Well, I do not know why these photos are so small, must be the formatting and will try to fix it in time. It has been an excellent summer for camping and outdoor adventures. We finally got ourselves a used Grumman canoe to go with the 14 kayaks, and that really upped our camping. Also I pitched a little fit last year when I realized we had not camped AT ALL, and swore this year would be different.
Jack and Alex both did great in the new canoe- The William B. Our only trouble was when Kevin was casting from the stern. I was pretty sure there would be major chaos if he landed a fish. Luckily this did not happen.
Our first real camping trip was up to Indian Lakes Campground at Brimson. I found the perfect North Shore camping guide by Andrew Slade and we just got amped and started going whenever time and weather permitted. The first trip was early June.
Jack turned out to be an excellent camping companion. He even figured out how to open the tent on his own when he needed out in the middle of the night.
Mid July the Carlton Kayak Races came along again. This was our 13th year of putting on the St. Louis River Whitewater Rendezvous. Always a marvelous time. Yes, that's me going down the top drop on the Slalom. Whee!
Alex's best friend Fraya was in the horse show at our little county fair, so we went to cheer her on. Alex loved the animal barns this year (previous years he has refused to go in...too loud) and he is getting a taste for rides as well. It is not summer in the Mid-west without them!
Our biggest camping trip was a three day to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. On the first night, when we camped in campground on Sawbill Lake, Alex met this big bug. He thought it was very cool. On the second night we had some bedtime tears (which never ever happens in our house- we are very fortunate in his sleep habits). I am not sure if it was because we were out for a second night, or because we were away from the car (at Alton Lake on portage in to the BWCA), or just because he was extra tired. That was our only autism bump in the road. Otherwise the usual kid whining occured at times, fixed by strategic snacks and distractions.
Finally in late August and early September the weather was warm enough for more expeditions in our new inflateable kayak. We now know Alex can fit in it with an adult, and a dog or second little kid. It is a bit of extra work to add the dog or another kid, but well worth it. We started with short trips, then added long trips with snacks on board, and finally cut the snacks to only at rest breaks. He is taking the whitewater like a champ, and has now been on board for class II+ and III-. Yeah, it has been a good summer!
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