Camping with the Girls

Brad, Nate, and Ben left for a week on the boy scout 150 mile bike trip (Brad drove the supply truck and Ben rode along, only Nate actually biked.  I'm so bummed they didn't have a camera with them, but they had a wonderful time), so I took Kylie, Jillian, and Jillian's friend Chloe camping.  While we were on our family vacation a few weeks ago, Jillian begged to be able to camp at Lake Crescent, so that's where we went.  I'm pretty sure it's my favorite spot on earth.  Once again we left Bainbridge in cloudy, cool weather, and arrived at Lake Crescent to sun!  It's magical, I just know it.  It was sunny all 3 1/2 days (except for a brief rain shower Thurday morning), and when we were headed home it clouded up right when we hit Port Angeles and has been cloudy and rainy ever since.  I'll bet it's still sunny at the Lake, though! 

We invited other moms to come experience the magic with their kids and ended up being joined by Chantal, Rhonda, and Katie.   As soon as we got camp set up, the kids went swimming.  The last time we camped here, it was 90 and the water felt so refreshing.   I was worried that since it was in the mid 70s the water would be too cold this time, but it still felt great!

Kylie and Aubrey swam out the the log boom and crawled along it, which was quite challening since the water was choppy. 

Their second favorite thing to do is climb this huge maple tree.  I tried to come up with a name worthy of it, but didn't get farther than "Magnificent Maple".  If anything comes to mind, let me know.

While the kids were climbing, I sat in the sun and played with the macro setting on my camera.  This butterfly was infatuated with this thistle and made a good subject.

Our campsite was right by the lake.  I really wanted to get a lake-front spot, which there are 6 of, but had to settle for lake-view.  Karma caught up with me, I guess.  I was determined to leave early so I would have a better chance of getting a coveted spot and wasn't being helpful or generous to my friends.  Rhonda left a few hours after me (of course being her usual wonderful, kind, helpful self) and got a great lake-side post.  Katie came a few hours after her, and by then another lake-side spot was open, but she chose one above Rhonda instead.  I liked our spot, though.  We shared with Chantal and there was plenty of space for three tents:  ours, hers, and Kylie & Aubrey's.  It was right above the swimming area and only had neighbors on one side.

I took this at 5:45 one morning when the dog woke up and had to go to the bathroom.  Gorgeous!

Wednesday morning we headed out to Rialto Beach on the coast.  It was sunny when we left the lake, but cloudy and cold when we got to the coast (of course!)

That didn't stop the kids from playing in the water, though! 

Kylie, Aubrey, Matzo and I hiked over these huge rocks over to the other side of the beach where there are some huge tide pools. 

It wasn't quite low tide, so we couldn't reach all the pools.  This one was beautiful, though.

After a few hours of freezing, we heated up some soup for lunch on Chantal's camp stove, and then went back to the Lake.  It was 80 and sunny when we got back!  Almost a 25 degree difference.  Crazy. 

This was taken Thursday morning.  I could sit and take pictures of the Lake all day.  I love how it's constantly changing; choppy water one day, glass the next.  Colors change with the time of day.  I didn't get a good sunset picture this time.

Thursday was Devil's Punch Bowl day!  We drove around to the other end of the Spruce Railroad Trail and hiked about a mile in (instead of three like last year!)

I can't say enough how much I love this place.  The colors are incredible.  We swam for several hours, outlasting multiple groups.  Rhonda and Chantal left about 3:00 to head home.  The girls and I decided we'd stay another night.

Mariann and Outi were supposed to meet us here at noon, and by 3:30 they hadn't showed up, so we decided we would pack up and go to Granny's Cafe for an early dinner.  Just as we were getting up from sunning ourselves on the rocks, I looked up and who was coming down the path?  Mariann and Outi!  They left a few hours later than they planned and got lost a few times on the way.  But they made it!  We stayed for another hour, but by then the sun had gone behind the cliff so it wasn't as warm and the water wasn't as inviting.  We all went to Granny's together and had a delicous dinner.  Their bleu cheese burger is fabulous!

Friday morning, we packed up camp and the girls swam for a litte while, then we headed home. To clouds and rain.  Brad and the boys got home at midnight, after driving all day from Idaho.  It was wonderful to be home, all together again. But I still love Lake Crescent and can't wait until we get to go next year!