An Anniversary Adventure on the McKenzie River

**A little back story**

This year, for our anniversary - I planned us a weekend away at a hot springs. It's always something I've wanted to do and I found a NON resorty place where we could tent camp and be outdoorsy and all that fun stuff.

Our actual anniversary was Tuesday, and I had planned our weekend away for that Friday-Sunday. Unfortunately, Brian was still busy with work and we had to bump our trip a week so that he could finish up.

Well - let's just say - moving the trip a week caused our weekend away to go from -PERFECT- to -NOT SO PERFECT.-

We still had fun, but it didn't turn out exactly as I had planned originally.

**Anyway - Back to the trip**

This poor guy new he wasn't coming with us, and he was NOT happy about that!

Trooper stayed at home with his Auntie Bethany, who graciously offered to dog sit for us.

That is one thing that worked out nicely!

Awww, sad puppy watching his parents leave him behind.

We stopped along the way, at Papa Al's in Mill City for a burger. . .

unfortunately NOT as good as it was last time we had it.

This was a total bummer.

Stopping for a hamburger on the way caused us to arrive at Belknap a tad later than we had hoped. Nothing like wheeling your belongings into the woods and setting up a tent as its getting dark!

You heard me right, we had to WHEEL BARROW all our gear 1/2 mile into the wood to our tent site. The (drive in) site I had reserved (the weekend before) wasn't available.

Our new site worked out well though (once we found the source of the DISGUSTING odor that kept us up all night, and we had it removed)!

The tent sites were on the opposite side of the river from the Hot Spring Lodge.

View from across the river.

We spent Saturday morning exploring the grounds of Belknap. . .

Some fun statues around the grounds. . .

And beautiful "secret" gardens that were changing their colors for fall.

After a quick lunch - we headed out into the wilderness to do some hiking.

We explored SAHALIE and KOOSAH Falls. . .

The water was moving so fast and was SO blue!

. . . and we also hiked around Clear Lake.

But not before checking the oil, of course.

(Most expensive bottle of motor oil we ever bought - thanks to Clear Lake Lodge.)

:: Tiny Bridges ::

&

:: Huge Trees!! ::

Clear Lake lives up to its name!

We got rained on Saturday night, when they said 40% chance, they meant it this time.

We ate breakfast as it drizzled and got packed up. . . .

Everything was a muddy mess by the time we had it all wheeled out to the car!

It wasn't perfect, but it was an adventure and we had fun!

(So what if the pipe carrying the spring water into the soaking pool broke and it was more of a luke warm spring.)

We made the most of it and we left smiling . . . signs of a good time together!

Happy Three Year Anniversary, Babe!

(I'll let you plan the next anniversary trip!)

Not Just Another Week at Cow Camp (2011)

Once again, my sister writes so beautifully what is on my heart.

It's wonderful to know there are others out there who share our same feelings about these magical places we have come to love.

**UPDATED** Joyce Family Memorial Weekend Camping Trip Exravaganza

When I sent out an email to the Joyce family seeing what everyone was doing for Memorial Weekend and suggesting we meet up North at the Joyce property for a little family camping trip. . . . I didn't think EVERYONE would want to go?!?!Grandma and Grandpa Joyce own 14 acres (a portion of family land from the Joyce homestead) waaaaay up in Northern Washington, like 5 miles from Canada Northern Washington.

What's better than camping out in the woods with family, right?!?

No Trespassing sounds meaner in a foreign language.

Friday

Well, the trip didn't start off so hot for Brian and I.

Friday, while we should have been heading North and meeting up with everyone else to help set up camp, instead - Brian was working and I was sitting in urgent care waiting to see a Doc!
My cold had grown into a monster and I had such a bad sore throat I could barely speak or eat!

But I knew if I left my family in the woods alone and didn't make it up there with the rest of them, that they would hang me by my toenails as soon as they had the chance!

Friday was a drizzly day. . . but they got camp set up just fine without us.Saturday

So early Saturday morning, Brian, Trooper and I headed North, and as you can see from the picture above, by the time we reached camp Saturday afternoon, the clearing was pretty well packed with campers, so we set up our tent in the meadow.

We played, we worked. . . .We visited and caught up with family that we don't get to see all that often.We were all pretty tuckered out by the end of the day!

Sunday

Morning Meeting and fellowship as a family.

Nap Time

Paintball WarsPaintball came to a SCREECHING end when my sister got popped in the eye, all the way up in the observation tower! You can read her harrowing account of the ordeal here.Nothing like some FOOD to get this family settled down again!

A BIG thank you to my Aunt Brenda and Aunt Diane for making sure we all stayed full!This picture sums up my camping experience while sick - it was for the dogs! :)Monday

A BIG Family Photo and time to break camp and say our goodbyes!

We only had a few minor incidents during the weekend: Uncle Gary got popped in the eye with some wood shrapnel, Aunt Diane got her arm caught in the mix of an altercation with the dogs and of course, Bethany's near blinding. But what's a family gathering without a few wrenches thrown in there?!?

I think we all had fun for the most part, the main thing was that Grandma and Grandpa really enjoyed themselves and loved that we were all able to spend time together on the family property! Our Memorial Weekend was definitely memorable!

Until next time!