Last Summer Weekend: Waterfalls

Sunday looked to be a gorgeous, but chilly, day - so Mike and I had decided that we'd make a return trip to Amnicon Falls. You may remember that we headed there as part of our northern Minnesota Spring Break tour. It's just under a two hour drive (each way) from Rapids, but we knew that we could get a lot of exploring in to make the drive worthwhile. We also invited Gma and Gpa J and Auntie to join us. And met Gma and Gpa N at the park! 

We all knew that there's been quite the drought in the upper midwest this year - but wow, the water level compared to when we were there in April was crazy low. Several of the waterfalls were barely dripping, so the falls were much less impressive than in the spring. Conversely, the water was so low that all the big river rocks were up out of the water. I have never crossed a river via rock path so many times in my life. In fact, I joked on instagram that clearly my kids are allergic to the actual trails!

The smoke from the western wildfires was impacting the air, so Gma N was having a hard time breathing. We all had lunch together and then my mama grabbed a picnic table spot with Gma and Gpa N to visit while the rest of us wandered down to the river and then tested our rock jumping balance. My dad was laughing so hard and Emmy and me as we tag-teamed a crossing. We stand by our team effort and our dry feet. We even did a trio crossing with Fiona and everyone was successful thankyouverymuchdad! 

Gma and Gpa N left shortly thereafter, but we are so glad we got to see them for a little bit! Then we brought Gma J with us for the next batch of exploring. Because of the low water levels and exposed rocks everywhere, my family did a lot more "off roading" than we had done in the spring. We definitely should have had Gma wear her hiking shoes! Gma and Gpa claim they need to go back again in the spring so 1) they actually get to walk on the trails and 2) they can see the falls when they have more water running through them!

Overall, we spent about four hours exploring the park. Only one Vanneste got fully wet (cough, Declan, cough) but it was mostly on purpose. He had taken off his socks and was walking around in the river in his crocs with his pants rolled up. He missed a rock and took a bit of a swim. Thankfully I had brought extra clothes - because I know my people! 

[Several other Vannestes may have had wet shoes and socks. Auntie may have had a rolled ankle from a long leap from rock to shore. No family members were permanently maimed in the exploring of the waterfalls.]

It was an easy drive back to GR, where we had a big bowl of Gma's famous potato salad waiting for us! Dinner was easy and delicious. Then we ended the night by watching a couple episodes of The Floor is Lava, which, if nothing else, reaffirmed Em and my tag team approach to obstacles! Oh, and then a bonfire at Auntie's house with s'mores because what better way to end a great day!