storybook: a natural spring

Leaving the rocky Rhode Island seaside, we stepped inside a storybook, and found ourselves treading through a field, to a path.  We followed it, our surroundings getting greener, ferns and moss popping up all around.  I heard the slight trickling of a stream, and walking alongside, we came to a neat square patch of moss, complete with two handles.  Lifting up the moss door, we were met with bubbling earth, filtering out the clearest, coldest spring water.

We drank the water by cupping our hands and pouring it into our mouths.  After the day's heat, it was even more appreciated, and with the ocean salt still remaining on our skin, we washed our faces and even dipped our heads under.  It was a rush, having to lower yourself, letting the blood rush to your head, then submerging yourself upside down into the cool water, lifting your head back up and letting the water cascade from your hair, onto your face, and down the back of your neck.

 pure magic.

the jacuzzi

You have to walk on train tracks to get there.  The jacuzzi is a local swimming hole where the rocks dip in just the right way where you can sit in a hollowed out area and the water will pour through the cracks - just like jacuzzi jets!  However, with all the rain we've  been having, our tub was a bit flooded.  The day was still lovely for rock jumps and swimming against the current to sand islands, then letting the water carry you back.  It's nearly impossible to be unhappy while playing around at the swimming holes with all the green mountains surrounding you, and I've found that my friends and I are always in our best moods when we're together at these rocky waters.

road trip road trip.

A 4 day weekend and a spontaneous new friend led to a road trip to the interior of British Colombia!  Caroline and I had both heard all of these wonderful things about Nelson, B.C. which usually ended with the person saying, "honestly, you won't want to leave".  So, we arranged for places to stay and hit the road.  It was an 8 hour trip, but the journey ended up being just as beautiful as the final destination.   We meandered through small mountain towns, valleys, prairies - one moment we would be surrounded by dry and grassy plains with the sun beating down on us and the next there was only evergreen with rivers running through it and a covering of snow.  The only constant was the endless layering of mountain ranges, more beautiful than I'd ever seen.  Caroline is Brazilian, so it was fun to watch her get so excited about seeing snow, which had become sort of became commonplace for me, coming from Vermont.  Looking out the window, my eyes never got bored, and really with all of the sun, and no road troubles to be had, there was nothing to do but to look up and be thankful.

the jacuzzi.

A rare warm day begged an outdoor adventure to 'the jacuzzi'.  When it's warm there's a hollowing out in the rocks where water rushes in from all sides and creates a natural spa.  The water was too cold for any of that but I did take have one freezing cold dive before retreating to the rocks.  I know these outside adventures are the things I'll miss most when I make the January migration.

bingham falls.

Now that school has started there's not as much time to go out of my way to discover new swimming holes, so Bingham Falls has become an old standby that never loses its magic.  The little pools of water  encased with the tallest cliffs and the various waterfalls interspersed, make it way more fun than any manmade playground I've ever been to.  Every visit means getting a bit more daring and innovative with jumping spots and finding the most secluded water coves to rest in.   

snack & swim.

We made these by the water (but much less pretty) because those are all already our favorite foods.  Swimming at sunset feels like magic - the light bounces off everything in just the right way.  I really, mainly love having my dear old friend so near.

Rocks.

Looking through all my recent photos I realized I just like hangin' out near rocks and water with my friends.  

swimming holes.

...balancing on the train tracks to get to the little wooded paths that lead to the hidden swimming holes is my actual favorite part about vermont so far.

baby ducks.

I actually took about 75 photos of these ducks - they were just so cute.  Upon arriving to Asheville we spent the time in a stream at the botanical gardens and watched these fluffy things look for food.  Life's not so bad sometimes.

water nymphs.

At the music festival we all found a hidden river and played around in the water for a while.  It seems I'm always near a body of water these days, and I'm not complaining.