Fort Ridgely

With the predicted temperatures yesterday, I gave the kids two options for state parks we could visit - Fort Ridgely or Flandrau.  The boys both wanted to go to Ridgely, so we were off (I think they expected some sort of a fort they could play in).

We parked near the amphitheater and picnic area.  Which is just a short walk to the old fort, our first stop.  Kieran really liked reading the signs and learning about the Dakota attacks on the fort -- it appeals to his interest in history and facts....

 Luke enjoyed reading the sings too, but he really liked wandering around the foundations of the buildings --- like these for the officer quarters...

Lex would do either - if Kieran or I would read out loud to her, she would listen or she could just wander...

Like I said, Luke liked the old foundations...

But sometimes he would read or listen to the stories being told by the park service...

After a while, it was time to start hiking...though Luke & Lex were ready long before Kieran.  Look closely here, we had already started hiking and Kieran had to catch up...

It was over fifty degrees, but there's still snow on the ground in places.  Or there's standing water because the ground is still frozen or it's just mud.

But there were golfers out golfing (in February...in Minnesota) --- Ridgely has a nine-hole golf course --- you might be able to see them above Luke's head...

In some of the ravine trails, there was quite a bit of snow and ice...

But soon the trail opens up and crosses the golf course (pretty sure this is the only state park in Minnesota that a hiking trail crosses a golf course)...

We were surprised by some of the elevation changes we had to hike...some were not easy...

But soon the trail got to the top of the bluff and it was all prairie...easy walking...

Of course, given the opportunity, the kids will sit for a rest...

But I did laugh at this sign...

Hiking with Lex is an experience for us.  The boys like to move fast, Lex is almost always at the back.  But she doesn't care, doesn't whine or cry ---- she'll just putz along, tellings stories to herself, singing songs, etc.  You tell her to hurry up and she'll catch up to you.  Seconds later, she's several hundred feet behind you.

The downside for her is that the boys get longer breaks than her...they rest while waiting for her and when she's caught up, they're off again...

It was a long hike yesterday.  The hiking club said it would be a 2.6 mile hike, but after finding our password, we deviated and went our own way...the trail outlined in pink was the path we took.

And yes...we got a picture at the sign...

And yes...we got our passport stamped...only thirteen more until a free night of camping!

A good, but muddy day...