Hamilton Pool Preserve

This last Saturday we made the long drive out to see a new sight. We went to the Hamilton Pool Preserve. This natural wonder is located a little over eighty miles south and west of us. Due to back roads it takes a good two hours to get there, if you have an obnoxious GPS that give poor directions and you get turned around a lot...it takes longer. We packed a picnic lunch, and since it took us a little longer to get there we were especially happy to have brought it. We had sandwiches, bananas, mangoes, cookies, and juice boxes. The kids were pretty happy with everything minus the mango which they refused to eat and threw into the bushes.

The hike down to the pool is deceptively short. It is a mere 0.25 miles. What you don't realize is that it is completely vertical. In addition, the further down you climb the more enclosed it becomes. The more enclosed it becomes the more humid it becomes. The day was in the ninety degree Fahrenheit range already and as the humidity crept up to sauna levels we became increasingly damp.

The stairs were tiring and our little troopers did have to take a few breaks.

Liam kept imitating the Jurasic park scene with the lost Dennis Nedry with these sign posts. It felt sort of like a Jurassic jungle to me.

By the time we'd managed most of the stairs the boys were flushed and Miles was a pile of bruises and one scraped elbow. He insisted on jumping down every single rock  "stair". Even with me holding his moist little hands there were a lot of falls, none of which made him cry.

All of the boys started out with hats, but by the time we'd reached the base none of them were wearing them. I have learned a surprising truth about humid climates; hats do not equal sun relief. In the hot dry desert wearing a hat shades you from the hottest thing around...the sun. In the humid regions of the world a hat traps in the hottest thing...the air. All three sweaty boys lost their hats. I was suffering from a mixture of vanity and sweaty hat hair and resolutely wore mine through out.

We reached the pool reserve which was awesome. We couldn't swim in it as the bacteria levels were too high that day, and as we walked away and saw a water moccasin swimming about, we were grateful we hadn't tried. This picture doesn't do this pool and water fall justice. Unfortunately before I could get a picture that did, the camera died. The wall underneath the cave is pretty far in and there is a narrow path behind it that you can walk along. In this area there are lush ferns, thick trees, and yes a pretty waterfall. The hike back up was even more strenuous to me because poor little Miles gave out. Sweaty, flushed, and hanging like a limp noodle, I carried him up rotating him from hip to hip. Ian and Liam got no such help. This was an awesome trip, and all the kids had a great time. For any of our Texas friends who aren't moving this summer (not many of you are staying, I know) I highly recommend this as a family outing. The drive home consisted of thirsty children and blasting the air conditioner. The bonus of this outing? Tired children when we got home.