There’s really not much to say about this one that I didn’t cover when we went last year. Making this post more for memories sake. The few things to note that are different are:
We knew where we were going this time around. Lat year we just went for it without knowing where the gnomes were along the trail. This time I noticed a map, maybe it was there last year? But it’s not the best map. It seems the trails have names based on signs at trail crossings, but the map was nameless. Thankfully the area isn’t large enough to get totally lost.
We went with friends. Hiking with friends is always fun. And since the trail isn’t the longest, we were finished within an hour. We spent the next almost two hours hanging around a covered structure—likely where Maple Valley has their Farmers Market based on the map—where the kids played non-stop. I had packed lunches and we ate first, and then they all got to playing. Even the big kiddos, whom I was surprised how into playing they were. Games for all the ages there with Blaise being the oldest nearing 13, and the youngest a few months past age three.
We took gnomes with us to leave behind. Last year I bought a few gnomes after we hit this trail. At the Dollar Tree. Like everyone else. There are several alike gnomes on the trail. Oh well. Maive was excited to leave one behind. I think it took her about 10 test spots before she found the right spot.
Hiking kiddos who like to climb trees and stumps, and pose for pictures. Baby wasn’t with us since she was at an outdoor wilderness summer camp living her best life as a wolf in training. Baby wants to be a wolf when she grows up, haha. I love this about her.
Oh, and it’s still worth noting how incredibly massive the parking lot it is for a mediocre trail. Probably for the farmers market. But even still, it’s a ridiculously large parking lot. And it’s not that mediocre is bad, it’s a perfectly fine trail with the added bonus of gnomes to spice up the hike.
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