Last of the Fly of Despair

Today's last mad dash to get Michelle and company to camp for the summer:

First, get the jeep out of the trailer, get the battery installed and see if the whole things works again. I asked the boys to get it out of the trailer last night, but that didn't happen. I did get it out, got the battery installed (added a twig to the little bag of tools needed to install the battery) and it runs. Michelle had to start it -- I don't drive the thing so I don't know how -- and then Isaac tested it and it seems to be running fine, which is a relief.

Second, shopping. That wasn't on my list of things to do, but it was on Michelle's so I tagged along. Good thing I did as we ended up filling two carts of groceries for her COPE and climbing crew's training week.

She had more shopping to do, but plans on doing it on her own.

Third, the trailer the jeep was in needed new tires last year, so we took it to Big O for new tires. I stayed there while the boys took Isaac's truck to Kevin for another look at the transmission. He and Michelle were hauling the camper up to camp Wednesday night and made it as far as St. Anthony before he discovered his transmission was really hot and leaking. So we'll have to see what's going on with that.

Tires done, we took the trailer home, loaded the jeep, and then got some of Michelle's food for the week packed up along with some other gear, and Isaac is off to camp for the weekend, while Michelle finishes up a short work day and then will head up tonight. Isaac took the jeep trailer, making that two trips for the 21-year-old Honda Pilot up north for the week.

I hope all goes well. I hope they settle in and have an enjoyable summer. I hope all I hear is good news. I hope a lot.

Helmet Beardo

Today Michelle and two of her climbing staffers went to Island Park Scout Camp so the Order of the Arrow could use the zipline. They needed an easily-trainable warm body at the base of the tower to hand out helmets and harnesses and control traffic into the tower, so I went along.

I made that helmet look good.

But wow, that beard. I need to trim it. But I try to do so in the mirror, and I'm not all that coordinated with a mirrored image.

 

Pete's Puddle has the Best Sunsets

Michelle sent me this photo today of the sunset blossoming over Pete's Puddle, the lake at Island Park Scout Camp.

I wish I were there tonight.

Not for the noise and hubbub of camp, but for the little peaceful moments like this that help you see that even hot, dusty, unsheltered places like Island Park Scout Camp does have its beauty. And thus does the world.

Over for Another Year

 

Yesterday I drove up to Island Park to tow the utility trailer home, marking the (almost) end of the Island Park Scout Camp season for my family. I say almost because Michelle will head up there for two (or possibly) three days to assist with groups wanting to use the camp's zipline.

It's nice to have them home, though it does mean that I again have to start maintenance and repair work on the camper again. Not looking forward to that. Still trying to track down an elusive roof leak in the rear bathroom area. I've also decided this fall I'm going to remove the water pump so we don't lose another one. I think the one we had in there before -- only about two or three years old -- got zapped by a sudden freeze that came after Michelle had the camper up in Island Park for the season. It's always dicey to think summer is going to come there as soon as it comes here in the valley.

I've also got to spend some time tinkering with her jeep brakes, as they failed completely after a fellow camper drove it around with the emergency brake on. I suspect some cooked brake pads, but I'll have to take a closer look.