Kayaks, Big Ts and the Hot Springs

Greetings!  We are preparing for our big family camping trip and my sister Denise is bringing the boys down on the first Sunday we're there and then take them home on Wednesday morning.  The past few years the boys have loved borrowing my kayak and my sister's kayak and they've done so well with them that I've wanted them to have their own.. so yesterday we found two on sale and Dayle and our son Travis headed off to get them and matching kayak paddles.  They can actually use these for the rest of their lives which is neat.  To say they're excited is an understatement.  Lucky boys!

Rewinding.. backspace.. to Wednesday.  Gracie and I headed off for lunch at Big T's in Stevenson, Washington before we headed to lap swim at the mineral pool at Bonneville Hot Springs.  I must say that Big T makes one heck of a bacon, avocado cheddar cheeseburger!  And you can choose between fries, sweet potato fries or tater tots.  For me.. there is nothing yummier than crispy tots!  Needless to say, we had to go work some of this off afterwards. :-)

We headed west to the hot springs, did our one hour of lap swimming.. in amongst several children.. which made for rough seas.. got cleaned up and then headed to the Little Viking for refreshment, then I drove down to show Gracie the boat launch and park we found a while back.  She loved it!  There were a few boats being loaded onto trailers and several kids were swimming.. but it was quite peaceful there.  You're looking at the Columbia River - on your right is Oregon and on the left is Washington.

Wind Mountain with Dog Mountain behind it.. I climbed to the top of both while attending Girl Scout camp in my youth.  :-)

I love the rugged cliffs on both sides of the Columbia River Gorge.  The park has several picnic tables and even BBQ grills for people to use!

Gorge-ous!

Gracie pointed out a family of ducks swimming along - I googled them and they are Common Mergansers.  :-)

Eagle-eyed Gracie also pointed out that some of the trees are turning color already.. eek.. summer is speeding by!

Zoom.. oh pretty.. but I'm not ready for it to be autumn yet.  How about you?

I am going to go shopping today for some of the staples we'll need for the trip.  Dayle will be working on washing the exterior of the trailer.. a BIG JOB.  I'm making lists.. menus.. what to pack from home.. grocery lists.. Costco lists.. etc., etc., etc.  Do you have any trip plans for the last few weeks of summer?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)