The Runaway Road

In 1980, my mom signed me up for the book of the month club.  I was part of a club - the Book Club.  I felt privileged.  I had bragging rights that a younger sister doesn't often get.  I was a brat.  But could you blame me -I was just so excited to get my books in the mail. The fact that they were hardcovers made them all the more special. 

Sadly, I was never really a book of the month club member.  Mom must have signed me up for the free, no obligation trial offer.  Two books were all I ever got to read. I remember the outrage when a third book came in the mail. 
"I bet they think that the books come and you will feel you have to keep them when your kid sees them.  That's what they are counting on."  Mom said to one of her friends on the phone, "Well, that's too bad, because it's going back!"   I thought she was all talk.  I believed that she would at least let me keep the third book, and cancel after that.  Nope, true to her word the mystery book was returned.  The third book was never taken out of the packaging.   

But it's the second book that I've been thinking about.  The second book I received in the mail was The Runaway Road, by Stan Mack.  The story is about the Puddle Family who are packed up and ready to go on their annual vacation to the mountains.  Just as the Puddles began their journey, the road had other plans.  Instead the road runs away and takes them in a new direction.  The road, who was  sick of the mountains, decides it wants go to the beach.  Metaphorically teaching The Puddles that life doesn't always goes as planned, sometimes even the deepest engraved routines change with life's winding road. 

I can relate to the Puddle family, change is constant.  And I can also relate to the road.

Just like the road in the story, I ran away this weekend.  I made the list, packed the clothes, the toiletries, the first aid kit, the grocerys.  I planned the meals and prepared dinners and salads, then I made a bee line out of town. 

I ran away because in order refuel for life, I needed to separate from it.  I left behind the distractions  - the drama, Gramma's half empty messy apartment, the uncertainty of what September will bring.   I left it all behind and found peace.  When we returned Sunday afternoon I could breathe again.  Ready to handle whatever changes the road may bring.

Summer's Growth

Summer is the space between springs promise and fall's bounty.  Summer is the season to grow.

 

As a child I often suffered terrible growing pains in my legs, the kind that would wake you up from sleep.  My mother would give me a baby aspirin and tuck me back into bed.  I would whimper in my bed as I waited for the medicine to work.  This would wake my older sister.  She would get up and wrap my legs in the afghan that Aunt Marg knit.  As long as I could remember the people who loved and cared for me always helped me with my growing pains.

I have experienced so much growth this year.  It's not surprising.  My one little word for 2011 was thrive:

(1) to make steady progress; prosper. 

(2) to grow vigorously; flourish

Maybe I didn't think my word all the way through.  Growth often uncomfortable.  And while a baby aspirin and my legs lovingly wrapped in a blanket isn't going to help my growing pains, it is still my family that I am look to for comfort and encouragement.

When I was editing my pictures, putting together the collages for this post, I felt overwhelming feeling of love and pride.  Seeing us camping, at the beach or just hanging out together, I know that John and I have built a strong foundation.  A strong base that will support all of us as we grow and thrive.  

August 21 -22 Killbear Park and some 365's

The Kid was at a friends cottage near Killbear Provincial park. It was her longest trip away from home, lasting 14 days. By the middle of the first week, it became apparent that she would not be able to make it for the whole trip unless she had a visit from home. So we packed the trailer and made the journey to Killbear. The hubby booked the last site that they had available. It was non electric, but on the plus side it was right at the waters edge.

Killbear is a beautiful park. It has a great learning centre, where guests can go and learn about the wildlife, and history of the park. Unfortunately, the weather was cool and wet the weekend that we went, so we didn't go swimming. Hubby took a boat trip, and says that the main beach was huge, and there was a smaller cozy little beach within walking distance of our site. The main problem that I found with Killbear, was the location. It was a long haul for one weekend, when you factor in the cottage country traffic, well for me four and a half hours is just too long of a car trip.

Arrowhead Provincial Park

Our week long camping trip to Arrowhead Provincial Park was everything you could ask for in a family vacation: great weather, campfires, sitting on a beautiful beach and connecting with family.
It was our first time at Arrowhead, we had only heard good things about the park and we were not disappointed.
Arrowhead is a large park with 3 beaches to choose from. We spent most of our time at the small beach because it was less crowded and it was within a 5 minute walk from our campsite. The sand was soft and powdery - the kids and I loved how it felt on our feet. The water was cool and clear. The kids geared up with their goggles, and spent most of their time under water looking for minnows and muscle shells.
One afternoon as I was watching my family swim, the sun warming my shoulders, and my tunes playing ( thanks hun, for the new ipod ), I welled up with emotion. It was one of those moments in life where what matters most is crystal clear and you are filled with gratitude for all you've been blessed with.

The site itself was large and private. Usually The Kid will take her younger brothers out on adventures, but, with an active bear in the park, she did not venture far on her own.

We try to choose sites that have morning sun so that the site does not overheat during the hottest part of the day. Pictures above is a little morning sun flare.

With an active bear in the park, whenever we were outside of our campsite, we were on the lookout for the bear. As we drove away from our site one evening, The Kid spotted this dear on the NEXT site. So cool!

Because of the heat and distance, we decided not to do any of the bike trails, but Hubby, The Little Man and I went for a short 45 minute bike ride to the Big Bend Lookout. The Boy and his dad had gone the previous day and reported that it was worth the trip - and it was! It took my breath away. The Big Bend lookout is an oxbow formation from the Big East river. It is an 80 foot drop from the lookout point, with steep, sandy banks. Each year 1 foot is lost from the lookout as it erodes away. I don't think that the pictures do it justice.

We went out for dinner on our last night. It rained pretty hard while we were in the restaurant, but it had cleared up by the time we finished. After the rain there was a beautiful mist, so we headed down to the beach so I could get a few shots. Stunning.

Before heading back to the site, we stopped by Stubbs Falls. I wish we had more time to explore this place. Stubbs Falls reminded me of "the falls" that was at the end of our cottage road. It was sweet to see this new found treasure with my family.

Camp Charlie

Even though we had a kid party for the Little Man, we still had our traditional family "Camp Charlie" This is a chance for both sides of the family to get together, slow down, and enjoy each other's company. Once again, the weather man did not co-operate with us, but once again we out smarted him and have tonnes of fun anyway.
We surprised our five year old with a new bike. This one is bigger and heavier than the old one - he was wobbly at first but did okay on it.

Opening some presents with some of his cousins.

MORE birthday cupcakes!!!!

Round the campfire with his family. Love it.

Giving the pinata a few good whacks. ( I recycled the treasure hunt box from the pirate party to use as a pinata. )

365's From Camping

May 29 - New Friends May 30- Day vs. Night - (okay not quite May 30th, more like afternoon/evening May 29th. I didn't get a 365 for May 30th with rushing around to get camp closed up, and when we got home we invited Gramma up for dinner. These are fun anyways and I am happy I did not have to cut them.)

First Camping Trip Of 2010

us

the Kid and her Daddy

The boys found some caterpillars

Papa Skadoodle and his puppy Freddie came along

The spring weather in our area has been so unseasonably hot, that we were able to go on our first camping trip of the year almost 3 weeks earlier than we have before. I have to say, that all the running around, the packing, the extra laundry was well worth it. Camping forces us to slow down, unplug and connect in a way that we don't do at home.

best brothers ever

the Kid with Freddie, in a quiet moment

Tug of war with the little men.

Home sweet home - counting this one as my 365.