For those of you who have not read "Bridge to Tarabithia" the story features a magical land that two friends visit everyday. To get to Tarabithia you need to cross a "bridge" which consists of a log across a stream. The story has a heart wrenching ending that I won't give away, but the lasting impression from the story is the impact of the magical land the kids visit.
Last summer we blogged about a tunnel under the road where we saw a baby bird and got eaten by leaches. The road we went under actually intersects a second busy road and there is another tunnel under that road. We had never gone under it before because it isn't comfortable for adults to walk through (it isn't full height), but the kids liked to creep under it part way.
A couple of weeks ago the region saw a massive ice storm. The next morning was cold and sunny and the world looked like it was made entirely of crystal. We decided to take a walk in this new magical world and we told the kids we were going to take the "tunnel to Tarabithia". We disappeared into the dark tunnel and emerged on the other side into a crystal world. We found little streams, gnome paths and fairy homes. We also found an entire hidden lake we had never known was there before! The kids loved it and have begged us to return to Tarabithia. Gus and I have dreams that one day they will be able to go through the tunnel themselves and enjoy the forest whenever they wish. But not until they know how to swim!
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| Darwyn fording a tiny stream on a log (note the tunnel behind her) |
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| Tarabithia |
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| Tarabithia take 2 |
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| Close up of the ice |
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| More Tarabithia |
