Sabbath Afternoon Hike

Abby's Pathfinder group held a desert hike after church yesterday. They are working on their tree honor so their purpose was to collect leaves and observe the types of plants and trees that grow in the desert. While there weren't as many specimans to choose from as those lucky little pathfinders in, well, just about anywhere other than here, there were still quite a few interesting trees from which to choose... probably more than one would expect in the middle of the desert.

The park where we met is called "Betty's Kitchen". In the late 1850's,the area was founded thanks to the discovery of gold deposits being found along this section of the Colorado River. The mining camps didn't last very long as better gold sources were found nearby. After the Miners left, small farm plots were established around the river. The area was called Betty's Kitchen because of a small cafe/bar where a woman named Betty worked during the 1930's and 1940's. The river was the community's eventual undoing when a flood in 1983 wiped out everything. It was never rebuilt and there are very few signs of the community that used to be here.


Our afternoon began with some pre-hike nourishment. Everyone packed a sack lunch and brought it with them. Of course my little unsocialized homeschoolers just love an excuse to pull out lunchboxes and ziploc bags. We found a lovely little spot that worked just fine. I think it must be the shadiest patch of land in this corner of the world.

Ladies Who Lunch... Amelia and her pal Mabel enjoying good food and fine fellowship

There was a sign that said that the little body of water wasn't suitable for swimming. The reasons it gave for not swimming had to have been some of the silliest I think I've ever heard (especially when it's 110 and VERY sunny). The Bureau of Land Management thought that you should not swim there because "the water was deep and very cold". Personally, I found the particular shade of cloudy green to be offensive enough to keep me out EVEN though they tried to tempt me in with their deep and very cold sign.

The view from our lunch spot

Okay, so it was more of a walk than a hike. :)
(Look closely at this photo and you'll see Amelia and Marshall happily heading off in the wrong direction.)

The palm trees dwarfed Abby.

All in all it was a great way to spend the afternoon. Yummy lunch, fun visits, the beauty of nature...God is so good!