FAMILY VACATION: DAY THREE

Sleeping in after a rough night of thunderstorms and achy bodies, felt like heaven. Rain continued to drop during the early morning hours so we did not rush to get out of bed. I arose about 8:30 from under a warm comforter (yes, Dale and I bring blankets to sleep under when we use the camper due to the confining nature of sleeping bags) and made hot coffee while Spencer, who followed me in arising from his slumber, prepared a morning fire. No agenda waited for us this day so we lounged in our chairs enjoying the warmth the flames provided against the dampness the rain left behind. We read at one of the trailheads where some men were backpacking into the Glacier Peak Wilderness. We counted our blessings that we were not those men when the thunderstorm hit. Dale cooked pancakes and sausages over the fire for breakfast and we leisurely suffered through such a scrumptious feast; not! I used to do most of the cooking over an open fire, but in recent years he has come to enjoy this part of camping and readily performs this particular camp duty. We decided that we would use day five of our vacation to clean up a bit. After traveling one day and two hikes the past two days, we all began to smell as if we needed to clean out the pores a bit. Swimming in the lake helped some with the body odors, but the dust and dirt needed washed out of the hair and a good scrub down seemed to be a requirement for a complete cleaning. Nature provided the room near the back of our campsite for a spit bath, at least for three people in our family. I took mine in the shower area located in the bathroom. Later in the afternoon Dale and the kids went swimming in what seemed to be ice cold water today while I went in search for another tarp. Clouds began to gather and it appeared another storm was sure to be upon us again. Success for everyone! I found a tarp and Dale and Spencer froze for an hour in the lake while Amanda must have ice for veins. Our daughter swims in just about any kind of water, no matter if the water comes from glacier melt. By 6:00 p.m. everyone decided stomachs needed food, so Dale cooked hamburgers over an open fire. Dinner consisted of hamburgers, baked beans, chips, carrots, and applesauce with plenty of conversation and stories from past outdoor trips. After finishing dish duty, Amanda took an evening swim in the lake, leaving the rest of us wishing to stay dry and warm. As I write, we are all sitting by the fire, Dale reading a book on trails, Spencer carving a stick, Amanda writing a story, and all about to continue our reading from Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.” Clear skies above, the clouds passed over and it looks like we will be able to enjoy stars later this evening. The fire is toasting our toes. What is it about fires that bring a comfort and cozy feeling to one’s soul? The sounds of sparks rising up and disappearing into the night sky, flames dancing to its own music, red coals burning brightly keeping the flames alive, all provide an atmosphere for contemplation, thoughtfulness, and soul searching. We prepare for a 7 mile round trip to Twin Lakes tomorrow, once again in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.