Walker Mansion

John Brisben Walker built this mansion on Mount Falcon in the early 1900's. It's quite high, but the trailhead to Castle Trail is only about 30 minutes from our home by car. The weather was mild, threatening to rain, but the trails were wide and flat with the exception of some mini-arroyos from previous storms. Cicadas were calling and clicking; pre-storm weather heightens the mood? More on them later.

Going to see ruins creates quite a bit of interest in kids. I think it's easier to get them into nature if you show it taking over something man-made. Maybe it's the spooky factor, or could be the romantic (think Byron, not Harlequin) aspects. Whatever it is, it gives me a general sense of impermanence. How Hindu/Buddhist/Taoist of me.

Mountain lions deer kills do that too. It does have subtle differences. It's grosser and more effective in keeping kids from wandering away during a hike. These pictures almost made them seem too cute even though it's in the neighborhood next to the state park we generally hike, Roxborough.

So anyhow, we did about five easy miles, Jasmine managed about three of them and then begged her way into a shoulder ride for the other two. I shouldn't have fallen for it. When I brought her home, Theo took her for a two mile walk and said she ran most of the way. She's scary in the stamina department.


Rowan didn't make it on this hike. He's still suffering from an intermittant fever. Last Tuesday his fever shot up to 103 F and then 104 F. We were having a hard time making any dent in it with Tylenol or Motrin, we ended up resorting to luke warm baths. I think he's had about a dozen this week.

A visit to the doctor on Wednesday wasn't illuminating and then his fever started to climb. The highest it got was 106 F. We got some blood tests, but no word yet on what it might be. No one else is showing any symptoms and he has no other symptoms (other than lethargy). He's currently on antibiotics, but they've only taken the edge off the fatigue and fever heat. Now when his mood deteriorates, we take his temperature and he's back to 103-ish. Another trip to the doctor tomorrow I think. :(

His spirits are good though and he's horsing around with Kai when his temperature is normal. We went to see Get Smart -- I figured he was up for that. People getting hit in the groin, a barf joke, a rat in one's pants and bare buttocks seem to really lighten the spirits of a seven year old.