Camping Adventure

You might want to sit down - this is a long one...

So we loaded up the kids, Grandpa Blake,

and the dogs, and headed out camping!

We always camp in the same spot -

it's AWESOME here!

First we set up camp...

Kennedie & Kierra set up their own tent!

They're pretty good at it since they

set the tents up in the back yard

all the time.

Good job, girls!

Kelsie was proud of the steps

she created for the camp trailer.

Way to go, Kelsie!

The kids couldn't wait to see if the

fort they made in the trees last year

was still there, and it was!

It still looked just like this!

The kids all hopped on the ATV's
to help gather wood for the
campfire.
After camp was all set up everyone
headed out for a ride.
Grandpa took Coda for a ride, too.

We missed Grandma Blake!

She was still in Alaska

visiting Jackie.
Everyone went, except for us!
We stayed back at camp to relax
and read our books. It was nice &
overcast most days so it was cool.
But it was warmer during the night-
I was glad because I usually freeze!
Terry let Mason drive on the way
back from their ride.
YIKES!
He did a good job driving,
and he loved it!
Mason spent alot of time in Coco's kennel.
I guess he thought that was really fun...
and it kept him out of trouble.
Mason took Coco on lots of walks.
And man, did we eat well!
Terry did a great job with the
dutch oven potatoes and chicken!
And Grandpa brought enough
snacks to live on for a year!
The next day we all went on a ride.
Mason's fun to ride with - he likes
to sing and talk and point things out.
And he usually tries to drive...
We stopped for a rest . . .

High Five!
There were a bunch of dead trees
that were just asking to be pushed over.
After a tree almost took Kelsie out
she finally pushed it over.
When we stopped for lunch we
noticed this natural teeter-totter!
We had a blast on it and
everyone took a turn,
even Grandpa!
We adjusted it so it went
even higher!
I don't know who had more fun,
the kids - or Terry & his dad.

Kelsie ate a few Rice Crispie treats-
(a few hundred ha ha).

And Delaney's favorite was the Skittles

and the peanut granola bars...

(they were so good!)

Kierra found a horny toad.

It was so cute!

Okay, this is random...

we found these shoes out

in the trees just like this.

Weird.

We found the biggest Quaking Aspen

trees we had ever seen!

So of course Kalin had to climb them!

He's such a monkey!

Kennedie & Kierra, too!

When we got back to camp we were

all really dusty, so we all took a turn in the

shower. I had forgotten that the hot & cold

handles were switched, so we all ended up

with cold showers! Terry was last to

shower, and remembered the switch, so

he got the only hot shower... Lucky!
But even a cold shower was better than none!

Tourists!

The next day we drove to Escalante

for their July 24th parade.

It was strange to be in a different

town, but it was fun. They sure

gave out a lot of candy!

It was weird not to know any of the

people in the parade. There was a

guy who was riding in a recliner on

wheels... hmmm, odd.

The people were all really

friendly and happy to have visitors.

On our drive we saw several rock slides

like this. And there were these wooden

seats that are used to ride on, I guess.

If you look closely you can see them...

Looks like fun!

Garfield County has such beautiful

remote country! We have a great

time checking it out everytime we are

there - and there's so much more

we want to see...

This time we went to check out

Hell's Backbone Bridge.

It's very narrow, and straight off

on both sides. Yikes!

It's amazing to me to think that the

pioneers made this bridge first out of logs

to get across. I am humbled to think of what

they went through, so that their descendants-

so that I, would have what I have now.

At the end of our camping trip I couldn't wait to

go home to a nice shower, to the comforts

of home. And I thought of what it must've been

like to walk across the plains with everything I

owned in a handcart, or to build a scary bridge

to cross, or cross a freezing river- and

wonder if my family would make it.

I'm proud of, and thankful for,

My Pioneer Heritage.

We stopped at a campsite that had

this pretty stream running through

it. There were signs saying

to watch out for bears . . .

We had a fun day. Then we went

back to camp and played

s'more Mafia and ate s'mores!

Even Coda had a great time!

"Ah yes, this is thee life!"
-Grandpa McArthur