Camping at Potlatch

We camped for the past 3 days at Potlatch State Park on the bottom end of the Hood Canal. It was fabulous! We arrived Friday night about 8 pm, just as the sun was setting, and it had been raining off and on since Centralia, WA. We were hoping and praying that we would be able to have a break in the rain to put up the tent! And we got just that. For about 40 minutes, it didn't rain at all. We got the 10x10 foot canopy up, then put up the big tent under it, unloaded the sleeping bags, cot and inflatable mattress and we were ready! Good thing!! Then it got back to business and rained steadily all night long. It was wonderful to lay in the tent listening to the pitter patter, and sometime the solid pounding of the rain, knowing we were safe and snug!

Saturday morning, we took our time getting up, read a book in bed as it drizzled outside. We hoped the weatherman was going to be correct that it was going to clear up by noon and improve over the weekend! and it did! We had 3 great days, got home this evening! Only takes a little over 2 hours to drive there, it is about 30 minutes west of Olympia, WA. Well, I decided that I was going to try my hand at dutch oven cooking and it was a BIG success. On Sat night, I made a big pot of apple cobbler, the neighboring campers were very impressed and thankful to share, then last night I made a delicious potato, onion, carrot and little smokies stew in gravy. Yum!!

We liked the location of the campground right on the Hood Canal but the campsite itself left something to desire and was TOOOO close to the neighbors. Good news for us is that they didn't come until Sat about 5 pm and left Sunday about 10 am!

Lorilynn, Sam and Addie came to "camp" on Sat around lunch and stayed the day. We drove up to Lake Cushman, kayaked and picnicked. We watched Addie for an hour so Sam and Lori could try out our kayaks! Addie is a fish, she just walks right out in the water up to her chest and then wants to kick and "swim".

I have wanted to try flying my kite from my kayak for several years now, but the wind hasn't cooperated, or I couldn't get it up. So, Dad helped me out by taking it out about 25 feet and helping me launch it since it has such a long tail. It is just a small lightweight gusseted kite, perfect for the kayak and it worked! I had such fun having it drag me around, and then paddling back out to the middle of the lake and having it pull me back towards the shore. As I said, it was a fabulous weekend! Dad and I ended it today by stopping in Union, on the Hood Canal and kayaking for about 2 hours around the area to Alderbrook resort and back. Saw about 8 sea lions in the water, popping up to check us out. Wow, guess I am ready to go back to work tomorrow. Oh, no, not really, I want to be back camping and kayaking and relaxing!!

Dad turns 65!

Wow, how time flies! We have been married nearly 30 years and Dad turned 65 today! We are moving towards OLD and we are not sure we like that! Oh, well, OLD is certainly at least 80.

Proof I am not too old!

somedays, I still feel every bit of 59, but it is a nice thought that I am not too out of shape. Or at least I have this game buffalo'd!

Refinishing the Eagle Project sign

About 1992 Kevin received his Eagle Scout award. Part of it involved creating and mounting this sign on the cover for the park behind our church. Every summer for years, Dad and I have tried to remember to put another coat of clear sealant on it so it will last through the rains here in the NW. It was made of laminated plywood and over the years the weather has started delaminating some of the letter areas.
When we moved from our home for 2 years, no one kept the sign up, so we decided to go up to the park yesterday and do some upkeep on it. I had to scrap off the very dried outside layer of weathered plywood exterior, but it cleaned up nicely. The P and A letter sections fell off. But with a new coat of clear sealant, it should be good for a couple of years! Lots of memories in this park. When we were done, Dad and I flew his new kite!