Fishing Trip

Our neighbor and his two boys took Avery and Neil fishing on Sunday evening. Avery and the boys were very excited to go out in the boat and were even more excited when the felt the BOOM BOOM on their line. Most of the time it was jus weeds but here is their catch.

Evergreen State Fair

The annual trip to the fair in Monroe started out like any other year. We arrive at 10:45 and wandered through the petting zoo and animal barns. We met up with Neil's coworker Mr. Shell and he let Avery release a homing pigeon. We saw cows, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, sheep, horses, cats, dogs...

After a stop for lemonade, it was time for rides. Neil and Avery got wristbands and Avery headed for the big slide. This is where our normal fair experience changed. The usually timid Avery turned into a carnival ride champ. She finished off the little kid section in no time and was ready to move on to the bigger rides.

After a quick stop for lunch and a dash through the junk barns, we were on our way to the bigger rides. Cliff Hanger was the first ride and after that there was no stopping Avery. The only rides she wouldn't go on were the rides that went upside down or the super shot ride.

Six years in a row for Avery and many more to come!!!

Tatoosh Lakes Trail Backpacking Adventure

A big thanks to Ben for showing Neil the ropes of backpacking on the Tatoosh Lakes Trail. Bright and early Tuesday morning the car was loaded and they were off to the trailhead. There was only one other car parked on the road and the weather could not have been better. The only worry was the gunshots heard as they packed their bags. Hunting season???

With their bags packed they started up the trail. 3.9 miles and 3250 ft of elevation gain was ahead of them. It was slow going through steep switchbacks that lead them through the forest up to alpine meadows. Views of Mount St. Helens and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest surrounded them.

At mile number 3 there is a small sign showing trail 161b that leads up the meadow a half mile to a ridge above the Tatoosh Lakes. Panoramic views of Cascade peaks and valleys abound. A lot of sweat, a little pain, and 3 hours later they had made it as high up as they were going to go. No camping is allowed at the lake so it was here that they set up camp.

Once camp was set, it was off to the lakes. Another 1/2 mile, this time down, were the Tatoosh Lakes. The true prize for making the hike!! No other people around. There was a snowfield at the far end of the bigger lake with an inviting rock. Here beer could be nicely chilled (Blue Mountains = Cold as the Rockies, the Cascades in the this case), and a cooking station could be set up for the fish that were about to be caught. Nice trout were caught(8 total) and 3 were kept(should have been 4 but Neil dropped the last one back into the lake, whoops), cleaned, and cooked by guide master Ben. Eating fresh fish, tipping back some tallboys, all while taking in all the views that nature has to offer.

Backpacking might not be so bad after all...

After fishing it was the 1/2 mile trek back up to camp. Freeze dried food topped off the trout appetizer and some star watching around the campfire provided a relaxing end to a spectacular day. Neil still thinks sleeping on the ground in a tent(thermarest pads and cozy sleeping bags provided by the guide were very appreciate) is not so much fun. By morning the clouds had rolled in, our views were gone and a misty rain was beginning to fall. A campfire to warm up, freeze dried breakfast to get going, camp stuffed back into the packs and it was back on the trail.

3 hours up...1 hour 45 minutes down. By the end, feet were soaked and joints were tired but good times were had by all.

Purple Panthers

Soccer season is back. Avery is excited to be on the same team as last year with a few new additions. New color, new name, and a couple new players. By the final game last season the girls were just starting to figure things out. This year they were aggressive from the start. Avery got her chance at goal kicks, corner kicks and even break aways toward the goal.

She came close but she is still looking for her first goal. Maybe she will score next week while dad volunteers as coach so the real coaches can go to a concert at the Gorge. She had a lot of fun and that is really all that matters.

Silverwood Aug 19

After a night of camping, we were ready to head to Silverwood. We purchased our tickets at Costco ahead of time and arrived at the park at about 10:30(opens at 11am). We parked the car across the highway for $4, lathered up the sunscreen, and made our way through the tunnel to the park entrance. They let us in the main gate early but we still had to wait for the park to open. While we waited Avery and Neil went for a ride on the carousel.

We chose to do the dry rides first. Corey, Thea, and Ryan went to the roller coasters and Neil and Avery went to the small carnival rides. Avery loved the little train coaster and went on the ferris wheel with Neil for the first time. At 1:00 we met for lunch.

After a BBQ sandwich for Neil and a corndog for Avery it was time for the water rides. We went as group on the Thunder Canyon rapids ride and Avery got soaked. She loved every minute of it. We then made the trek to Boulder Beach. We went on the Avalanche Mountain tube ride as a group again. Avery did not care for this one too much.

What she really wanted to do was go in the wave pool. Corey took Avery to the wavepool and Neil, Ryan, and Thea went to the big speed slides to get our "super wedgies". We met back up and Avery and Neil went to Polliwog Park. It had water spraying everywhere, slides down into the pools, and a big bucket of water that would pour out from the top about very 5 minutes. Lots of fun if you have kids to play with. We finished with a couple trips around the lazy river and then it was back to the dry rides.

Corey and Ryan took Neil to Coaster Alley while Thea entertained Avery. They rode Tremors, Timber Terror, and Aftershock. Avery and Thea met up with them to watch them take the Panic Plunge. Avery finished the night with several more trips around the train coaster and played a couple game of skee ball as the park closed(9pm)

Good times had by all.

Camping-Farragut State Park

Avery and Neil made the journey to Idaho for a camping trip with Jan, Corey, Thea and Ryan. After more than 6 hours in the car we arrived at the park. For not being camping experts setting up camp went quickly and smoothly.

After setting up camp we went to the swimming area at Beaver Bay. We all played in the water for an hour or so before it was time to head back to camp for dinner. Corey, Thea, and Ryan made us hamburgers for dinner and we had smores for dessert.

After dessert Avery and Neil walked the little trail back to the tent and got ready for bed. Avery enjoyed her first night camping in a tent. Our queen size air mattress really helped.