Barfußpark

On Saturday night I had a fit. My teenagers had been sleeping, lazing about, enjoying summer. How dare they? In the meantime, Dave & I had been up to our ears in retirement paperwork (A Big, Huge, *Gulp*!), big decisions, work and running the house. In a moment of rare quiet it dawned on me, I had two built-in helpers. Two capable teenagers thick in the midst of a winter hibernation.  I put a stop to that.

I came out of the gate swinging. My kids sitting there with big eyes, confused faces, wondering what beast replaced their mom. I ranted and railed for a bit, but quickly exhausted myself and wound down to plea for help. Perhaps I could’ve done this a little more Facebook perfect. Perhaps I could’ve just asked.  Perhaps I could’ve been kinder, gentler, quieter. But I was truly tired, at the end of my rope, and my laundry pile was taller than my 5 foot 2 inch self.

My kids sprang to action, even Dane, my little me, who had been helping all along.  Dane who notices when I struggle to get another basket down the stairs and jumps in to help me carry it. Dane, who despite being my biggest mess maker, is the one to make me a sandwich when I’m glued to my work.  Dane too pitched in. Saturday was a late night, but at the end all the wash racks were hanging with drying clothes, sheets & towels, the kitchen almost sparkled, and the living room looked brandnew again.

I woke up Sunday renewed. I spent a couple quick hours working then noticed my family up and busy around the house.  Tiptoe’ing around me. That wasn’t what I wanted at all! Clean, yes. Tiptoe’ing? No. I did a quick google for fun stuff nearby and remembered the Barfußpark (barefoot park) was less than an hour away. Ten minutes later everyone was in the car, ready to go, full of questions.  Dave especially was very reluctant. A soldiers number one priority is his feet. Going barefoot is going against the grain of everything he’s been taught in the last 30 years. A soldier lives, works, breaths on his feet. But he got in the car, with his shoes firmly on his feet, debating if they would come off that afternoon.

The drive to Dornstetten-Hallwang was through the backroads of the Schwarzwald. There is no highway, no autobahn, between here and there. Sunday was glorious. Sunny. Warm. Perfect. The drive alone put a smile on everyone’s face and happiness started to creep up on us all.

Despite being obviously busy, we easily found a parking spot just down the road from the Barfußpark. We walked over, put our shoes in the provided lockers (even Dave!) and followed the masses barefoot through a grassy meadow. Dane happily skipping along, running between Cole & Tess in front, and me & Dave in the back.  This was his kind of afternoon. Dave worried about his feet. Unsure if he’d made the right decision.

Almost immediately we came upon a park with a climbing net, volleyball court, medicine ball basketball, a mini cold stream (that felt so good!), bouncy feet, trampoline, playground and a jumpy-spray-y thing. After playing on everything else, Dane jumped right on the jumpy-spray-y thing. He had a blasted trying to jump hard enough to spray all of us with water.  His giggles were infectious and Tess couldn’t resist anymore, she had to try too. Laughter overcoming her as she did manage to spray people walking by, as she jumped ever higher & harder making the water go further & further.

Finally we continued our hike. Starting off with some water hazards, slippery rocks, and a deep, very cold pool to cool  your feet. Dave loved the cool pool. Cole took a breather after this, on the wonderful, relaxing benches provided. Reluctantly getting up when the rest of us were ready to continue. We hiked through another meadow. Past hollow rocks that sang when you stuck your head in and yodeled. My gang refusing to try, because, on the other side of the path, behind stunning wildflowers, were beehives galore.  Sticking your head in a hole nearby seemed unsafe to them all.

And then. Then came the Barfuß trail. 2.5 kilometers of trail. Filled with obstacles just for feet. There was mulch. Sand. Mud. Water. Pinecones. Straw. Balance beams. A million different kinds of cobblestones, and glass. GLASS! TWICE! Glass hurts.

It was a fantabulous day. Filled with giggles, laughter, happiness. Exactly what we all needed.  Exhausted we all tumbled back into the van, drove to our local biergarten and filled up on Radlers and schnitzels before heading home. Today, three days later, I’m still feeling cramps in my calves from hiking barefoot.  What was an easy hike turned out to use muscles I never use. My poor toes and calves must have gripped for dear life last Sunday to ache as they do now.  But the aches remind me, take time to have fun! Even when life is overflowing with the must-do-it-nows, take time to have fun.  This week is just as busy as last week, but my mind is in a much happier, capable, place and my kids are now part of the team. Helping me & Dave and no longer hibernating all day.

Barfußpark Hallwangen

Reluctantly trudging barefoot with the masses.

Apparently, I’m not the only wife/mom with the bright idea to go barefoot hiking. The guy on the right is not with us.

Wait. There’s a thing. You can jump on it. It sprays water. Hmmmmm.

Rare, elusive, photo. This is a TEENAGER HAVING FUN!

Barefoot hiking is extra tiring. Moose does not yet realize we are still only walking to the trail 😀

It is so pretty outside.

My crew absolutely refused to stick their heads in hollow stones & yodeled. Thank you complete strangers!

There are different textures, cobblestones, wood and GLASS to walk on.

GLASS!!!!!

There are also different balance beams, ropes, bridges. Dane is super cool. No hands. Until I started jumping like a madwoman and he almost fell off Bwuahahaha!

And mud. There is ankle deep mud to walk through with different textures along the bottom. Mush. Rocks. Cobblestones. OMG!

Then, with slippery, slidey feet you can slide downhill for two football fields. Much harder than it looks. I had to be rescued (for the camera’s sake, of course).

This is the confused look of teenagers having fun.

Five muddy feet. Five happy people.

That mud? Very hard to scrub off. Even with hose, brush and mom’s help.

With clean feet once again, he begged to go back & jump on the trampoline.

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