Field Notes, Camping Day 1

We left the harbor during low tide and both kids were very helpful at hauling our stuff to the skiff. While we were hauling the stuff, the kids spotted this squid hanging down from underneath Glenn's boat. Good Eyes!

It had been our plan to find a campsite, set up, and then come back and forth to town. (We have a party tonight that we want to go to). This way, we could leave our camp intact for the next five days.

Pulling into Mallard Bay the kids spotted this bear. Pretty incredible, considering the tiny speck she looked like from the bay. It was quickly apparent that she had two cubs with her. They were so cute tumbling down the beach together. We sat in the skiff watching them on shore for some time. They were awesome! I couldn't help but wonder if the mama bear ever has to say things to the cubs like, "Is that a good idea?" or "Stop bickering you two!"

Then we pulled up on shore and found a spot to pitch our tents and set up our camp. We took a long walk around and saw a lot of bear poo! This did not help the children with their newly discovered bear phobia. ("Is this the beach where the bear was?" "Dad, do you have a gun?" "Did you hear that? I'm sure it was a bear." "Dad, you have a gun right?") I wish there was some way to help them understand that this family is so loud that there is no way any bear is going to want to hang around anywhere near us. If I were a wild thing wandering around the forest the sound of this family would be terrifying!

Marina and Falcom took a swim in the bay as the tide came in. They begged me to join them, but I am a cold water chicken.

Marina and I prepared bean soup for dinner. As we were getting ready to stir it, we heard a loud POOF and the sound of dad cussing a small cuss word. One of the chambers on his raft popped. This was a minor catastrophe because our skiff was anchored offshore and we needed the raft to get to it. We decided to not worry about it until morning.

It was very relaxing to be away. It was beautiful. Seals splashing. Loons calling. Children asking if any bears could come this way. Then, Vince saw a bear and cub on a small beach across the bay from where we were. We were inaccessible to that bear and he said softly, "Look, another bear." The kids jumped up and yelled, "Where! Let me have the Binoculars!" and those bears shot away like they had been fired at. No, the kids still did not see that they were more scary than bears.We got into the tent and realized that the zipper was shot. We got one last zip out of it, and played a few games of cards and read a little Beyond Spiderwick and all slept well-ish. (Having to pee in the middle of the night only while camping...Waking up and waiting to get out of the tent for at least 30 minutes while you talk yourself into it...Why? Discuss...)

At 8am this morning, we decided we'd better beat the tide and broke down camp right after breakfast. (Between the raft 'poofing' and the tent zipper 'clapooing' it was the rational choice.)

We cheered Vince on as he paddled out to the boat in the small semi-inflated raft. In a way, I was secretly hoping he would fall in, because, although he would not laugh about it today, yes, he would certainly be very pissed, it would make for a great story six months from now. Needless to say, he made it just fine, it was a better trip to the boat than the first time he did it, and we loaded up and came home.

Tonight is Heidi and Mike's Party and tomorrow we will be back to more camping.