Day 32 LA- Eaton Falls

I woke at 5:30am, LA time or 9:30 Quebec time, after a good sleep. When I got back from the toilet, I could hear that I now had company of one of the cats- Shadow. I looked at my computer for a while to discover my nephew Daniel was now Australia’s youngest number 1 champion Enduro motorbike champion. Nan would have been so proud.

The cats swapped duty and Harley was now on my bed. Finally I could hear Oscar downstairs, so I had breakfast and took a tablet for my allergy/cold. I am still having bouts of non-stop coughing and lots of phlegm but it is improving. I put on a load of washing and had a cat nap- tablet. Worked on the computer and folded the washing. 

It is a hot day here. Susan and Oscar asked if I would like to go for a walk to the Eaton Falls. Teagan wanted to take Churro, which meant no stopping at a restaurant. I made my lunch and Susan ordered theirs on line. We left at 11 am, picked up their lunches and headed down the 5 to our destination.

I don’t think I have ever seen this part of LA look so dry. No wonder they are having fires. We drove passed one section where there were new homes- all exactly the same and not one tree. I thought it was a new estate, but it had been burnt down in fires two years ago and been rebuilt. It was barely on the edge of the suburbs. We arrived at our destination and rather than carry it all in, we sat down, on the gutter, in the shade, and ate our sandwiches.

Then a short walk down the road to the park gate. Once you were on the track, the temperature rose considerably. It was surprising to see green trees growing in the creek bed when all around was just parched and dry. But as we made our way up the canyon floor, we found a few puddles of water and finally the tiny waterfall and pool below. A much smaller version than the last time Susan and Oscar came here. Troy and Teagan had a play in the shallow pool.

Churro wasn’t too keen about the water, she was too busy making dog friends. Churro was very good when she met the other dogs and at one stage showed us her “scaling mountain” skills. We stopped several times to have a drink. It was surprising to see how many families were walking in the park/ canyon, especially with small children. Many were the entire extended family, and some single hikers. At one stage we were passed by a man dragging musical instruments over the rocks to be seen later on stacking rocks. I was sure he was heading up to the falls to busk up there, but apparently not.

We walked back again and it was very hot, especially in the open. At one point Churro just lay down, as if to say, “That’s it. I’ve had enough”.

Susan was holding onto Churro’s lead and was jerked as she was crossing some loose rocks, causing her to fall and graze her knees. We continued back to the car turned on the air con and drove home. The back seat was soon asleep. When we arrived home the kids washed Churro and we put her outside to finish drying. Everyone had a shower, another load of washing and settled down for the rest of the afternoon. I was organising photos then typing. Troy was consumed in his online game, Oscar asleep on the couch, Teagan on her iPad, Susan reading and Churro asleep in her basket.

Later Teagan and Susan went to the shop for some supplies for our pasta dinner. I made a salad put the water on for the pasta. Susan bought back some GF gnocchi for me which were delicious. By the end of dinner, 8 pm, I was nodding off. Determined to last until at least 9 I played a few games of solitaire nodding off during each game, but at 9 went up and was asleep at 9:30.