The Camping Trip

Our trip was amazing - though it did not start well. We were kind of behind the 8 ball as the trip was moved up a week to accommodate Brad's work schedule. We had a little (understatement) meltdown shortly before we left (perpetrator to remain nameless). We arrived shortly before dark only to learn the campground was almost full. We had thought that arriving on Thursday would secure us a spot. But apparently, though neither of the 2 people who had recommended Heyburn State Park to us had mentioned it, the campground basically fills up with reservations. We found a spot available Thursday only and set up camp. Emily went to a ranger show - and obnoxiously raised her hand for every question ( winning 16 granola bars!) and then we did Bible charades ( courtesy of the Pruetts) around the campfire.
I slept poorly - as usual when camping. Rick and I got up early to try to find a campsite available for that night. We found several people leaving and thought we were in good shape, until we realized that there were more reservation slips hidden behind the current ones on each site. So we went around surreptitiously peeking at each sitepost and had despaired of finding a site when we found one available for Friday only. Since we leaving Saturday we were in high cotton! ( or high pines anyway). We moved camp by carrying the tents though the campground ( an interesting site) and loading the other stuff into the car.
After lunch Emily went on a nature hike while Rick and Matt took an awesome bike ride ( more on this later). After they got back, Julie, Em and I took the same bike trip ( we only had 2 adult bikes with us). It was incredible. You go on a two mile bikes only ( former RR trestle) bridge across Lake Coueur D Alene. It is the most beautiful bike ride I have ever been on. We went a couple miles further along the far side of the lake ( the trail goes a total of 72 miles) before returning. Matt and Em went to play soccer ( the campground had a very energetic activities director - a 19 year old homeschooled guy from Hawaii) while Rick Jul and stayed a the campsite and read.
Brad and Rache arrived at about 6:30. I was so thrilled to hear Brad exclaiming, " I kept telling people all day at work 'we're going camping!':. We hadn't been sure if Brad and Rache really wanted to come or were just humoring us, so that was wonderful to hear. We built a fire and cooked hot dogs. Then we took a walk and snapped tons of pix of the gorgeous sunset ( while Em went to another nature talk - only 2 granola bars this time!). Then we roasted smores and played bible charades again. Em's rendition of the 12 plagues on Egypt was priceless. After the ranger rebuked us at 10:10 we headed to bed.
After breakfast the next morning we insisted Brad and Rache take the bike ride. Matt and Em whittled wands while we read. When they got back we packed up camp in case the next people would arrive at 1,but continued to sit around and read ( and whittle for those who don't enjoy reading) until 3. Rick and Brad are in a book club and had a 600 page book to finish by this Wednesday so they barked at anyone who interrupted. I teased them that the book club was supposed to make them more spiritual, but had the opposite effect since it made them grump at everyone! Rick and Matt then biked 8 miles to the main thoroughfare where we picked them up.