What I've Been Up To

This is my little story about my camping trip that started on Sunday...I wrote it each night before going to sleep...and now I'm puting it here. It is definately much longer than I thought it was!!

5 minutes into the process of putting up my tent (aka Spawn of Satan) I was laughing so hard that my green tea gingerale started to come out my nose. Fantastic. Following camp set up we sat by the fire and chatted. Then it cooled off so it was just me and my brother, the wind in the trees and the sky filled with stars. We sat by the crackling fire laughing over old highschool stories and talking about our views on drinking and swearing. Now I must say that this is not the easiest way to sleep. I'm in a cocoon of blankets which is great. Nice and cozy. BUT I am a toss-and-turner by heart. There are people who can go to sleep in a bed and get up and they just need to flip the blanket back over the pillow and it's like the bed wasn't even touched. I am not one of those people. I don't know how it happens but when I wake up the blankets are balled up and in a knot all around me. Unfortunately trying to toss or turn in this cocoon will get me strangled. And I lose my warm spot. Oh well. I think i'm going to fall asleep now.
Day 2
Twas a good day. Filled with a lot of laughter, which makes it one of my favorite kinds of days. We put our boat together (it's a Zodiac) and then we put it in the water and dad and Clayton got in it to take it for a test run. I was holding the rope. I was supposed to keep holding the rope. I didn't know that. And of course it's super windy and they are blowin towards the shore through the shallow part and the motor isn't actually starting. Oops. So I roll up my pants and take my moms crocs and wade in to get them back. Clayton throws me the rope and I grab it then I tow them straight through the boat launch and wind up almost waist deep in water. Way to go me. My mom's snapping pictures and laughing and i'm laughing and dad was still fighting the motor and Clayton was laughing. Good times. Later when we were actually getting in the boat (I had changed into dry clothes and flip flops) it was my job to push the boat out. I rolled up my pants once again and waded in a lil bit, pushed, and jumped in. Everything was going well. Except my flip flop stayed in the lake.It just floated there by the shore. But my dad drove the boat back and we rescued my shoe with the paddle. Yay!Following this incident was the wettest and windiest boat trip ever. It was fantastic. Once again I was soaked! This time from waves breaking on the side of the boat. Lot's of laughing occurred once again. We had a quiet afternoon and then Clayton and I climbed the mini-mountain behind our camp. We returned. Had supper. Sat by the fire for a bit til it got cold a d started raining. Went inside played 2 games of team crib (my parents won one game and Clayton and me won one). Lot's of laughing. Fun.Now i'm trying out a less restrictive blanket arrangement. I hope I don't freeze.
Day 3
So I totally half froze last night. We woke up, had breakfast and then dad, Clayton and I went hiking. We hiked up a creek for 3 hours then climbed a ridge. I was pretty tired by the time we started climbing the ridge but was so not going to be the reason we didn't climb to the top of anything. I am so beat. And out of control sore. My feet feel bruised and are covered in blisters. But it was so worth it of course. It wasn't the most perfect of ridges for views but the view was still fantastic. Then when we got back to camp we had delicious steak and potatoes that mom made for us. So good. Then showered and felt a lot better. Then the whole fam sat around the fire til now. I'm so ready to sleep now.
Day Four
Today was just as great as the others. We left Rock lake this afternoon and went into Hinton for some bread and gas and fresh water. The Hinton IGA has a whole wall devoted to things that campers or hunters might need. Including toilet paper. That wall of supplies made me laugh. Even got some cell phone reception and found out one friend got her job and another friend got his apartment! Yay!Then we headed out to the McLeod River where there's this kind of gravel flood plain that we camp on. I love it here. There's a bit more traffic on the nearby road but it is still a fantastic place. The nearby river is beautiful. And the valley is quite nice. This evening we had our fire and we watched the stars come out. A valley full of stars. Breathtaking. The conversation involved lengthy descriptions like "ok, see that ridge over there? Now see those 2 spruce trees that kinds stuck up more? Ok. Well go straight up from the higher up one to the first star. Then the star we are talking about is about a peace sign away". Good times. However, I was so caught up in stargazing I didn't notice just how cold it actually is. When I got to my tent t found it was covered in frost. How charming. So now I am buried under blankets wearing a hoodie and a sweater and kind of lying between two stumps that apparently live under my tent. And I smell like campfire. I love this. Oh I really do! Goodnight all!