365 Random Days of Team Zybko

Day #189

July 25th, 2012

Dream Day at the Cliffs

So we roll up mid morning to yet another beautiful Minnesota lake with a freshly packed cooler and dry ready to go water shoes. It's only Monday, a full week of adventure ahead of us but we never have to look for it. It always hits us right in the middle of the forehead. Everyday. Here in the land of the lakes not to be confused with my favorite creamy brand of butter.

Land O' Lakes. Oh wait, maybe there is a connection there, we are super close to dairy land USA.

Any-who...

We seldom need to drive far to find an outdoor paradise. We are in mining territory, old and new. 8 minutes down the road we happenstance upon this old iron ore mining site, its huge. Hasn't seen profit or hard working men for many moons. After years of inactivity mother nature seized the opportunity and crept in carrying many many gallons of the finest bluish green sparkly water. Inch by inch over time creating a Minnesota summertime oasis. Coolest place ever. I'm sure there must be an historical maker with a turn of the century black and white photo somewhere. I love learning the history of an area. Not now though, too much going on and to look at. 

Modern Mayberry type kids jumping off  the dock, families picnicking on the sand and cute teenage girls plugged into music working hard on their warm weather bronze. Something it seems for everyone. Oh sweet, we may be here a while. Too good to be true I think to myself as I open the back doors to the prison van. Kids are already asking to go in the water so I reach for the heavy canvas swim bag always stocked and ready to go with the total beach experience.  

Uh oh. It doesn't seem to be in the van. Think think think. Why is my all time favorite bag not in the van? Bummer.

I remember. After washing the towels from our last adventure I left them neatly folded sitting on top of the bag....unfortunately back at home, right by the front door. I recall how it played out now, I meant to go back one more time up the steep steps for another handful of gear. I knew I should have grabbed it somehow. I must have gotten side tracked with the first heavy load, no worries. On to  plan 'B'. I just need to dig a bit. I always have extra hats, sunscreen and clothes stashed under the seats.  

The water is pretty chilly, even for the kids. Chilly but absolutely clear and seemingly to my liking quite fish free. Hard to tell in this picture the beauty of the water but trust me, every direction we turn our heads it resembled a vacation destination IPad screen saver.

Up to my waist was good enough for me. Allowed for better shots but far enough away from the danger of the sudden drop off. I wasn't really into chancing the possibility of going under with the Nikon. A new camera would be super nice I can't lie. Saving up for months and months without one, not quite as nice. With bellies full on PB and honey goodness I was banking on a while of energy filled hours of fun. Kids happily play and splash around the newly found liquid playground. My mind drifts off. How nice is this? Really can't believe how pretty an old stinkin' pit can be? Not long after taking the plunge Delaney makes friends with two really nice sisters.

Have you been to the cliffs yet they ask?

Huh? What did you say?

Over there, up the dirt path you can jump off into the water.

Mom, mom, mom....can we go and check it out?

Oh my gosh.....totally....let's go!

The cute girls who now seem to be old time friends with the kids show us the way.  

The slanted path ends somewhat abruptly, dumping us front row to a spectacular view. A very high view me and my cheap sunglasses weren't quite ready for. I grab La La's hand firmly and yell up to the front of the line for Drexel to STOP! I yell louder cause obviously he has already tuned me out. My lack of good judgement kid who loved the back yard diving board at one year of age gets closer to the edge as I get closer to a heart attack. Whoa. We are certainly high up. 

No sooner have I caught my breath from the walk up an energetic teenager whizzes by me in a bathing suit and leaps off the cliff. Ok, I am out of breath again. Totally freaked out my practical senses, way out. Watching this kid I didn't even know run full speed without a care in the world off a cliff couldn't fit into my old soccer mom brain. I mean the hang time off this ledge was like 8 seconds. Dude.
It must have showed or maybe I gasped super loud. Either way our newly hired volunteer tour guide barbie notices my worried face and acts upon it.

You think this is high? Lets keep walking, there is one higher cliff.

 

Back on the nature hike and educational outdoor session we are told all about the berries to eat and more importantly the berries NOT to every eat out here.. Well I didn't wanna fess up to my teacher I had NO intentions of eating any berries here on this trail or any other trail I ever walk on. As a rule I don't generally eat fruit with out a fresh lining of pesticide, SKU # and a good ole wrapping of wasteful plastic packaging.
I'm caught off guard when Delaney says....
Mom, if you eat one I will try one too.
Um, ok....great.
I reply with a half fake smile. What is it a called again?
A CHOKE BERRY.
Against my better judgement I pick one out of her hand and pop it in my mouth.
I live to tell about it, it wasn't bad actually. Did I go in for seconds? Uh...no thanks. Delaney just for the record did hold up her side of the bargain even if it was in her mouth for a mere .000001 part of a second. The picture of her face was, well let's just say, not her best look and I do love you enough never to post it.
 Not delete it mind you. Just never post it. 

We reach the tippy top of the rocky ledge and second verse same as the first. Another fearless dude shows off his talents with some sort of Olympic dive/twist/flip upside down pineapple cake jump combination.  

Me thinks maybe just maybe these rocket type burst of testosterone may have to do with gaining the attention of the bikini-ed chics. I saw it on animal planet once with a bunch of dolphins. It wasn't that long ago I was in this goofy game. Change the boom box from Pitbull to Pat Benatar, eliminate the scattered cell phones and the Northern Minnesota accent and viola. Me and some friends would look the same on these rocks, circa 1985. I could picture wasting away entire days here.
Side note, for lasting un-removable image purposes please insert a full coverage racing Speedo and sensible sporty cover up. A stringy 2 piece was never in my budget. My calorie budget that is.

Back to present day 2012. I watch Drexel sit on the edge, literally on the edge contemplating trying it out
As his mom I know him well. I know if he just does it one time he will be hooked. I encourage him to do it cause I don't want him to miss out. Delaney on the other hand I'm not really sure about. She may do it once, just to cross it off a life list or something.


. 

Avery shows the kids there is nothing to it.

Kayleigh demonstrates a higher level of difficulty. French judges are hard on the American blond but I give her a perfect ten all the way. Wow.

It's well past one o'clock by now and it's getting a little toasty. The casual swim around to where the rock ladder is located looks so refreshing and inviting. I gently encourage the kids with some delicate parenting.
Come on don't be such a baby girl Drex.
I thought you were super dude.
NO NO NO..I THOUGHT THOSE WORDS
but seriously can't afford to put any more cash in the therapy jar
SO what I really say is
No big deal if y'all don't wanna do it.
I'm sure we will be back another time.

2 seconds later I loose the silent bet I have with myself.
Delaney beats Drexel in. I can't believe it, I'm shocked. 

Her proud somewhat shocked face says it all without words.

I did it mom, I actually did it! Drexel tries is out just a few short seconds later and doesn't stop for a least an hour. Moving his way up the different height levels quickly. I send baby Daddy a video I'm positive he will cherish and love of his little 7 year old dare devil. I get no response from the video message. Hhhmmm maybe he is super busy or it didn't go through. Service here can be a tidy tad patchy even on a clear sunshiny day. It's so bright I can barely see my phone screen from the glare. I hope I didn't send it to another contact labeled Big Daddy.

 

Hours later when BD gets home I ask him if he received the text of what the kids did today.
Oh yea, thanks for that.
I pout my lip out my lip and narrow my eyes, he doesn't exactly seem thankful. Geeesh.

Honey, from the angle it appears as if he was running and leaping to his death.
What? really? Let me see it on your phone.
Oh, whoops. I review my work and completely agree.
Sorry about that.
You can't even hear a splash can you?
No babe you can't.
I start to explain how hard it was to see the actual footage before hitting send but we are happily interrupted by 3 excited little ones. They have heard Daddy's man voice fom the other room and now it's game on until bedtime.
All talking at once I smile and wink at him.
We had a great day and see honey, they all lived to tell about it!