical Storm Isaias had made its way to New England, aaannnnnd had we gone to the second pond we would have been out in the hard, COLD rain a lot longer.  So, it all worked out in the end!  See 😁?

Back at the house, the boys had lunch while watching Tropical Storm Isaias come down.

Unable to resist, they cavorted around giddily.

And I have to say, summer rain in New Hampshire 

is not the same as summer rain in Virginia.

It. Is. COLD.

The boys loved it!

Taking shelter while it was coming down particularly strong.

As the rain came down and the boys ran around out back, I slowly started to do the math on why there were flashlights on every nightstand and in all the kitchen cabinets.  Blackouts.  Indeed, as time went on the rain continued in torrents, the lights finally started to flicker and eventually went out. 

I think the boys actually enjoyed the power outage for its novelty factor.  It was also a "convenient" outage in that we had already cooked and eaten dinner, and bathed at that point.  We were also lucky it was closing in on their bedtime.  It was unbearably hot and stuffy without the fans (there is no ac there, they probably never needed it in the past) but fortunately, unlike a large swath of New England, the power was only out for a total of 4 hours.  Can't complain too much.

All cozy, snuggled up with a book and a flashlight.

Want more New Hampshire?

4,000 ft Osceola

4,000 ft Tecumseh

Cascade Path

Fletcher Cascade, Drakes Brook, and the Stunning Jennings Peak