Last time I wrote, I told you it wasn’t quite swimming weather yet. I’m glad to say that has since changed.
On a balmy 90-degree day a couple weeks ago, I couldn’t take the heat anymore. So, when I picked up my son, River, I called his friend’s dad and made plans to cool off. We briefly considered the Hillside Park splash pad, but opted for something where we could all get wet.
River and his best friend, Emlen, are both two-and-a-half years old, separated by just four days. His dad Andrew Babits and I are old friends who recently reunited, and we’ve been having weekly playdates with the boys. Emlen’s mom, Erin, joined us at the river to beat the heat that day.
We decided to skip the more popular spots and head to the Green River, up a mile or two from the spot I told you about in my last column. With lots of shade, shallow water and plenty of sand, it’s a great place to take your wee ones.
River and I got there first. On our way up Green River Road, I noticed that just about every swimming hole on the way seemed packed. Our spot was no exception. There were a couple of families, with kids ranging from babies to grade-schoolers, but we still found plenty of space to spread out.
I thought getting our things down the hill to the shore, while keeping an eye on my toddler, would be the hardest part of my afternoon. I was wrong.
It turns out, the toughest thing was trying to get River into his swim trunks. I begged, I pleaded, I tried to trick him, but nothing worked. So, I decided to let my little nature-boy go skinny-dipping.
He splashed and played and dug in the dirt, and before long Emlen and his parents showed up. They apparently had no trouble getting him into his bathing suit. I pointed this out to River, who still wasn’t swayed. At least, I might not have to worry about peer-pressure when he’s older. Streaking? Maybe.
The water was still pretty brisk, with all the recent rain, but only the adults complained. The kids simply splashed and smiled, despite the occasional shiver.
Both of them got a kick out of watching the older kids — teens and 20-somethings jump from the rocks on the other shore.
River would give a quick, “Oh, no!” when they jumped. Then, he’d giggle with glee when they popped back up from the water. Emlen emulated them, jumping off the sandy bank and landing on his bottom with a laugh.
While they love to play in the water, they were equally content to play in the dirt. They shared beach toys, even though sharing isn’t always easy for them. Emlen didn’t even mind when River joyfully smashed some sand castles he had made with his dad.
By the end of the afternoon, River, who normally likes to stay relatively clean, was covered in sand, as was Emlen. It was funny watching both boys rinse off. They’d bend toward the water, wave their hands frantically just above the surface, then look at them and wonder why they were still sandy. After a little help, we managed to get them clean and dressed.
Neither one wanted to leave, even though the other families and kids had long since gone home. It’s hard getting the two of them to leave each other any time we have a play date. But it’s good to see them becoming friends, and I’m looking forward to watching them discover the outdoors together. It brings me back to my own childhood, which was largely spent in the water and woods of our beautiful state.
David Rainville is a former reporter and editor for The Recorder, who now works as a machinist. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking, and finding new ways to explore the outdoors. You can reach him at daverain82@gmail.com.