*Taking quiet time to reflect and experience God and His great wonders
*Smelling like campfire smoke
*Not showering for awhile and being okay with it because no one else has either
*Being thankful for a hot shower, a laundry machine, and a flush toilet when you finally do come home or arrive at a site that has the option
*Staying up late and sleeping in
*Making smore's
*Reading or playing cards in the tent while it rains
*Having little to no obligations throughout the day
*Wondering why it often takes longer to unpack after coming home than it did to pack everything and leave
Jamie and I spent most of the last week camping, spending two days in Copper Center for fishing and then going to Valdez for three days. We got home Thursday and would have definitely joined the family in Soldotna for a weekend of 4th of July camping if we had been cleaned up quicker from the previous trip. We will be heading to Kenai in about two weeks for the annual dipnet excursion and will most likely be gone for 4 days. We enjoyed our time together as we always do (despite the struggle to put the tent up EVERY time because I inevitably seem to forget what steps come next no matter how many times we go through the same set-up and take-down routine) Unfortunately I forgot my camera and have already deleted the pictures from my mother-in-law's card because the pictures I wanted have already been printed and scrap booked. They are, however, available on my facebook and myspace site for anyone that would like to see them. We arrived in Copper Center last Saturday morning and spent the day setting up and attempting to fish on the Klutina River. Better yet, I attempted and Jamie was successful catching 5 of our 6 fish limit in the few days we were there. We stumbled upon an old man in his fish camp and I was able to see what a working fish wheel looks like but nothing was caught in it while we watched. It was a totally random experience but I doubt the old man ever had company and he was more than happy to share his beer and talk your ear off. We were blessed with beautiful weather the entire time. Passing rain on occasion while there but it would clear up quick and the sun would re-appear. The drive to Valdez brought harder rain but luckily it was sunny and warm the whole time we were there. We camped at an RV park owned by the grandparents of a guy Jamie works with and I highly recommend it. It was really nice, with showers included so we didn't have to pay extra as well as low price laundry facilities so I was able to wash some of our stinky clothes. It was definitely nice to have regular access to showers and a bathroom. Valdez is a great small town and we spent our days just walking around the town, spending time by the harbor, and visiting the museums. We tried to fish for pinks but the run was slow and we didn't get anything, but we did see a grizzly bear by the road when we were on our way to fish. We were lucky to be a part of a fish fry at the RV park the last night we were there. It was a potluck and people from the whole site were invited and encouraged to bring a dish to share. We were informed that the fish fry is only a planned event on 4th of July and other than that it is done at random depending on the supply of fresh fish they have. So we enjoyed fresh salmon, lingcod, yummy salads and socializing with some of the other campers. Coming home has meant, filleting and packaging the fish we caught, smoking the kings that were caught last year, Jamie currently attempting to make homemade cavier with the eggs he saved, making and freezing fish stock (nothing goes to waste) and of course laundry and housecleaning. We have come back to weather in the high 70's which definitely makes this process easier. We spent yesterday (our 3 year anniversary) going out for pizza and seeing Public Enemies with some friends in Anchorage. Having these 10 days off might make heading back to work Tuesday a chore but there is only three weeks of summer school left and then about a two week break before school starts in the fall. We will definitely be enjoying every minute of this time.
