Hiking with Landon and McKinley

A few weeks ago my little brother was in town and wanted to know what we were up to. Landon just happened to not have school for the day, so I told him that all of us guys could do something while Brinley was in school. The weather had been so nice outside so the first thing that came to mind was to go for a hike at Raven Run. McKinley was excited for a little adventure so we headed out to the woods. Once we arrived I left it up to McKinley on whether we would go to the right to the overlook or to the left toward the creek. He chose the left so off we went. Right from the start Landon started to act like a crazy little boy. He refused to walk at all and said that he was tired even though he had just gotten up less than an hour ago and done nothing but ride in the car to Raven Run.

We were about a mile and a half into our hike when we came upon a little side trail that I had never taken before. At the end of the side trail was a small stream. McKinley stepped over the stream and I grabbed Landon's hand to help him jump across the little stream. Well, when he went to jump across his right shoe slipped off and fell right into the water. The whole thing happened so fast and I quickly went to grab it, but the water was pushing it down the stream and I couldn't grab it before it went off the little cliff down a small waterfall. I was just in disbelief! How could this have happened. 

The shoe got struck in between two rocks at the bottom of the waterfall. If you look closely you can see it in the middle of the picture. Normally this wouldn't have been a problem, but the place where the shoe was stuck was inaccessible. There was the waterfall and then a flat area that led to another dropoff with a second small waterfall. This flat place is where the shoe was located.

I was just ready to call it a loss and to head on back to the car. Landon didn't seem to be too upset about missing a shoe. I did have to take his sock off because he stepped into a little wet spot when I sat him down to go after the shoe in the stream.

My brother had other plans as he made it a mission to try and retrieve the shoe. He started collecting rocks from upstream and throwing them at the shoe in order to try and dislodge it from the waterfall. He was successful at getting it out from between the 2 rocks, but then it still just stuck on the flat area. So, McKinley kept chucking rocks at it trying to get it over the cliff.

He successfully moved it again and got it closer to the edge of the flat area, however it got stuck behind a stick.

Landon was just enjoying the show that Uncle McKinley was putting on while he was eating the snacks that I brought for him. 

I was looking all around to see if there was anyway possible to get down to that area. I couldn't find a place that seemed safe to try and get down. So, McKinley continued to chuck rocks at the shoe. McKinley was throwing the rocks from where he was standing and the shoe is in the bottom left hand corner of the picture.

McKinley finally decided he could get a little closer to try and throw the rocks.

After about 45 minutes he was finally able to get the rock off the flat part and it fell down to the bottom of the second waterfall.

McKinley went off trail and walked about a 100 yards just to be able to get down to a safe place to get down to the stream. He then made his way back down through all the water and mud in order to retrieve the shoe.

He was asking Landon, who was up on my shoulders, if he had lost anything. The shoe was completely waterlogged, so I carried it back out to the car instead of making Landon wear it.

As we began our hike back out we heard a little noise and looked down to spot this little guy slithering off the path. I was glad Landon wasn't walking ahead of us!

Uncle McKinley even took a turn carrying the 35 pounder on the walk out.

We had to hurry on the way out because we had to be sure and get to Brinley's school before it dismissed. We even stopped by the house real quick to get Landon another pair of shoes.

We didn't want Brinley to miss out on all the fun with Uncle McKinley, so we all decided to grab a bite to eat at a relatively new place in town called MOD, which is a thin crust pizza joint.

After lunch we stopped by Jacobson Park to play for a few minutes before Uncle McKinley had to leave. I spun the kids and McKinley on this merry-go-round and after it was finished spinning McKinley had to take a second to collect his bearings before he could get up.

I just think these swings are the coolest. You can swing and have your little one right there with you.

This picture makes me really happy. The kids always have a good time with their Uncle Kinley.

I probably don't tell my little brother enough, but I am really proud of him. He is finishing up his 4th year of medical school at Louisville. Today he will open an envelope that will have a card with the location that he will be living for the next 3-4 years while he completes his residency. I don't know where he will be going, but I do know for sure that the institution that gets him is going to be very lucky. I know that he is going to be a good doctor and I believe that if you ever happen to be a patient of his then you will be in very good hands. I love you little brother! Thanks for reading and God bless!