Walker Island – Day Four

After three pretty idyllic days, we were pretty sure this would be the first uneventful year of camping on the river. The morning was cool and overcast and the water had come WAY up during the night, but we didn’t let it get us down.

Chris went and picked up our friends the McNews and Theresa to spend the day with us.

While the sun only peeked out occasionally and the wind never really died down, we made the best of it and had a great time!

 the boys made this year’s hole in a Sarlacc pit (like from Star Wars)

  

it got Will!

 

playing football

Inara checks out her blue tongue in Mom’s sunglasses

We had lost the tackle box the day before when the tide came in higher than expected. But the boys found it on the beach while exploring another part of the island!

the kids loved riding the McNews’ hot dog

Ian even tried standing up

our poor tarp couldn’t take any more

Monty and Inara take a nap in the shade

Then in the afternoon the wind really started to pick up as the tide came in. The waves also got much rougher, but the kids donned their lifejackets and enjoyed the ride!

When we realized that the weather was not going to improve, we decided to pack up camp while we had lots of help and head home. And that’s when the adventure began…

I don’t have any pictures of our actual adventure because our poor camera would not have survived. Chris took all our guests back to the boat landing while the boys and I continued to hurriedly get our gear down to the water. When he returned he was SOAKING wet and changed into his better lifejacket, all while yelling that we had to hurry. The conditions on the river were pretty bad! We packed all of us and as much stuff as we could into the boat and headed back to Willow Grove. The wind was howling and the whitecaps and 6 foot swells made going rough. Needless to say, we were pretty jarred and wet and COLD by the time we got to the dock. I was feeling ready to let the rest of our stuff get washed downriver rather than take another trip back to the island, but Chris and Zack headed back right after we unpacked the gear from the boat. I prayed the entire time they were gone (which seemed like an eternity) and Monty helped back the van down to the boat landing so it would be all ready to go. Thankfully they made it back safe and sound with the remainder of our stuff tied down as best as they could.

All in all it was another exciting week on the river! I wonder what next year will be like? And will we be able to convince anyone to come with us??? :o) 

Exploring Ape Caves

Last Sunday, we joined our friends from Greater Grace in Portland and went exploring Ape Caves for the first time. Being first-timers, it was nice to have Randy along as an expert to show us the ropes.

The lower caves were a pretty even and easy walk. There was lots of stuff to look at and ledges and holes to explore. heading down to the lower caves

checkin’ out the cave

Look out Jesse!

Samantha found a nice little nook

climbing up the rope to explore the ledge and rooms above

the view of the rest of the group from the ledge

Amanda in the hole

the group on the rock above the walkway

It was so enjoyable, that we decided to give the upper caves a try next. The upper caves were definitely more challenging: huge rock falls to scamper over, sheer lava falls to climb, all with a flashlight/lantern in your hand. I was very thankful for a helping hand every so often and that the kids did so well all on their own WAY AHEAD of us old folks. :o)

  Lyndsey really liked all the mini-caves

Theresa and Evy

the first daylight we saw in over 3 hours

(it was really tempting to want to try to climb out that way) LOL

at the end

the real way out

The kids patiently waited outside the caves for about 45 minutes for the grown ups to finally show up. I think they ran most of it, although I can’t imagine how. We all had a great time and will go back again someday, especially after seeing this gorgeous lake on the way home!

The Great Escape – Days One and Two

The Great Escape started bright and early Saturday morning. We met at the church at 5:00 am. We loaded everyone’s luggage into the already full vans, grabbed our muffins, juice, and bananas for the road and were off.

We got to the ferry landing right on time, picked up Bradley and headed across the water to San Juan Island. While on the ferry we ate our lunches and went over all the ground rules for the trip.

waiting in line for the ferry

San Juan Island from the ferry

When we arrived in Friday Harbor, Josh, Beth and the kids made the 4.5 mile hike to the camp while the rest of us drove the vans with the gear. The sun made for a rather warm walk, but the kids had fun getting passing motorists to wave and feeding camels on the side of the road.

Lakedale Resort was not exactly what we had expected for the price. Our “secluded” group spot was all dirt, surrounded by other campers, and had no level spots for tents. After only a few hours everything, and I mean everything, in camp was filthy; including us. And to make matters worse, a 5 minute hot shower cost $2. Since showering every day would come to the staggering total of $152, everyone got one shower for the week. This made swimming every day even more imperative. I was very thankful for rather warm lakes versus cold mountain streams.

Samantha likes climbing

 

playing soccer

cooling off after soccer with a dip in the lake

Sunday was spent having devotions, eating meals, swimming, playing Ultimate Frisbee and volleyball, checking out the camp, playing board games and crashing shortly after lesson and camp journal time.

playing “Would You Rather” after breakfast

 

Chris getting ready for a “guess who this is” challenge

No peeking!

the 3 Stooges (Peter, Edwin, Aaron)

soccer

volleyball

swimming and chicken fights

Ultimate Frisbee