Squirrel Creek, Finis

Ah, the last bit.  Sad to see a fun weekend come to an end, but at this point I'm definitely looking forward to a shower...

We made it back to camp, only to find that Squirrel Creek wasn't near as rainy as Valdez - which is a good omen for a BIG fire!  It helps that we've got a lot of wood left, and the goal is to burn the box before we go too.

It was a weekend filled with friends and visiting; games and geocaching; fun and relaxing.  How can you beat that?!?  We even had some tunes and dancing...

 

The last day, we took our time packing up - mostly because it was nice to not be in a rush, but also because we had to finish burning the box.  The journey home was peppered with stops - for geochaching, of course.

 

All in all, a beautiful weekend (even with the rainy bits), spent with family and friends.  I can't think of a better way to spend my time...

Squirrel Creek, Park I

I've been looking forward to the 4th of July weekend for ages!  A long weekend (I took Friday off too), and we're going camping.  Yay!  Working a full day, then loading up for camping generally means a late start.  But who cares? since I don't have to work on Friday anyway.  Sweet!!  We loaded up an old friend for the last trip...

Years ago, Greg made a box to fit his ladder rack so we could bring extra wood and have BIG fires.  This is the last campout for the box.  Fitting then, that the first and last trips are both to Squirrel Creek.  Between packing, mounting the box, and loading the gear, we didn't leave until almost 10pm.  Kinda late, especially for this trip, but what the hell?  We can always sleep in once the tents are up...

We arrived on location at 3am, had the tents up by 4am, then sat around the fire until 7am.  It's been absolutely forever since I've been up for more than 24 hours.  Must be a sign of getting old - I used to be able to stay up late and get up early for days on end without it seeming to impact me.  Now, a solid 8 hours is good (I like 10 better), but I can survive on 5 or 6 for a day or two.  No more than that without going totally nutso, having a psychotic breakdown, and collapsing into a sleep coma for three days of recovery.  Twenty-some years ago, 40 seemed ancient - as if those old fogies are ready to push up daisies, just put 'em in a wheelchair and get some diapers right now - but now that I'm almost there, I don't feel that much different from when I was 25 or so (except I need more sleep)...  Anyhow.  I digress.

 

The next couple days are filled with fun, fires, and friends.  Such a wonderful weekend!!  We even satisfied another "tradition".  At a previous campout - in the same camp ground, at the same site, even - we found that squirrels can (and will) eat through the plastic to get at the licorice in the 5# Costco tub.  This year, we found that they'll eat through the Gladware bin to get to the fruits and nuts.

I have several more pictures that I want to share - I'll try not to be too boring - so I'll add them to the next post.  Besides, that includes the next adventure: heading to Valdez to see Sara.  Campfire, fresh air, falling asleep to the sound of running water...  Can't think of a better way to spend the weekend.

Another Squirrel Creek Adventure

This has the potential to be a very *long* post. My options are to try not to be boring, or to break this into multiple posts. Since I already have the topic of my next post, I decided to try not to be boring. You'll have to let me know how that works out...

Our second camping trip of the season - over 4th of July weekend - was spent in Squirrel Creek. This is an area that we've been to many times over the past couple of years. We try to get in some new areas each year, but at least once we head north to Squirrel Creek. The drive up was gorgeous - as usual.

View from Sheep Mountain pulloff

Since I *froze* last time (at Byers Lake), we came prepared this time. Sure, it's July... but that's no guarantee that it's going to be warm. Greg bought new sleeping bags - rated for -25 degrees - and a tent heater, and we brought lots of tarps in case of rain. I also packed some long sleeve shirts, long johns, and plenty of warm fuzzy socks. Good thing I also packed a pair of shorts (one), a couple t-shirts, and a tank top. Also a good thing that when you're camping you're allowed to wear the same thing every day. (Let's just say the tent heater never came out of the box... but that's okay, cuz I'm sure we're going to need it - I'm going to need it - on the Labor Day trip...)

(Note: I normally have to get up 2-3 times - at least! - every night and make the trek to the outhouse. I always hate this because it's cold, I'm sleepy, outhouses are no fun - especially in the dark - and I'm losing sleep. This trip, two nights in a row I was able to sleep the night through, without the trek. I wonder if that has anything to do with being warm while I'm sleeping? Hmmm...)

Cooling off in the "lake"

It was so warm that we didn't have fires until late, late at night - then not big ones because people are starting to go to bed. I didn't even roast any marshmallows this trip... The best fire we had was the last night - and that's because we were working on burning up as much of the wood we brought as possible. I love big fires!

The warm days ensured we were out & about (tents were too hot & stuffy for napping most of the time), which provided lots of fun. John, Sam, Jennifer, & Tony brought 4-wheelers - so people doubled up, and headed up into the hills. Apparently it was pretty dusty out there, since everyone that went headed over to the lodge down the road (we lovingly refer to it as the Adult Day Care Center) for showers.

Dirty Boys

Those of us that stayed behind had a fabulous time. I relaxed in the sun reading and later tried to nap for a bit. Then we played games and ate junk food until the rest of the crew arrived. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how potent the sun was. I was wearing my tank top, and now have some lovely lobster red shoulders that are peeling. I'm just glad they're not so sore anymore. It seems everyone ended up with some type of sunburn by the end of the weekend. =) Sadly, my burn happened on Thursday - so I had to wear regular t-shirts for the rest of the long, hot weekend. I'm just grateful my burn was on my shoulders. Jen burned from the t-shirt line down to her hands. No way to keep that out of the sun - unless you're willing to wear long-sleeved shirts and be a puddle of goo...

Party girls at camp

Friday was more goofing off and relaxing. Those that didn't get to ride previously, took the chance this time. Ride wasn't as long, but apparently it was just as dirty - and fun.

Uni-brow, anyone?

Teach 'em young!

Since it was the 4th, we *had* to have fireworks!! They're not allowed in the campground, so we trek out to the road (just outside the boundaries) to enjoy our fun. We had pretty sparklers, mortars, screamers, and - the best - roman candles. It was great!! The property across the road also had fireworks, so we got a double treat. There were lots of roman candles - so we could have duels. =) Some of our crew are just down right crazy... We had these wars last year too - see here - but we had one casualty this year. Greg hit John in the nose. He's okay now - a little skittish around loud noises and bright lights, but that should pass with time... =)

John defeated

Saturday we headed out to Valdez. It's only an hour from Squirrel Creek, so I just can't pass up the opportunity to visit with my sister. It's a fun trip, with spectacular views - as a bonus, we get showers, flushing toilets, and a visit with Sara. There are lots of geocaches on the way too, and since most of our group are also avid cachers there's plenty to do. The scenery is breath-taking in Valdez - but I wouldn't choose to winter there (too much snow!). I have loads more pictures (I took more than 100 over the course of the weekend) that I will be posting to my Flickr account in the near future.

Mountain view in Valdez

Hangin' with Sara

And we've reached the end of another campout with the Bucket O' Fun club. It was lots of fun, and the weather was wonderful - the best we've had all summer! I think the September trip is to Hope... we shall see, eh?

Bucket O' Fun

Epilogue:
Greg and I took a detour on the drive home - for some caching, of course! But it also gave me the opportunity to see some areas that I haven't been to before. We stopped at Liberty Falls, just outside of Chitina (pronounced Chitna) and then proceeded to the Copper River. In previous trips, some of our party have made this trek, but this was the first time I've been. Liberty Falls was fantastic. And now I have an image (of a wide meandering brown river lined with fish wheels) to go with "Copper River Reds" - these are practically the most famous salmon around (at least the best marketed).

Liberty Falls

Fireweed on the Copper River

Squirrel Creek - Part III, the Finale

Some of our group headed out on Saturday, the rest of us packed up Sunday morning. Saturday was a drizzly day, so we spent lots of time reading or playing games. Dinner was Chicken 'n Dumplings with calabacitas (a corn dish with garlic, onions, & zucchini - yummy!). The drive home cleared up, so it was a very pleasant journey. And it's always nice to get home (and get clean) again! So here are the faces that graced our most recent campout...

Ubon & Pahmi
(it's her 1st campout!)

Cindy, Anna & Nunta
(it's Anna's 1st campout also -
too bad it rained all day Saturday)

Anita (with Todd in the background)

Todd (making Anita's nighttime restroom)

Mud-spattered Kelly

Nate

Jenn (she finished 2 books!)

Brian

Heather & Ayanna

Sam thru the smoke

John

Greg (with Kelly in tow)

Bucket O' Fun!!

Squirrel Creek - Part II, Valdez

Some of our group left early on the 5th (Thursday) so they could go GeoCaching. The rest of us had a laid-back morning. We headed out for Valdez, making a few stops along the way. Harding Glacier was pretty - it's receded lots since last year. We also stopped at a couple waterfalls for pictures.

Harding Glacier
the people on the lower right are to show scale
(there are also three people climbing the ice - can you see them?)

Horsetail Falls

Jenn at Bridal Veil Falls

Once we hit town, we picked Sara up from the cannery and then hit the showers. Ahhhh!! Clean again - if only for a bit... =) We took Sara shopping with us, did dinner at a mexican joint, a bit more shopping, then had to drop her off. She's now an honorary member of the Bucket O' Fun Club.

Valdez Boat Harbor

Sara & Me

The "Original" Bucket O' Fun Club

The New Bucket O' Fun Club

Friday was pretty laid back - more GeoCaching for some, hanging out at camp for others. We had dirty rice for dinner and a yummy pineapple dump cake for dessert (made in the crockpots, of course!) More friends joined the group Friday night, and we spent lots of time visiting around the fire.

One of our Visitors

Squirrel Creek - Part I, the Fourth

We went camping over the 4th of July. Back to Squirrel Creek, which is about a 4-1/2 hour drive from home. Long time in the car, but *definitely* worth it!! This is our third trip to this campground - we went twice last year (over the 4th and over Labor Day). We didn't get our usual spots, but ended up filling the end of a cul-de-sac. Made it nice for privacy - our group had all the spots - but we had lots of turn-around traffic. So we made a sign to make sure other campers knew there was no reason (except to visit) to drive down the road to our sites.

Squirrel Creek
Water's lots lower than last year

No Room at the Inn

We had lots of activities - fireworks on the 4th, a trip to Liberty Falls, Valdez, caching for some, hanging out, and relaxing. Once again, it was a blast!!

We left home after work on the 3rd and set up camp that night. It was late, so we pretty much just relaxed and went to bed. On the 4th, there was an excursion to Liberty Falls. Some of the group had gone there last year - it was interesting to see some of the changes since the flooding (which happened after we left last fall).

Liberty Falls

Liberty Falls Bridge
showing the washout after flooding last fall

Fireweed overlooking Copper River
near Liberty Falls

After a nice dinner of Halibut Olympia and scalloped potatoes (both of which we cooked in cast iron pots that I called crockpots all the time), we headed out of the campground to light fireworks. Made for a nice end to an enjoyable day.

Fireworks
black shirt vs. white shirt

Part of the Crew