Starting the morning with a smile, even if the night wasn’t exactly the best, is always a good foundation for the day. After a short walk with the dogs, we decided right after breakfast to head towards Brdy. The forecast promised nice weather, so we wanted to make the most of it and spend the day in nature. Our relaxed family trip to Brdy could begin.
Quick Packing and a Dash Back for Forgotten Sporks
Preparation took just a moment. We packed lunch in the form of pasta salad into containers, added drinks, some treats for the kids, and didn’t forget water and a bowl for the dogs. We set off before nine o’clock and were parked at our spot within half an hour.
We put on our backpacks and eagerly headed into the forest, planning to look for some mushrooms along the way. But after a few dozen meters, my wife remembered we’d left our trusty sporks in the car. Luckily, we weren’t far, so I quickly went back for them.
Dry Forest, a Great Deer Antler Shed, and Lunch in a Hammock
The sun was shining pleasantly, though it occasionally hid behind clouds, and a cooler breeze reminded us that autumn was knocking on the door. Still, it was a beautiful day to be outdoors. Mushroom hunting was a bit tougher due to the significant dryness, but we eventually managed to find a few nice parasol mushrooms. So, cutlets were definitely on the menu for dinner.
The biggest surprise, however, came when my wife found a deer antler shed. That was incredibly lucky! The antler was older, a bit gnawed by wildlife, and had broken or bitten-off tips, but it likely belonged to a young fallow deer. It didn’t diminish our joy one bit. Our dogs were the most enthusiastic, as they love chewing on antlers, especially our younger one, Brixie.
A little later, we found the perfect spot to rest, spread out our picnic blanket, and I set up a hammock between the trees. We had lunch in the forest, enjoying the sacred peace, while the kids drew their day’s experiences in their notebooks. Then, we opened Kinder Surprise eggs and, to our great delight, found two new animals that were missing from our collection. To top it off, a friend we hadn’t seen in a long time called us because she’d spotted our car in the parking lot. We met up and chatted briefly.
A Sweet Treat in Mníšek pod Brdy and Evening Relaxation
When it was time to head back, we carefully packed everything up so as not to leave any mess in the forest. Unfortunately, we only discovered at home that our trusty ceramic knife had fallen out or been left somewhere. It was a real shame because it was great and served us very well. We reached the car, settled the whole crew in, and headed towards Mníšek pod Brdy.
My wife had mentioned there was a renowned bakery and confectionery there. The pastries were absolutely delicious, and we devoured them as quickly as if we hadn’t eaten all day.
Only then did we finally head home. When we arrived, it was long past five o’clock. We cleaned up, gave the dogs their dinner, and had only something light ourselves. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing, playing board games, and peacefully unwinding after a beautifully spent day.
How do you spend your weekend Saturdays? Do you prefer heading to the forest, or do you favor other activities?
Day’s Summary
- Destination: Brdy and Mníšek pod Brdy
- Companions on the trail: Wife, children, and dogs
- Highlight of the day: Finding the deer antler shed and meeting a long-unseen friend
- Weather: Sunny, partly cloudy with a cool breeze
- Food on the trail: Pasta salad for the picnic, parasol mushroom cutlets for dinner, and pastries in Mníšek pod Brdy
- Forest finds: Several parasol mushrooms and a deer antler shed
