Camping at Brice Creek, August 21

The end of summer was looming.  Both Emily and I had to start work on August 27.  So we decided on a last minute camping trip to Cedar Creek campground at Brice Creek.  The camper was still packed from our aborted Eastern Oregon trip, so all I had to do was load up the fridge with perishables, pack some clothes and hit the road.  Jeff was still recovering from the cataract surgery and tummy troubles, but planned to join us during the day.  My assignment?  Get to the campground as early as possible and secure a campsite.  Luckily, when I got there at about 11 on Wednesday, one of the best campsites was available.  On one side, Cedar Creek burbled and bubbled down to Brice Creek which ran by the other side.  So the soothing sound of running water was everywhere.  I put up the camp chairs and table and opened up the camper.  Em, Ru and Fred pulled up just about lunchtime with J arriving soon after.

The campers

Our large campsite was creek side.

After Jeff arrived, we decided on a swim.  A quick walk across the bridge and up the trail brought us to a great swimming hole.

getting ready to take the plunge

Love that smile

Swimming with Grandma

On the other side of the pool

J found a good resting place

Up the creek (without a paddle)

After our icy dip, we decided to play poker......with peanuts.  The stakes weren't too high and we all had a lot of fun.  Then Emily made her delicious fajitas for dinner and we had a fire and marshmallows.  Ru tried out sleeping with me in the camper after Jeff went home for the night.

Playing for peanuts

Roasting marshmallows

The next day, after a yummy breakfast, Em went to town for more supplies and Ru, Fred and I went for a hike.  They decided to bushwack along the river and I walked on the trail.  My goal was to go 2.5 miles to the Lund Park bridge, but I never made it.  I probably walked two miles and turned around.....it was "a bridge too far".  Fred and Ru finally got tired and walked back on the road.

Starting the hike

Fred and Ru bushwacking along the river

Log crossing

Trail scenes

an obstacle I had to cross

Jeff and Emily were there when we returned.  I was so tired, hot and sore, I took off all but my underwear and went down to the river to submerge my lower half.  AAHHH!  That cold water took the pain away (at least temporarily).

I had a nap while the other's played Yahtzee.  Then we had a nice dinner.  But the sky was clouding up and getting darker and darker.  We heard the rumbling of thunder.  Then a few raindrops and the thunder got louder.  We quickly covered everything up, put a tarp over the tent and took cover in the camper.  The rain pounded down, thunder crashed and flash after flash of lightning lit up the landscape.  We played crazy 8's and rummy, played the mandolin and Em and Ru laid on the bed and spotted lightning flashes through the "porthole" above. We tried to watch Drew Carey on the computer, but the rain on the tin roof was so loud, we couldn't hear it!  At one point, Em and Ru decided this was their opportunity to run naked through the rain.  Well, Ru got naked anyway.  They went out and ran around and got really wet really fast!  What a deluge!  Em, Ru and Fred adjourned to their tent at about 10 and Jeff and I settled down to try and sleep.  Finally the storm passed at about 3 am.

Stuck in the camper

Making the best of it

Thankfully we are all still smiling.

In the morning, we had another lovely breakfast and then I packed up and headed home.  Em, Ru and Fred were going to stay another night, but the clouds persisted and they gave up.  But we had a great time together.  Maybe there will be another camping trip before the rains REALLY start.