4th of July - Thompson Falls

The 4th of July weekend this year was so much fun... we headed over the pass to Thompson Falls for some time with the family.  Brian was able to make it too!  We didn't get there until late Friday night, but I stole pics off mom's camera from their hike to Cabin Lake Friday.  Looks like so much fun, and such a picturesque spot!

Mandy

Brian and Dad fishing from shore.

Rob, Mandy, Mom & Dad

They've still got it!

Best Friends

Brian was slaying the fish!

The next morning, Brian, Dad, Rob and Mandy woke up early and took the canoe and drift boat down to float fish the Bull River.  While that sounded like fun, so did sleeping in!  So Chance, Mom and I did just that - slept in, and then went for a hike to see another waterfall from our book.

Pops - right at home.

Rob and Mandy with Maggie

Doing what he does best!

Brian gets in on the action.

Meanwhile - at Grave's Creek Falls

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Here's Chance giving Mom a panic attack - "Honey... get away from the edge! Not so close! Oh my! Be careful!"

The view was not so shabby!

"Now see - I wonder if I could just pull up a couple of these seedlings for my garden..."

 That evening we went down to the Bull River Campground and Day Use Area for a picnic with Don & Darlene Wells, Howard, Marla and Ron Dykstra and the kids.

Looks harmless at first...



...but zoom in and you get the full story!



Don tells Mandy where to catch the Big Ones!

So much easier to fish when you have a couple guys to paddle you around!  This is the life!

 

 The next morning Mandy and I went for a long bike ride - during which we had the bright idea to float and fish Big Beaver Creek.... Rob dropped us off with our raft, some snacks, tackles boxes and bug spray.  While the boys were playing "Pond Basketball," we clawed our way through overgrowth, maneuvered 10 ft tall fields of cut grass, forded around at least 10 log jams, endured three thunder storms - and finally found our way to the "put in" we should have used.  After that, it was so smooth - open, beautiful, large clear swimming holes, and fish galore!  So much fun!

See how hard it's raining!



Yay!  Now this is more like it!

8 hours later - finally back home!

Whew!  What a weekend - we missed the rest of the family, but sure had a great time!