Reconnect

7/24

                After waking up at the luxurious KOA campground site we had a laid back morning and were on the road around 8:30.  The final destination was my mother’s childhood best friend who lived in Bend, Oregon and whom she had not seen for twenty years.  We made three pit stops on the journey, the first being at the football field of Boise State University which contains the only blue turf field in the nation.  Hesitantly, we passed through a construction zone around the stadium and entered through an open gate leading to the bleachers.  A man rode by on a bicycle and warned us we had passed through a construction zone.  Both my mother and Paul headed back towards the car, their courage failing them while those remaining waltzed out onto the field.  After rubbing and lying on the blue field we took a couple of pictures and made our way back the way we had entered.  It was very cool stepping onto the Boise State field and I will always remember it when I see them playing.  My mom is an avid shopper at Sierra Trading Post and had been very persistent that while in Wyoming, we stop.  We did not in Wyoming but Mom lucked out as there turned out to be a Sierra Trading Post outlet on the same exit as the KOA campground.  We only had a short time to spare, but no way was mom going to let us pass the store without stopping.  Some products caught my eye but even Paul the most abundant of spenders has been very frugal with his purchases lately, reflecting the actions of the rest of the family.  Lunch was leisurely and spent at a pleasant outdoor rest stop.  We had made a grocery trip the day before and we did not lack of desirable food.  Once we had eaten our fill, the boys, myself included, began a mini football game in the grassy clearing.  It ended on late game heroics by Paul, who made a great catch just over the longer, albeit one handed defender, Finn.   Then we were prepared for the three and a half hour drive to Arielle’s (my mom’s friend).  I hopped in the driver’s seat eager to enjoy the lack of carsickness the front seat provided and with my dad grudgingly seated in the back, we headed off without a hitch.  Pulling into the house we were greeted by the Arielle and her family, including her husband Tommy, son Duncan and daughter, Eleanor.  After initial pleasantries were exchanged and introductions made we changed into our bathing suits and both families went on a short walk to the nearby river on the 90 degree day.  The bank of the river was rocky and just to the north there were rapids in which we saw a local attempting to paddle board across, with little to no success.   Beyond the rapids were a strong current and a long river.   Duncan leapt right in and was pulled down about 100 feet, I took the more cautious approach wading in cautiously rather than taking the literal plunge.  Soon though, the three older children, even Finn with his cast arm held high above the water, were far down the river in the thick of the current seeing who could stay standing on the slippery rocks.  Paul and Elli played close to shore but Paul eventually made his way to the older children.  The water was cold but refreshing.  Duncan and I were the last men standing after ten to fifteen minutes and we were only in that long because it took a solid five minutes of cajoling to entice Paul to leap from his sense of security on a large rock in a generally serene part of the rapids into the fast moving current that would get him back to shore.  With Duncan and I acting as safety nets we finally convinced him and upon arriving safely back at shore we made our way home, wetter and colder than when we began.  Dinner was held soon after and consisted of spaghetti and a delicious meat sauce with amazing bakery bread and salad accompanying it.  Once we had eaten to our stomachs content, the adults went out to the patio to discuss old times and other boring things while the children watched I, Robot the movie with Will Smith projected onto the wall of the living room.  Feeling safe and warm, it was a very nice night and after the movie ended we gathered again to eat ice cream and enjoy one another’s company.  Duncan was the first to head to bed and the others soon followed.  Again I had been lulled into the ease of staying and sleeping warm and inside, I couldn’t allow it to last if I was to handle the rest of the camping on the trip.  More pictures to come. 

Silas and Finn leaving their mark on the blue turf of Boise State U.

Pausing for a refreshing dip in the river in Bend, OR with dear friends, Tommy, Arielle and Elli and unkown paddle boarder