Exploring Arizona: The Sheep Bridge

The bangle on my wrist vibrated, and I started to laugh. I had achieved my steps despite spending most of the day in the car. I shared the news with Dave and the kiddos as the five of us jostled and banged around in our vehicle like popcorn kernels in the pan. We had been on an adventure. An adventure that took us along miles of unpaved dirt roads in the wilderness ofArizona.

Our road trips have been few lately. So many projects and obligations have kept us closer to home. After much talk about true priorities and the story of our life, Dave and I decided the family needed a car trip. With Jasmine tagging along, we set out for the Sheep Bridge in the Tonto National Forest. 

Although it is only 80 miles from our home, the Sheep Bridge is in a remote area. This amazing suspension bridge is a treat to find. The roads were definitely rough; the majority were unpaved and quite rocky. The uneven terrain and winding roads caused Aine and Eamon to moan about car sickness. We needed to stop a few times to settle all of our bellies. 

In 1943 the original Sheep Bridge was built over the Verde River to aid sheep farmers. Before the bridge many sheep were lost while crossing the river when the farmers ran them from lower Arizona to the Rim. An imposing concrete and wood buttress, remnant of the old bridge, is adjacent the existing structure. There is a plaque detailing the construction and the history of sheep farming in the state. The new bridge was constructed in 1988 after the old one had to be dismantled. It was deteriorating after years of use. Although the area is no longer used for sheep farming, the bridge supports the foot traffic of people exploring the wilderness of the area. The bridge sits high above the Verde River.

The kiddos realized that during our camping trip last spring, they had played in the same river a bit further north. Excited about the connection, we made our way across the bridge and down to the bank of the river. The kiddos immediately started running along the bank exploring the space. Aine spotted tiny bird prints along the shoreline. Benton began building a cairn. Eamon started finding rocks for skipping. We spent a bit of time there on the bank. Dave taught the kiddos his rock skipping technique. Each of them was able to get at least one rock to skip across the smooth water. Benton and I dug in the sand, creating a moat and castle.

It was beautiful along the riverbank with the bridge overhead. The kiddos were very disappointed that we couldn't spend the night. We made plans to return soon to camp overnight. Apparently there are some hot springs nearby that we would like to check out. We climbed back up to the bridge and took a few goofy photos. We piled back into the car and started back home. The return trip seemed a bit easier on our jostled limbs. We crossed a couple areas muddy with water but made it home in one piece vowing to explore again next week.

Taking Our Time

We left our temporary home last week and have been working our way west to my in-laws' home. The time has been full of the outdoors. The kiddos have enjoyed running, jumping, hiking, fishing and getting all kinds of dirty. We swam in the waters of Pennsylvania and explored a fall in Canada. So far, all is good on this next adventure of ours.

Eamon has been in charge of the campfires

National Trails Day Our Way

Today we spent some time exploring the mountains of Virginia at Shenandoah National Park. I had read about the park on another blog and was excited to go explore the area. In a serendipitous turn of events, it was also National Trails Day. We spent quite a bit of time with volunteers and rangers at the Byrd Visitors Center. The kiddos identified scat and prints from a variety of animals indigenous to the area. Benton cut a log with a bit of help from his mama and a ranger, which he then decorated. We also learned about trail safety and first aid.

At the suggestion of one of the park service volunteers, we put off exploring the meadow for a hike along  Dark Hollow Falls. The path followed along a stream at the beginning, and we met it with a whole lot of running and skipping. Fellow hikers along the trail stumbled upon a bear. It was long gone by the time we  arrived, although we did see one on the drive out.

Aine wanted a picture all by herself

The vegetation was so green along the path. Water could be seen on the rocks. Moss required quite a bit of inspection from our crew. It isn't a common sight in Arizona that is for sure. Eamon schooled everyone on many of the fungi and lichens. He and Aine also made sure we steered clear of the mountain laurel as they had learned it is poisonous. 

We continued past the upper falls for another quarter mile to the metal bridge below for a view from the bottom. Here we floated leaves and sticks in the currents watching their passage under the bridge. A fellow hiker shared his slingshot with us showing Aine and Benton how to hold it and shoot (Eamon declined the lesson. He preferred to watch intently). Another gentleman offered to take a photo of us ( a rare treat to have the five of us together in one photo).

The trip back was full of more plant identification and leaf or stick gathering. Only a few mental games had to be played when a certain four year old wanted to be carried. It is amazing what a game of meerkat and hyena can do to motivate little legs. Once back to Big Meadow, we spotted a few deer. Benton and I found a mama and her fawn, but the older kiddos and Dave missed it. Several more were found including two very close to us (no photos, of course).

After the deer sightings, we decided to head home with plans to visit again before our time in the east ends. We drove home along Skyline Drive with spectacular evening views. We stopped briefly for a black bear ambling in the woods beside the road. Aine was thrilled with all the animal sightings. I think we all were thrilled to be spending some time in nature.