So...several weeks back, on a weird whim, we decided (in the middle of the night!) to drive a few hours north to the great state of Idaho and visit somewhere that we'd never been as a family. We took off at 11:30 PM on what would be about a 4 hour drive. We knew that we'd stop somewhere and camp, so we weren't as worried about the time at that point.
Chapter 1: "Aren't we spontaneous!"
At around 1:30 am, we hit Pocatello, and decided that we should find a place to stay--either camping or hotel--just somewhere to sleep! The hotels were WAY overpriced, and we found a KOA, but there wasn't any one manning it, and we didn't want to drive around with our headlights on to find a spot to sleep. So, we decided to keep on driving, figuring that we'd find something at our final destination, Craters of the Moon National Monument.
I've been there several times growing up, but Ryan had never been. I was excited to visit all the fun things i remembered growing up.
Chapter 2: "Spontaneity is over rated"
So, at around 2:30 we run into the end of a short road in Arco, Idaho, where there are no more hotels, and the chances of camping look pretty dim. We rung the front desk, where they blindly tried to find forms and got us signed in through very sleepy eyes. I'm sure they spat in all of our pillows. :)
We checked in, and dragged the dogs and the kids inside, and we all immediately fell asleep. And woke up to rain. (Whew! on the deciding we coudln't find a campground--because that late, i would have just camped under the stars!!) It was forecast-ed to keep raining the morning through (delightful!), so we took our time getting out of the room, and found a nice "Mom and Pop" type restaurant to eat. Mom and Pop would probably be better described if it included "and those children who mom and pop (first cousins!) belabored. Because there were some PEOPLE there. My love for people watching excluded, it was decent food, and quite entertaining. We then headed into the much anticipated National Monument.
Chapter 3: "Spontaneity is GREAT!"
At this point, we found the visitors center, and checked out the cool little museum, and got the kids into the junior ranger program. We grabbed our map, and started the little circle driving tour that included some really great short hikes. Perfect for the kids. Not so perfect for the excluded dogs. (It WAS a somewhat cool day, so i was very grateful for that while having to keep them shut in the car while we ran around on our tiny-hikes.)
The hikes were really neat, as i said, and the kids loved them. We walked through all sorts of types of lava, and saw some neat cones. We also got to hike a cindercone. The kids loved "hiking a volcano". We were glad we came! And then....
Chapter 4: "Spontaneity has it's downsides..."
...the highlight of our adventure--the lava caves. Apparently, thousands of years ago, some lava flowed underground, then cooled, Where it apparently disappeared, leaving some really cool caves.
And the fun begins!! First, we spontaneously left home withOUT flashlights. Thinking we were going to set up camp in the dark even, we left home with no flashlights. Going to the caves, there were notices "Bring at least 2 forms of light!". This is kind of irrelevant to my problems, but...if you're going, be prepared! i actually found a flashlight in the car--one of those emergency crank flashlights that DO give out about the light of a gloworm, but not exactly enough light to hike with.
As we hiked along, enjoying the scenery, i started to think, "My, this has been quite a long hike--i think we should almost be there". Holding my sweet daughters hand, with my other hand holding the map, i started studying the map to see where we were...and fell off the side of the 4-inch-lip to the wheelchair accessible trail. Falling, i drug my poor Maddie's face onto the pavement, and heard from my ankle a "pop" or a "crack". My first thought was that i had re-torn a tendon that I'd ripped about 7 years earlier hiking in the Subway portion of Zions National Park. I remember hearing a cracking sound there. Then, it hurt so damned bad, i said outloud-"I think it's broken". Then, i asked my daughter how she was (she was upset, i am sure it hurt, but she was scared because i was freaking out about myself). A ranger happened to be hiking by and saw me fall, and helped me up. We put some pressure on it, and she asked--"we can get a 4 wheeler back here, do you need me to call someone?" I stupidly, and proudly, said "No. I'll be ok". I insisted that the kids and Ryan finished the hike. This was the highlight of our trip. I was thinking that i could just sit there on the side of the trail for a while, and it would start to feel better. The ranger offered to help me walk back, so i sent the kids and Ryan off to finish the hike, and started the LOOONG hike out. (Stupid, stupid pride!)
Already too long story short, I made it back to the car. It took a long time, where in the ranger fell, as well. I hobbled the best i could, then sat in the car bawling with ice on it until the others finished their hike. Because of the flashlight shortage, they weren't able to see all the caves, just one where the top have "skylights".
We were in the middle of no-where Idaho, so we decided to wait til we got back into Logan to go to the doctor (no emergency room for us!), and when we got back, instacare was closed, so we decided to wait til the next day to get it checked out. It was broken. I've been in a walking cast (just got off the crutches! thank goodness) and will be for a while yet.
Chapter 5: "Spontaneity has it's upsides..."
I did get some heavy duty pain killers.
Chapter 6: "Downsides have their spontaneity..."
During this whole recovery thing, i've had to ask for help several times, which is SO not fun. My son and husband especially have been lifesavers. At work, a woman i tend to complain about at times has been my legs, and i've learned to really appreciate her, as well! And i've had to learn all sorts of ways to get around doing things--had to invent ways into and out of bathtubs, into and out of pants...it's all caused some real creativity!
And a whole lot less hiking this summer....
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