Hi Gram,

I woke early this morning, cursing at my alarm under my breath for the early hour but excited to go hike a National Park. Since we would be continuing on from the park, I packed my bags and sleeping bag, then took a shower. I was actually running a few minutes early, so I read my book a little while Howard took his shower then we headed out and packed up the tent and the rest of our camping equipment. We stowed our gear in the car, then headed inside for breakfast and to make a couple sandwiches for later.

The kitchen was a bustle of activity and sandwich-making, everyone excited and hurrying to get ready and loaded into cars. Almost on schedule, our caravan departed and headed to the park. We all found parking right next to the trailhead, then loaded up our hats, sunscreen, and backpacks for the trek. First, we stopped at the bridge for some group photos after which the kids ran down to the water to see how cold it was. The water was as clear as a new window pane, but with a blue tint. Jesse explained that the water ran off the glacier and ground up little bits of the rock (granite, I think?), which left molecules of fine grit suspended in the water, giving it its hue.

Once the kids were satisfied with how cold the water was, we hiked in a little to a fallen western red cedar tree, 14 foot diameter, that had been there for so long that the adults remember hearing stories of THEIR parents playing on it when they were kids. The kids all scrambled onto, around, inside, and above the tree posing for pictures and challenging each other to climb higher or deeper into the hollow trunk while the adults rested or took photos. Once the group had taken a million pictures and scrambled all over it, we gathered the troops and trekked along our way.

Not much later, the trail led us to the river with gigantic fallen logs creating a bridge spanning to the other side and a boulder providing a spot for gathering and, later, diving. Some of the more brave amongst us changed into their swim suits while the rest of us broke out our sandwiches, walked the log bridge, or climbed down towards the beach. The family has a tradition of taking turns diving into the arctic water, and this year continued that trend.

Howard and I politely declined their invitation to join their crazy plunge, choosing instead to cheer them on. It was fun watching each person step up and take their turn while the crowd cheered them on. Some jumped in solo, some dove, some did a cannonball, Eric, Jesse, and Giana jumped in together, spanning three generations, and everyone had a great time.

Eventually, the swimmers all dried off and changed back into their land clothes, then we all continued on. The area sits in a rain forest, full of giant trees, raging waters, and moss covered branches and rocks. The original settlers came through and formed stairs for followers to be able to better pass through the area. When I heard that, I was expecting a treacherous climb but found it to be a gentle slope alternating between flats and steps.

I got a picture of the new bridge that we crossed, which I’m told replaced the old bridge that spanned from shore, connected a few large rocks, and ended on the opposite shore. We saw remnants of the old bridge, making me glad to stand on its sturdy replacement.

Further along, we heard some more of the history, saw a tree that looked like a troll or orangutan, crossed a small stream, and commented on a sign that cautioned spectators that the area behind it was dangerous and prone to collapse – probably prompting more people to go explore than if the sign just said something like “boring leaves and poison ivy beyond this point.”

I was sure that we were going to have to re-trace our steps and see all of it again when we stepped out to the parking lot and I discovered that we’d been on a loop. After counting heads to make sure we had approximately the same number of people we’d arrived with, we headed back down the road for another family tradition – ice cream!

Grateful to take part in their ice cream tradition, I got some unusual flavors then walked over and got Howard a hot dog – he doesn’t like ice cream, which is probably better for his health. We said our goodbyes, traded hugs with everyone, and got back on the road. We had a great time, made new friends, strengthened our bonds with old friends, saw some beautiful scenery, and formed memories that will last us a lifetime.

We had a lively chat as we drove down to Portland – or just north of Portland, to Vancouver, WA – to visit my friends Kim and Mike. I’ve known them since our early skydiving days and always make a point to stop and see them when I’m passing through. We all headed to a burger place near their house for dinner, went for a walk around the neighborhood to burn off some calories, then headed to the house. Kim and I chatted and caught up with stories of our lives and their kitchen while Mike kept Howard engaged with a flight simulator (and how to crash with style) and his game console. Mike and Kim are hardcore game nerds with separate game consoles and screens side-by-side so they can spend time together, each engaged in their own worlds. THAT is modern love. My cat allergies started to kick in, so we said our goodbyes and headed to the hotel.