Ahhh, June. We spent more weekends last month sleeping on the ground than we did in our bed! Back in February I came across a Facebook post about family-friendly Lake Sylvia and promptly booked us a June weekend at a waterfront site. We did waffle for a moment about whether or not we really wanted to head back outdoors just four days post-Bainbridge, but we ultimately decided to go for it. I was eager to see someplace new, and a lot of our gear was still in the back of our car, anyway.
We rolled into camp on a Thursday afternoon and…our brows furrowed a little. Sites were tight. RVs outnumbered tents. Kids zipped by us left and right on bikes and scooters. We’ve held our remote Canadian enclave of last summer as the pinnacle of campground dreams, and this was hardly it. But we pitched our tent and blew up our paddle board and set up our chairs at the lake’s edge. Then Juliette wandered over to the site next door to toss rocks with two other little girls while I watched a gaggle of geese float by and I decided, alright, this place was amazing!
Plus, free salmonberries for the taking!
The campground loop was relatively flat and relatively small, so it was the perfect place for Juliette to get back on two wheels after a winter/spring biking hiatus. I jogged along side her for a couple of loops, thrilled to see that her sense of balance was still intact.
And then she asked me to stay behind while she did a loop with the neighbor girls – a lump rose in my throat, as she ended up with a bruised a bloodied shoulder the last time I let her pedal out of my sight, but I swallowed that lump right down and told her to Go For It. And except for one minor brush with a bush, she rocked it.
Shane eventually coaxed Juliette off her bike and onto the paddle board, so that they could go salamander-hunting while I got dinner ready.
And then, after brats and veggies, Juliette and her new buddy settled in together for some puzzle-making. She can actually be quite timid with strangers at the get-go, hanging back to observe and get a vibe, but after about three minutes the urge to engage completely overwhelms her and she inserts herself into the fold – when faced with an option, she always chooses the company of others. Shane and I are often the only “others” around and I want to cry out, “Can’t you play alone for just FIVE MINUTES?!”, but really, I admire her boldness and vulnerability and desire to connect. She didn’t get those extroverted genes from me!
Sadly, our neighbor buddies rolled out on Friday morning, but Juliette befriended the resident geese and spent much of the day feeding leftover hot dog buns to Fella, Gree, Greeda, Greedo, and Beeba.
Lazy mornings…
We set out around lunchtime for a hike on one of the park’s many trails, crossing a bridge into the deep, dark woods.
And the woods were stunning. Lush and green and dotted with the most magnificent fuchsias and yellows.
Oh, Daddy. So strong…
And so tall!
We had trouble finding the bridge that was supposed to lead us over the creek to the trail back to camp, but we made a way. Barely.
And…done! Four miles deserves a high-five!
Jeepers, I’m proud of this little northwestern kid.
Back at camp, I kicked back with my book and a can of Rose while Shane and Juliette rested in the tent. Mary Oliver and sunshine and bubbles, oh my…
And then, just as I took my last sip, our go-getter was begging for a spin on the paddle board. Shane rowed her over to the beach on the other side of the lake while I hoofed it across the bridge to meet them at the shallow waters.
We made a quick trip into town for firewood and a latte (this campground scores two points for easy access to espresso!) and then laid low the rest of the evening. Jules did a few (dozen) solo loops on her bike and beamed at me proudly each time she rounded the bend and saw me waiting for her back at the site. We sat by the water and then by the campfire and ate Indian food and s’mores. These two people + water + woods are…LIFE.
The realities of a busy campground smacked us in the face on Saturday morning when we heard kids scootering past our tent at 7 am, but this girl’s smile (and sleeping accessories!) did much to relieve my crankiness.
I drank my coffee while Juliette took some star shots of Shane. “Be funny, Daddy, be funny!”
Before we officially packed it up, Juliette really wanted to pet a salamander and I really wanted to get out for one more paddle. We both scored.
This was actually the first time that Shane, Jules and I have camped without any of our crew, and while I missed seeing our friends pop out of their tents in the morning, missed the evening game of s’more du jour, I did relish the three-of-us time. Shane and I talked more that weekend than we have in weeks. Juliette snuggled into my lap for long stretches in the evenings, seeking warmth and rest. Roughing it, schmuffing it – camp life is nothing short of luxurious.
