Tonto Natural Bridge

Ever since Patrice decided that he needed a new work vehicle, he's been on a quest to find just the right car for him. After much research he found it, in Payson. About a 2.5 hour drive north of here. We decided to take a little road trip to check out the car so he could decide if he really wanted it and in the meantime, we could have a little adventure on the side.

Patrice researched the vehicle and I researched the town and off we went.

I made a list of things to do and first on the list was the Tonto Natural Bridge. When we got there, Patrice was tempted to send Nicco and I on the short hike while he stayed behind to nap. He was up late and didn't sleep, then drove all morning. He needed and earned a nap. But he decided to come along anyway. He could sleep later.

This new camera could become a problem. I take a lot of pictures. A. Lot.

The little valley from the lookout on the top of the bridge.

Looking through the hole in the bridge.
(It's a good thing the grate was there, otherwise you could die.)

What we saw.

Looking up...see the little hole there?

A closer look.

Another view from the lookout point.
Nicco said, "I sure do enjoy Heavenly Father's creations."

The boy will probably need a bigger SD card when we go to France.
He takes more pictures than I do.

Look for tracks, the sign says.

We found one.

A rainbow in the waterfall. Pretty.

The steep hike down

The muddy pool at the bottom

My happy boy

Climbing on the rocks, without any help.
He did allow the Daddy to point the way, but no boosts, pushes, or pulls.

Peek-a-Boo!

They reached a point where they couldn't really go any further
and had to climb onto the bridge that everyone else walked across.

The waterfall spray was refreshing after the hike.

 

 So pretty!

The boys hiked some more. I stayed behind (and took a thousand pictures) because the terrain was difficult to maneuver upon and the rocks were very slippery. I was wearing good shoes, not my usual plastic flip-flops, but I did not have my camera bag and I would definitely need all four limbs to climb.

My small red speck of a boy, waving at me from the other end of the tunnel

 The boys return!

The Daddy told me how proud he was of Nicco. He hiked and climbed with much confidence and competence and after a refreshing drink, Nicco told me that "something happened to me on that hike." He meant that he felt more confident and capable. He became a Man. ~smile~

Some of the pictures I took while my boy was off becoming a Man...

 We headed back and Nicco did NOT want to walk on the paved pathway. Real Men climb rocks!

Here he's trying to convince the Daddy to help him over the side so he could go back the way he came. I managed to talk him out of it. Such a spoil sport.

 My Men.

The walk back up was more tiring. It's a pretty steep little climb, and going up is harder than going down. We made it though, and Patrice asked Nicco what he wanted to do next...should we get in the car and go home, or should we find a hotel and spend the night, and maybe see some more fun things?

Well, I think you can guess what the boy chose. And off we went to find a place to sleep.