Alaska: Day 2--Getting Settled

I didn't know that Loon Lake has only a handful or two of campsites, even less on the water. So we thought it was pretty cool that not only did we get a campsite on the lake (it's first come, first served), we got the exact same spot that we had two years ago.

Jared, Jake and Cooper worked on setting up the tent while we unloaded the van. First thing I did though, being so close to the lake, was put Karcyn's life jacket on her. This picture was taken about five minutes after I did that. *sigh* This was an ominous preview of things to come.

What Karcyn really needed was a padded bodysuit. This girl is a full-fledged klutz! She trips over air and linoleum! Let alone a campsite with tons of rocks and protruding tree roots. She didn't stand a chance at this campground. Fortunately though, she is tough. She takes huge spills and doesn't cry. Just grimaces and rubs her sore spot then moves on before she topples again. Good thing she's low to the ground. In her defense though, we all tripped over the tree roots and stumps. None of us took a face plant into the dirt and mud like she did though.

Here's our little bear cub, Calvin. He was an angel! So easy to care for and so easy to please. Between the lake and the campfire, camping with a 3 month old is much easier than camping with a 2 year old, I've discovered.

After we were settled, Jacob and Cooper wanted Jared to rig their fishing poles so they could practice casting into the lake. Jake had just gotten his pole and trotted over to the edge of the lake and voila! With his first cast, the end of his line landed in a bush! Of course. So....Jared went to go rescue it. And Grandpa had to help.

Five minutes later, they're still at it and I'm thinking "is it really worth it, Guys?" I mean really, it's a $2 lure.

(Two minutes after that...) Fine. Don't listen to me. I don't care if you get wet. In fact, I hope you do. It would serve you right.

Unfortunately for my viewing pleasure, the guys managed to stay on shore. Miraculously. And though they made more of an effort than need be, the lure could not be rescued. So Grandpa got in the canoe to reach it from the lake side. However, the bow of the canoe got high-centered and as he was rocking it to get it to slide into the water, the canoe, with him inside it, completely flipped over into the lake. My dad was soaked from head to toe and the canoe was full of Dolly Varden Lake water. Fortunately Dad was a good sport about it (he knew the outcome of his rocking might not be good). Unfortunately his $300 digital camera got ruined in the process. However, on the up side of things...Dad was excited to report that the water was actually a pleasant temperature.

I guess the lure just didn't want to be saved.