I feel this post should come with some sort of disclaimer. For I intended to write a continuous stream of posts about our holiday in France. Something along the lines of we interrupt our posts on France to bring you a recent trip up the Ridgeway. I'd love to say that this trip was positively Autumnal and in line with our seasonal living approach but sadly it has more to do with the fact that we've misplaced our camera card and until we find it I'm afraid to say our French holiday posts are on hold!
During our trip to France we took on a geocaching trail but sadly failed at doing a lot of it due to the children. Anyone who is acquainted with children knows that they have an abundance of energy ready to be unleashed when they choose to and we thought an old disused railway line that was tarmacked over would be the perfect solution to getting all that energy out. However, this proved not to be the case and the girls were more inclined to lay down across the path and not go anywhere!
So with our trail plans in tatters we chose wheels for our next geocaching adventure and the girls loved it for the most part. The girls took to the dusty lane and although a little tired from preschool loved zooming down the dusty path. After a while the path became part grass track part well trodden areas. Some of the well trodden parts enabled the girls to scoot along but it certainly became slower going for all.
Being on the Ridgeway on such a bright sunny day we got to see the area in which we walked as well as the area below. A train passing by billowing with smoke, a power station and according to eldest the sea too! Which is surprising seeing as we are surrounded by land.
All the geocaches were spaced close together and found quickly bar one which we grabbed on the way back. We were thrown a little by the presence of a motorbike towards the end of the trail where there shouldn't have been one but we got there. We also had an attempt at a tree climb and spotted others out on the walkincluding a feeow geocacher who I was tempted to shout out 'we know what you are doing' but refrained.
How do you encourage your little ones to keep going on walks?
I love to see children exploring the great outdoors, rather than sitting in front of a screen #,adve turecal!ING,@_karendennis
ReplyDeleteSnacks is always our go to bribery. We often hide them behind rocks ahead or they have to chase Daddy to get them. Then there are days that you have to just go along with them and lay down on the track with them ;-) #adventurecalling
ReplyDeleteWe've not got into geocaching yet but friends keep telling me that our family would absolutely love it! Thanks for the reminder (and we're not far from the Ridgeway either, so we might be copying!) #adventurecalling
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is best to go with the flow and not push a walk. Sounds like geocaching was more successful. I used to find something to collect and of course challenges like a tree to climb are always good. I hope you find your memory card. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteWe lived close to the Ridgeway and had lots of lovely walks along there. I love that your two kept lying down on the trail! And hope the memory card turns up soon, I'm looking forward to more road tripping tales! We've yet to get into geocaching but have lots of tips on keeping little legs going when tired, including bribery (eg chocolate cake when you reach...etc)! Taking teddy, snacks definitely, teaching map reading. My post 10 ways to make walking with kids wonderful has all these and more. I'll put the link in a separate comment so you can delete if you'd rather not have links on here. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteHere's the link https://kidsofthewild.co.uk/2018/01/24/easy-walking-with-kids
ReplyDeleteWe've had mixed results with geo caching but that looks like a lovely easy walk for youngsters. Mine are nearly teenagers and sometimes it's still hard to get them motivated to walk! #countrykids
ReplyDeleteThe Ridgeway is somewhere we keep meaning to investigate. We often get out walking but I'd love to explore a little further #Countrykids
ReplyDeleteGoing with the flow is definately the order of the day. I don’t think it matters how far you go at this age, rather than how long they are outside and enjoying the fresh air. It used to take us ages to go past a horse, for example, as my daughter love them. #thesatsesh
ReplyDeleteYay, another family of geocachers ! :) I haven't been out to find any lately - I really should ! This looks like a great adventure #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteWe love geocaching, it’s a great way to get the kids outside! Some lovely pics too! #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteScooters are a great way to encourage them to keep going, it's hard when they are so young, as they are bouncing one minute and shattered the next. Mich x #CountryKids
ReplyDelete#bribery haha, true though - immoral but works every time. Little dude also likes looking for things 'find a feather' etc. like a mini made up treasure hunt.
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to try geocaching with my pair - looks like such a great way to motivate them. As other commenters have said, we use snacks to encourage them on! We also often get the kids to map read, or set them challenges along the way (first one to.... etc). Love the tree climbing pics. #countrykids
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great place for a walk #keepi gitreal@_karendennis
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a fabulous time together! #keepingitreal
ReplyDeleteForcing children to walk isn't going to make it fun. I think you have to "go with the Flow!" #keepingit real
ReplyDeletehaha! We've had many hikes like that. Even now, the youngest is 5, and we walk to school everyday. Sometimes he plops down in someone grass because it "looks so soft," and we simply take a break. And other days I have less patience and drive them on like a cowboy with a cattle prod. Don't worry I promise I don't actually use a cattle prod.
ReplyDeleteScooting is a great way to encourage the girls on - it does make it a bit more fun that just walking. I find geocaching helps encourage Sophie on with a walk - she loves hunting for "treasure". Love the photos of your girls climbing trees. I wonder what your eldest saw that she thought was the sea? #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteHi Helena, have you checked the washing machine, bread bin and freezer for that missing SD card? It's amazing where they end up... When my two were small I had a couple of friends with children the same age & we would take them to the sand dunes to look for dinosaurs or to a place weather called Peter Pan island to look for Captain Hook. It was enough to get them walking & running.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up with #keepingitreal.
xx
Here again from #AdventureCalling!
ReplyDeleteUsually a game of hide-and-seek does the trick. And snacks, always snacks. As in, you'll get a drink/some food when we reach that large rock over there. The Ridgeway still looks like a lovely geocaching adventure!
ReplyDelete#CountryKids
I'm so sorry to hear about your camera card - that's a nightmare! The Ridgeway looks like a great place to explore - we need to get down that way soon . Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good walk, although it can be hard with small kids. I unashamedly resort to bribery. Finn is basically a labrador and will do anything for food. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who loses camera cards-hope you find it soon! Thanks for sharing #AdventureCalling
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