Days 7, 8, and 9

Kettle Falls State Park

Every year, since I can remember (probably around 1997), we've been getting together once a summer with a group of friends and their families. It started out as an annual beach trip, and then, as we grew, we began camping somewhere different each year. This year, the new spot was Kettle Falls State Park, The Locust Grove Group Site.

A little history... The Locust Grove Group Site was the original location of the town of Kettle Falls. The current town is located a few miles away from Lake Roosevelt, which is really part of the Columbia River that has been backed up by Grand Coulee Dam. They did a nice job sharing the history at the camp with a string of interpretive signs along what must be one of the original sidewalks. I wish I had taken better pictures. Although the building of the dam created electricity and irrigation for the area, the town had to be located...and even more devastating, the actual Kettle Falls (yes, there used to be a huge waterfall on the Columbia) was submerged as well.

The area was beautiful, full of wildflowers, and right on Lake Roosevelt. There was a network of nicely kept trails to walk around the marshlands. Unfortunately, with this lush environment came swarms and swarms of hungry mosquitoes! I don't think I've ever experienced anything like this. I felt like Brian, in a favorite book, Hatchet. The insects "made a living coat" on my arms and legs. Despite all the DEET...we were pretty much all bitten hundreds of times. And...the earwigs. Everywhere! Of course, it was all worth it for the good times and memories.

This year was special, because the first day of our weekend just happened to also be the 4th of July. Our friend Robin was quite successful in talking us all into wearing the festive red, white, and blue and gathering for some group shots. Notice all those "adult" or older teen kids in the photo. It seems like just last year that they were all running around camp in their swimsuits all day, riding bikes, painting rocks, and catching frogs. I suppose grand-kids will be coming next.

The ladies

Father and son matching boxers...so festive!

Seven families and extended families this year

It is always a fantastic time getting out on the water with these people. Jon and Baran have some pretty sweet boats that carry a lot of passengers. At one point, we tethered all three of our boats together and went for a swim. We found a spot on the Kettle River where the water was 72 degrees. Christy says that is the cut off for "just warm enough." It was refreshing to be out on the water and we were able to get a respite from the biting insects.

Thank you Christy, for taking this one.

I hear Saturday morning's breakfast was around the fire and fabulous! Jeff was out fishing that morning, and I was hiding out from the mosquitoes up in the roof top tent reading my Kindle. I love that I'm up high enough to look out and see everything going on. I think we're getting used to this lifestyle. 😄

One of the many circle-up times around the fire

Lots of games going on at various picnic tables

My two beautiful children

It seems like every year, the dogs have as much fun and get as much attention as the kids. Now the kids are bringing their dogs. We had 11 dogs this year!

Zoe and Nick invited their friends Kayla and Ethan to join us this year. (Zoe's dog, Bear and our Newton)

Lily crashed out on Jeff's lap by the fire

Boat Pup

A Quick Recap of Days 7, 8, and 9

Kettle Falls State Park- Locust Grove Group Site: The grounds were nice, spacious, very private, and had some cool history, but it would have been nice to be closer to the boat marina. Once again, having the FJ Cruiser parked in a permanent position for 3 days made it a little difficult to leave for ice refills or to go to the boats, but that wasn't really a problem with so many of us there to share. The water was cold, but not unbearable, and had lots of places to explore. The mosquitoes were HORRID! We are calling this the "Year of the Mosquito" for that reason. We've had the "Year of the Rain" and the "Year of the Fire," so this fits.

Lessons Learned: Mosquitoes can bite through leggings! It is totally possible to take the FJ out on a longer excursion. We had tons more stuff than usual, but we found a place for everything. Jeff's closet was the passenger seat, and our food was in the driver's seat (also away from earwigs). We also learned that we truly appreciate the being up so high off the ground in the tent. Everyone else had a tent full of earwigs by the end of the weekend.