We hope that everyone had a magical holiday season and are looking to this new year as one filled with hope - promise - and an opportunity for wonderful life adventures. One of my resolutions this year is that I will update my blog more than once a month. But we'll see how that goes what with three teenagers and all.
At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time: the impetus for us taking a one-month camping trip this past summer, is this fiery and simmering realization that our children are growing up so incredibly fast, as children are prone to do, and in such a short period of time - they'll be flying from our nest. They're already stretching their little wings (much to my chagrin), and I know that our time with them to strengthen bonds and make incredible lifetime memories is finite.
Our vacation this summer - while extended - was not so long that we could lose ourselves for days at a time in one location. We had places to be and somewhat of a schedule to keep since I'd really outdone myself and actually pre-paid some of our campsites.
While in the Grand Tetons / Jackson Lake area, we did actually extend our stay for a night so that I could take the children to visit Jenny Lake. Which I may have mentioned once or twice, is where it is currently stated in my Will that I would like for my remains to be "sprinkled" upon my demise.
My first visit to Jenny Lake was in June of 1994, just a few weeks before Charlie and I were married.
This is what I looked like way back then:
This is what I looked like way back then:
At that time, it was the most beautiful place that I'd ever visited. Since then, I've visited a lot of other beautiful places in the world, but I still have a soft place in my heart for Jenny Lake seeing as my name is you know …. Jenny.
The children loved visiting this place and wasted no time peeling off their outer wear and jumping in to an absolutely FRIGID lake. The water temperature was around 50 degrees. Cold enough, that I couldn't even put my feet in, let alone my entire body … which made me reconsider being posthumously sprinkled here because I'm really partial to water temperatures 85 degrees and above.
We hiked a perimeter trail…
Sat before a waterfall…
Stood before an even bigger one…
And talked to some lovely people from New Jersey who took pictures of us perched atop this granitic outcrop, before enjoying a picnic lunch.
Sat before a waterfall…
Stood before an even bigger one…
And talked to some lovely people from New Jersey who took pictures of us perched atop this granitic outcrop, before enjoying a picnic lunch.
We got caught in a sputtering rain storm and experienced temperatures that dropped 20 degrees in as many minutes. It was cold enough that the children happily donned our emergency poncho and pretended they were the Three Headed Giant from Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
Following a really fun day together, we took the boat back to the other side of Jenny Lake - hiked to our car - and made it back to our campsite at Colter Bay just in time to attend a church service. I've always considered nature to be my church, but it's an even more epic experience to actually attend an organized service in the middle of a National Park. This is some seriously holy stuff for me.
The kids had lamented going to church because there were so many other things to do - like pretend they were early explorers, or play Dungeons and Dragons, or a game of cards - but when we arrived at the amphitheater, we learned that a huge black bear had also decided to show up for church and had just been climbing over the amphitheater benches moments before I snapped this photo.
After much fanfare about a bear encounter, this was the first bear we'd really seen while outside of a vehicle - and the children's reaction was very similar to Brave Sir Robin with his chicken shield. They bravely tucked their tails and ran, ran, RAN away. Charlie had been on a coffee run, and missed the bear encounter, but was able to lure the kids back to the amphitheater with hot chocolate from Starbucks. We then proceeded to sing songs, give abundant thanks, and meet some amazing people from all over North America.
That evening, we went out to dinner at the Jackson Lodge and met a group of horseback riders who had traveled up from Illinois. They sat next to us during dinner at a funky little diner - and had all kinds of tips and tricks for us, once they heard our next destination was Yellowstone National Park. They told us all the great - off the beaten path - places to visit.
Neither Charlie nor I can remember their names right now, but this 60+ year old four-some were visiting the area with just their trucks - trailers - horses - and tents. They would be packing in for ten days, with horses carrying their gear - and would literally live off the land for the duration of their visit, with very little supplementation. Their gear included fishing rods, water filters, and SALT.
Several times on this trip, we would meet people who would be amazed that we flew in from Texas, rented a car, and were making a nearly 3,000-mile loop with four children - while sleeping in tents the majority of the way. But THEN, we'd meet people like our coast-to-coast bike-riding friend, Emily…
Or the horseback riding folks from Illinois, and we'd become so inspired because people and their quest for adventure and that driving passion to get BACK TO NATURE is so, so awesome. We were so at peace on this trip: it was simple and easy, and incredibly fun living. The way it should be. All The Time.
Or the horseback riding folks from Illinois, and we'd become so inspired because people and their quest for adventure and that driving passion to get BACK TO NATURE is so, so awesome. We were so at peace on this trip: it was simple and easy, and incredibly fun living. The way it should be. All The Time.
Yes children: You Are On Alert.
This is just the beginning.
This is just the beginning.
