There and Back Again

I did not go directly to the house when I got back to Danville. First I stopped by my gas station to learn that no one I knew still worked there. Next, we went to Walmart and had Megan’s picture taken. We surprised Katie by visiting her place of employment for the second time in a week. She seemed fairly busy with a hand truck and some unruly foliage, though, so we didn’t get to talk long.

For the first time all week, Megan slept well at night. Unfortunately, I did not profit from this remarkable change in her nocturnal habits because Katie and I decided to watch a movie instead of going to bed early. She had to work the next morning, and I was planning to be driving all day, but such is life. We got in some good talking time. Who needs sleep, anyway?

We left IL at a decent time Friday morning, and the trip itself proved uneventful. We arrived home before dark, and Megan gladly went to sleep in her own bed. I unpacked the car and got most of our luggage out of the way to make room for Curt’s.

I had a fantastic time, but I’m glad to be home.

To Grandmother's house we go.

Mom and Dad beat us to Grandmother and GrandDad’s house. When we got there, we were treated to a delicious meal prepared by the host and hostess themselves. We enjoyed another birthday cake for dessert, and I got to open even more presents. GrandDad had assembled a generous stash of computer parts and pieces that he knew I could use. In a card, Grandmother gave me a handwritten copy of a poem she had written for me when I was five years old. I had never even known it existed. It made me smile. Dad and Mom left later in the evening, while Megan and I stayed the night.

GrandDad took us to see their subdivision’s park and pool on Thursday morning. Most of the equipment was built for older kids, but she liked the little car on a spring. Back at their house we chatted for most of the morning while Megan played. After lunch we needed to head back toward IL so we could get a head start on our journey home.

BWCAWA

Pictures should be fothcoming later (we tried to pack lightly). We had good adventures in the Boundary Waters. It took a full day to get into the park, part of which was at night, and partly because the brakes on the car started the tell-tale squeal of impending failure. We spent Friday night at a bunk house in northern MN, then finished the car portion, repaired the brakes, purchsed last-minute supplies, and started in from the town of Ely.

We made it over the most difficult portages early in the day on Saturday, but the wind was stiff enough that we just couldn't make the headway we had hoped for. Five tired people, and stuff which somehow got heavier just by sitting in the canoes, arrived at a one-night campsite. We set up, ate steak served to order (not tent stakes, either!), and swam before bed.

Sun. morning came early: we had pancakes, repacked, and had a bite of spiritual refreshment on the beach before completing the last legs of the trip to our desired island. I could tell we were still in MN, because the wind was against us the whole way. We landed on Sun. night in good time to set up and get firewood before the masquito orchestra started its tuning forks and knives.

The days following were slow and full. We took day trips to a float-plane harbour, blue-berry picking (some in Canada, don't tell), and a beaver dam (horse-shoe shaped on each side to form an S with a lodge built around a standing tree in the middle). We were constantly reminded of the power in creation because of the rough scenery and the detail of creation in everything from the lichen to fish guts. We ate well in spite of one day being entirely fishless among us. Levi was the youngest in our group (11yrs.), and he caught the first and biggest fishes. Of course the biggest one got away.

We had much fun in the sun, swimming, reading, and cooking and eating, plus more good reading in the evenings when the masquitos and deerflies drove us in. We also found turtle eggs and later saw a giant snapper surface several times and feed on a rubber worm.

We packed up and started back Thur. after noon, camping one last time still in the park.

Friday, we got up early and skipped breakfast to finish our trip. On the river we completed our wild-life tour by spying a beaver, calf moose, and wolf. Actually, when we first saw it swimming, we thought it was a beaver, then saw its back and thought it might be a moose, and then when it emerged dripping and turned to look at us, we could tell it had been a wolf all along. We saw many eagles and lunes while paddling, and even found an eagle egg shell We Did Not Touch! on a neighboring island among the blue-berries.

To be continued . . . .

Curt left for Mountain Lake en route to the Boundary Waters and adventures galore at the same time we headed down to IL. We got going earlier than Plan A dictated, but later than Plan B hoped. Megan and I arrived around 2:30 ante meridian, and I was grateful to have keys so we could slip in and go straight to bed. Megan started running a slight fever before we began travelling, but she did well in the car. Saturday morning started with yard sales. We enjoyed just hanging out with the fam. Megan still didn't feel well, but everything else was wonderful.

After Sunday morning services in Danville, lunch with Mom and Dad, and a short visit to Grandparents Cooper, Megan and I headed south to see the Geers.

On the Road Again

Time spent with the Geer tribe invariably refreshes. We arrived at Friendship Baptist in time to join them for their evening service. I had really been missing getting to hear Uncle Garry preach. (He didn’t even tell me I had to say that one.) It was good to see the McPhails, too. Many others were gone on vacation.

Aunt Joy, Delaney, Megan, and I hit the town on Monday morning. We enjoyed some pool time during the afternoon; during supper we decided to skip the fireworks scheduled for later that evening. The extra sleep must have been good for Megan because her fever finally broke during the night.

Tuesday morning we left almost on schedule for the biggest 4th of July parade in all of Indiana. We all rode together to Linton while Delaney entertained whoever would listen with her newly learned VBS songs. Monday night’s rain had cooled the air enough to make the parade conditions warm but pleasant. The cousins collected enough candy to resupply last for several more birthday parties. A good time was had by all.

More rain on our way home moved our lunch picnic plans from a nearby park to the living room. The sky cleared up later in the day, so Uncle Garry fired up the grill to cook part of our supper. We ate outside, too, and they surprised me with a schnazzy birthday cake a day early. I got to open my present, too. A stray dog crashed the party, but she turned out to be very well behaved. After dark, Uncle Garry shot off his bag of fireworks, and Aunt Joy handed out glow sticks. Bethany, Garrison, and I played Monkey in the Middle, and Frisbee in the dark with them. I had fun; hopefully, so did they.

On Wednesday, Uncle Garry had to be back at work. I got most of my packing out of the way that morning, so I could go back to enjoying the company. Curt surprised me by sending a birthday present hidden in the car and telling Aunt Joy where to find it. Tricky man. J

Aunt Joy, Bethany, and I started working on the two back bedrooms. Uncle Garry and Aunt Joy planned to switch rooms with the girls and paint the bigger room before the girls moved into it. We moved the big furniture out from against the wall and got important bed pieces in the right places. We then washed and taped the walls. After lunch, I hung around for a little while longer, and I got to help with the grand bookcase switcheroo.

Finally, we needed to leave in order to be in Indianapolis by supper time. The only thing left for me to say was, “So long, and thanks for all the fish!”

I think that Uncle Garry is the greatest. Because he told me to think that. No, really, he is.