when last we left off with the river quest saga, I had taken us to some conference center truck docks to enjoy the river. Emboldened with fresh google maps information, I set out again with the kids to find the elusive Potomac River.
We were led into a residential area, seemingly a cul de sac, which I almost pulled out from before spying a small entrance to a suburban alleyway next to a golf course. Just around the bend in the alleyway was a small parking lot with a sign that read "Elizabeth Mills riverfront park". Ah ha! Another hot blast of wet air greeted me when I opened the door, but I was convinced that we were on the brink of "fun" and enthusiastically popped the kids out of the car so we could get going.
It so happens that you have to walk through the middle of a golf course to get to this park, and the pathway happens to be the golf cart path, and my 3 year old happens to be both incapable of staying close to me and terrified of golf carts. After what felt like an endless walk full of verbal cattle prodding, we arrived on a gravel path that led to a big field and a glimmer of water poking through the giant trees. "Fun" awaited just on the other side!
Violet had to be carried the whole way there and back. Good thing she's a miniature for her age.
Eventually we found a path that led down to the water, and the air was beginning to feel tropical. I half expected to find some long past era on the other side of the trees, with women on porches with fans and hats mint juleps.
Counting from the moment I snapped the above picture, I believe there was about 4 minutes of genuine wonder and fun before things started to go the other way. But this is gorgeous right?
The water level was really low so there were areas that looked like they normally sat underwater. Small shells were everywhere underfoot, and there were some tidepool-like puddles in carved out areas of rocks. I had outfitted Clover with a "treasure bag" to collect any river rocks, shells, or other small treasures that she wanted to take home. Filled with youthful glee, I collected some pretty shells that stood out to me and kept giving them to Clover to put in the treasure bag. One of them was this great spiral shape that seemed like it belonged at the ocean and not the river.
Somewhere right about in here was where both of my children became incapable of listening to a word I said, and insisted on running away, climbing dangerous rocks, bolting to the edge of the water, and doing all of their deeds in opposite directions as one other so as to vex my nerves tremendously (I've been reading Jane Austen lately). It was also starting to feel very hot in the direct sun, and I could get neither child to enjoy any shade with me.
We did some rock throwing, shell collecting, pointing out of various bits of trash and abandoned clothing left on the rocks.
Clover was starting to look beet red and both of us were literally dripping sweat off of our faces. Northwest blood to the core. I was quickly growing tired of screaming at them every three seconds to stop running away and trying to kill themselves, so I gave a warning that we were departing soon. Any remaining throwing or collecting that needed to be done was to be done in the next few minutes before we headed back on our long walk to the car.
There is nothing like knowing how long it is going to take you to get back to dampen your enthusiasm for the "now".
As soon as I went to collect Violet she bolted away from me and found a patch of mud to sink both of her hands into. She was delighted until she realized that her hands were dirty, and then she started screaming and flailing and rubbing them all over my neck and face. Perfect.
Clover was holding her treasure bag when I gave the warning to find anything else she wanted to keep so we could get going. It was then that she held up her bag and wailed "but they're all GONE!". Say what? I looked in the bag, expecting to see the collection of treasure we had found and saw nothing but one rock at the bottom. So THAT is what she had been throwing into the river.....
Not only had she mercilessly shucked my shells, but she insisted that she couldn't hold the treasure bag anymore and shoved the limp sack into my already full arms (Muddy Violet, purse). "YOU carry it! I can't!". And then she started wailing that all her rocks were gone.
When we finally got ourselves back up the hill and into the field, we paused for a water break and an apple, at which point I threatened spankings for anyone who dared to run away from me again, and I realized I had forgotten the kids' water cup. I got the sublime pleasure of sharing my water bottle with two dirty, cranky children.
Clover trailed behind me as we set off for the car, screaming that she wanted me to carry her. Then, after I couldn't convince her to stay near me or hold my hand, she stopped in the middle of the path when confronted with a golf cart that needed to be where she was. Several taxing minutes and one chuckle moment later (pointing out a caddy shack to my kids and then thinking about the movie) we all heaved a sigh of relief when we arrived back at the car.
"No more river! I'm over it!" I declared as we headed home to enjoy some chips and salsa.
