MudNCrud Forums
Climbing and ... Climbing => Everywhere Else => Topic started by: Brad Young on July 27, 2012, 02:44:36 PM
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Sometimes life hands you lemons. And the best laid plans of mice and men (according to John Steinbeck) sometimes go awry. And on this trip our plans did go awry, at least somewhat. We didn't get ten days on the trail; because of a reawakened injury in Katie's left knee, we got "only" five. And we hiked "only" a little over 50 miles too, instead of over 130.
But they were five days in the heart of the High Sierra, among some of the most magnificent scenery on earth. We stuck together and explored the trail some more. We ate well (as we tried some new foods), enjoyed the views and talked and read and did crosswords (three of us working on two at a time). Katie (the strong, strong-willed teenager) and I (the incorrigible dad) feuded some. We even laughed a bunch (but, really, on this last subject, should a father draw the line when one daughter makes the other laugh so hard that pudding comes out her nose?).
As we drove down Highway 395 we worried a little about thunderheads building up over the crest. No-one likes to get soaked and cold while hiking. This is what we saw as we drove up to Horseshoe Meadow:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8286/7657331888_f3cc078c79_c.jpg)
But it wasn't raining when we parked, only sprinkling, so we got going at 1:30 with the best of hopes:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7657336214_c81da17eb3_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8282/7657342130_0046f6b93e_c.jpg)
The 3.8 mile hike to Cottonwood Pass was actually nicer (cooler) because of the clouds. We got periodic cloudbursts, but they gave way to sun and we dried out immediately. Once at Cottonwood we were back on the PCT:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7657345760_7946e37ba4_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8148/7657348746_46234f4afb_c.jpg)
It's a short distance from Cottonwood to Chicken Springs Lake. Once there we got truly pounded, first by rain and then by hail (at least the hail doesn't soak in):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7657353214_db22c60d63_c.jpg)
Then came a decision that may have affected the rest of the trip. Less than five miles isn't a long way into a hundred-mile plus trip. So, do we make camp at the lake or do we continue on knowing it's almost nine miles to the next certain water? With some daylight left and energy too, we decided to move on:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7657354360_7b6c7a0318_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7657355198_2b159b474f_c.jpg)
That last view is out over a plateau called "Siberian Outpost," and the map shows some streams and tarns that we'd pass. We thought there'd be at least a slight chance of water, but because of the low-snow year, the whole area was bone dry. So we took our lumps and kept moving.
The hiking was easy, but soon the light started fading and then it was dark. We kept at it with headlamps, but Katie started to fall behind me and Tricia. We'd wait and she'd catch up. Finally, at about the fourth "wait," I asked Katie what was wrong: "My knee is killing me," she said. Oh. Shit. That's not good.
In 2009 Katie hurt her knee when the left side of a trail collapsed and left her involuntarily in the splits. We thought she'd healed. Then, last September she had to sit out the first few weeks of volleyball because the same knee acted up. We thought that had healed too. We did a 43 mile family backpack in April and she was fine (but that didn't have very much up and down movement). We'd even taped the knee before we started this trip using a special tape in order to give extra support "just in case." And now, here we are 11 miles out, and two more mandatory miles to go to water, and her knee is killing her.
Well, we made it to "camp." In the dark, still damp, tired and hurt. The girls set up the tent by headlamp in the only flat spot we could find, and I got water. Here's a photo of where we camped that I took by the cloudy light of the next morning:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7246/7658791544_483ec2fcfa_c.jpg)
It had been a tough hike, but we'd expected that. Setting up camp and cooking and eating were chores, not pleasures, but we knew that might be the case when we decided to go on; and we got it done. We'd finally gotten back on the trail, well set up for the planned nine more days in the heart of the Sierra. But were we really? I don't think I slept more than an hour that night from exhaustion, and, obviously, from worry: here we were 13 miles into the wilderness but in weather that was unpleasant at best, and, critically, with an injured 16 year old. The question went through and through my mind: What to do from here?
I could only wait until morning when we could decide.
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cliffhanger!!!??? :o
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We even laughed a bunch (but, really, on this last subject, should a father draw the line when one daughter makes the other laugh so hard that pudding comes out her nose?).
i'm kinda diggin' the cliffhanger.
if you guys laughed that hard i'd call the outing a success...well at least while the suspense builds...insert JAWS music here...
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As always I woke up before the girls and had breakfast. I either needed the coffee I drank, or I didn't need it, I'm still not sure which (I was bone tired and I desperately needed the caffeine, but I was utterly/totally wired and stressed too, and so I didn't need it).
I wanted to make sure that Katie slept in since she's a teenager and needs the sleep. I waited under clouds that covered three-quarters of the sky and which extended well to the west (although the night had been crystal clear). Eventually the girls were up and getting ready:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7658931278_291cb035df_c.jpg)
As they continued to wake up we started talking about options. Katie's knee was stiff and it hurt enough to know it wasn't well, but that was no surprise. It was dark and cloudy too and so we knew we were in for something less than perfect weather. Going 122 more miles to Lake Thomas Edison was out of the question. But neither girl wanted to hike back out to Horseshoe Meadow either (and neither did I). We talked about two options: going another forty-something miles to exit at Kearsarge Pass, or going eighty-something more miles to exit at Bishop Pass.
Eventually we decided to "make Lemonade." We'd cut back the mileage and nurse it along to Kearsarge and then call it a trip. We started packing (and I started a daily process of transferring weight from Katie's pack to mine):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8008/7658932182_c455bffb78_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7658933184_28e83b810d_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8027/7658934344_e35cd5220c_c.jpg)
On our April backpack with Vicki we saw no other people in the San Rafael wilderness for over 3 1/2 days. The Sierra isn't so "uncrowded," and this morning I let this popularity work in our favor. I was able to give notes to two outbound parties letting Vicki know we'd be out early and where. And letting Dave and the crew know not to bring in the extra food (and the messages got through).
The first mile of the hike was very pleasant and easy along Rock Creek. We then humped up to Guyot Creek and then started up Guyot Pass. Along the way we played the "rain shells or not" game. At one point even I put on my shell. But every shower was followed by some sun, which dried us out:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7658941914_2c1918fb5c_c.jpg)
Katie's knee was definitely hurting, but we able to keep a decent pace. We made it to Crabtree Camp, a staging area for climbing Mount Whitney from the west:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7658943858_371628973c_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/7658945426_cf36bc6c0b_c.jpg)
I'd never seen the view from here east to Mounts Russell and Whitney:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7658944584_17b0028329_c.jpg)
We decided on four more miles to make camp at Wallace Creek. This remaining hike was relatively flat and was made under clearing skies. We passed the point where the PCT and JMT join up:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8283/7658947126_69f1a79010_c.jpg)
Wallace Creek was very pleasant, if crowded. We made camp in dry, warm, clear and daylight conditions. Very pleasant indeed:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7658948348_4fb94e6cf1_c.jpg)
Dinner was good and we went to sleep shortly after dark. Katie's knee was definitely hurt, but no worse and she was clear that she could keep up this pace. The night was calm and totally clear. Except for Tricia's sharp little elbow poking me now and then as she moved in her sleep, I slept well. Things were looking up.
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i love the way you're posting it in installments.
all those clouds...geez...seems like you are hitting it pretty well so far...
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The installments thing is so that I can load photos from one day at time onto Flickr (otherwise the process of pasting the photos that are then stored in Flickr is much slower).
Plus right now I'm trying to peek a bit at the opening ceremonies.
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Wow
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I've been having some trouble uploading photos to Flickr and so I can only post these reports slowly. But they'll be nearly done after this one.
Our third day dawned crystal clear and with Sierra-blue skies. We'd chosen our campsite well; it got sun relatively early. Breakfast and visiting with our (very nice) near neighbors was followed by packing and a discussion of how far to go that day:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7659676936_af5b52c3e5_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7659680366_69e34f9e6d_c.jpg)
Both girls knew that the highest pass in the Sierra Nevada was coming up. Both knew it would be work, and we all knew that Katie would have to take the down side of the pass slowly and carefully. Would we cross the pass that day, ensuring easier days ahead, or would we leave it for tomorrow?
Luckily the first several miles of the day's hike were relatively flat. They were also incredibly "viewful."
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7659681076_4a4607a9fb_c.jpg)
We crossed the amazingly flat Bighorn Plateau:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7661758802_61b3664b3e_c.jpg)
Very quickly we reached Tyndall Creek where a long and gradual ascent starts to Forester Pass:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7134/7661760544_e6403137a4_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/7661764350_a5ca6da644_c.jpg)
We passed tree line and ate lunch overlooking the Tyndall Creek drainage, Mount Tyndall and the Diamond Mesa:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7661768684_da701432d0_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7661763630_9e1a104187_c.jpg)
We arrived very quickly and early at the base of Forester's switchbacks. The decision was easy: we'd do the pass, take it very easy on the way down and bivy at the first place we could find:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7661777222_d8e48e4c12_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7661786378_9e4354e35f_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8166/7661783998_8a3d3a33ed_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7661785460_f4da337150_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7661788538_dcb7b6b8ee_c.jpg)
At the top we stopped and rested. Of course we weren't alone; the group of young men with whom we shared the pass were very nice, good kids indeed. They took a true interest as I told Tricia (now age 10) about my favorite Sierra Nevada flower: Polemonium ("Sky Pilot"). A fresh sample of the flower was growing right there next to the trail. Tricia carefully smelled the intense, intriguing smell of the flower and then she pronounced it "like Lupine, but better." Katie followed course (although it wasn't new to her - she'd seen and smelled Polemonium on Whitney years before). Then the young men, one at a time, went and smelled the flower too. Their eyes showed their surprise and delight as they too experienced this special bloom.
Anyone that says young people nowadays are not "like they used to be" hasn't been around enough young people. One of the young men was waiting at the top of the pass for his mom and sister, who were coming up from the north. Eventually he decided to descend to help his sister with her pack. Having learned of Katie's knee issue, he politely and gallantly took her pack down with him. He left it nearly half a mile below the pass as he then took his sister's pack and started back uphill. Katie got to do the steepest part of the descent with no extra weight.
The first and best place to camp turned out to be about two miles north of the pass at the headwaters of Bubbs Creek:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7661796832_7d6bff1256_c.jpg)
One very persistent marmot in particular shared our camp. Tricia made sure he didn't get into our stuff. But he was around enough that I hung our (empty) packs from a nearby cliff to prevent nibbled straps:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/7661809176_bf4de54c11_c.jpg)
We ate (again with daylight) and read until dark. (As can be seen, Tricia isn't' a real fan of lasagna):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7661812218_7647073e77_c.jpg)
This brought to an end a truly great day, one in which Katie had to push herself through some pain, and did so without complaint. A day in which I got to see Tricia beam as people slogging up Forester Pass looked at her with astonishment and asked her age. And yet another day that I got to spend in wild country with my two girls.
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The installments thing is so that I can load photos from one day at time onto Flickr (otherwise the process of pasting the photos that are then stored in Flickr is much slower).
Plus right now I'm trying to peek a bit at the opening ceremonies.
i was actually being serious for a change - i like the suspense!
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awesome job of posting and storytelling Brad.
I just wanted to add a little more flavor...
no doubt there will be HELL to pay at the crags next weekend :)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50265301466_4e02b4122e.jpg)
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John, John, John. You've got to buy a few more kids, you just don't know how it works. It's not the shirt that gets that reaction, it's the short shorts.
And, actually, I wouldn't be caught dead in a shirt that open if I wasn't in the mountains. There it's a ventilation thing (the whole purpose of having on a button shirt at all).
EDIT: And, oh yes, we'll do some of the penalty slack thing next weekend. You'll be thrilled.
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Our camp on Bubbs Creek didn't get early sun and so the first part of the morning was fairly cold (lots of clothes were in order):
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7664308694_70436ed9a4_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/7664311626_a60dd80b00_c.jpg)
Once we got going the day was fun and relatively easy. The whole Center Basin/upper Bubbs Creek area is wonderful. Views upstream to the Forester Pass area are matched by views of East Vedette (a name that Tricia in particular seemed to like):
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7664318040_a20ef3025d_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7664323430_8dc60890eb_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7664328530_3deb7dceb7_c.jpg)
As planned we met Dave, Bart and Jerome. We visited for quite some time. Then Dave started hiking on, and dumb move on my part, I only then thought of photo of the girls with them (so Dave's not in the photo):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7664333506_4e0c517af6_c.jpg)
The climb out of the canyon was hot, but it afforded good views:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7664338808_01e12945cb_c.jpg)
We found a nice place to camp not so far from Bullfrog Lake and passed the afternoon reading, doing crosswords and taking in the views:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7664340060_c81f460336_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7664345718_14e9c54c3b_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7664355860_4c559c4e1b_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7664365894_1a17859032_c.jpg)
It was at this camp that "the pudding incident" occurred. But I caught only the aftermath since I'd walked up the trail for a few minutes with the camera in my pocket:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7664361346_812319aa96_c.jpg)
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Our fifth day involved about a mile on the PCT itself before we exited on the Kearsarge Pass trail. We met a couple at the trail junction who were short on water. Tricia happily shared a quarter of our water with them (and made a good deposit in our karma bank):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7665295796_74c9d47c78_c.jpg)
More pretty pictures resulted from more pretty views (this time across Bullfrog Lake toward Junction Peak):
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8432/7665297462_4c25fbac29_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8141/7665299250_4ee0719712_c.jpg)
At ten years old she's pretty self-sufficient in the outdoors. At some point do I become superfluous?
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8425/7665301448_f6b40b1cc4_c.jpg)
Kearsarge Pass and the trail out passed fairly quickly, although the 2,500 feet of elevation loss played hell with Katie's knee pain and made us truly glad we'd called a halt where and when we did:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7665305724_6bceb8534c_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/7665306568_515a10706b_c.jpg)
After a long hike we like to eat out (who doesn't?). Katie has the legendary Young family capacity for food:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7665310326_b099fbde3f_c.jpg)
And both girls wanted donuts (I swear we usually eat very healthy foods, and why Vic and Katie picked up a whole dozen of them is beyond me… and yes, I ate my share):
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7665312590_280d08b906_c.jpg)
And so ended a good trip, one that, had it been all that we planned on doing, would have been great. Unfortunately it's the only hike that we'll be able to do on the PCT for 2012. We have already made an appointment for Katie with the only orthopedic surgeon anywhere near here that I trust (for answers at this point, and a diagnosis and options for making it better). She's 16 and a knee is fixable and should fully recover.
And then there will be 2013.
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tremendous!
glad to get the trip report early, but bummed you didn't get the full mileage. Quite good lemonade I'd say.
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Hilarious!
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t395/JCwKCredux/Bradandgirls.jpg)
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Great read Brad and from a picture's perspective, one of the best thus far. Made more so by only 3 weeks ago making my way up Russell and spending the day looking right towards that trail and the wonder of, "what trail is out there". Great vistas and you truly did make lemonade from lemons.
Marc
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Love it! (Except for the cranky knee part)
I can't believe how much bigger Tricia is since April!!
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Great work, family Young! I know this section of the PCT pretty well and greatly respect what you accomplished.
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Great TR, Brad!! Another wonderful installment of the Young Family Chronicles! Sounds like you certainly made the most of the time you did have out there and glad to hear that it wasn't worse for Katie. And Tricia and Katie -- they are so fortunate to have these experiences with their Dad at this time in their lives -- they are inspirational in so many ways.
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This almost makes me want to go hiking. alllllllmost.
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Thanks, Jewelz. BTW, Cruxluv is right, Tricia is growing like a weed. But since you and Shawn haven't found time to come up and climb since Memorial weekend, you wouldn't have seen that now would you? And what's with the non-climbing? Should we make an offer on buying your rack?
And Kevin: We can train you to hike, and to carry big loads long distances. Let us know when you are ready.
On a more serious note, the orthopedic has ordered an MRI and Katie also starts physical therapy in the morning (although is it torture to start a teenager at 7:30 in the morning since that is "the only opening they've got?"). In general her joints are kind of loose and the MRI should show more (if there is more to see).
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Still following the Family Youngs adventures. ;D
Hope it all turns out.
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I have done a bit of PT and it is either love or torture.
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Oh, I was trained. My father was a field herpetologist before he ended up teaching the same in the ivory towers. Every year until I was 14 or so was either Death Valley or Tahoe Rim Trail. Now that I'm aid soloing more, I've gotten used to carrying massive soul-destroying loads in a haulbag up scree and loose trails. Dixie has gotten used to receiving phone calls from me on the approach saying that I want to quit. She usually lets me pant a bit (or maybe i'm sobbing) and then tells me to touch the start of the climb at least, then I can quit at that point.
I got a bit too much of backpacking when I was young because my father was more of a stoic slave driver than the caring companion you seem to be to your children on the trail. Now hiking is a means to an end for me; if there's no climbing at the end, I feel cheated.
Hell I went to the Pinnacles twice a year every year in my youth where my father would hike us from the East Side campground, over the peaks, and to the West Side and then back again. Every once in awhile we'd pass some climbers that my dad called "a selfish user group." Little did I know, I'd grow up to be one of them.
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I got a bit too much of backpacking when I was young because my father was more of a stoic slave driver than the caring companion you seem to be to your children on the trail.
Do us both a favor and never, ever, say this in front of my oldest daughter Katie. If you said this in front of her we'd both be withered by her instantly in a single "if looks could kill" moment.
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LOL.
As much as I have a lasting distaste for backpacking, I've thankful now that time has passed for the experiences that my father put me through. No doubt, yours will have an even greater appreciation.
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Katie and I met with her orthopedic today to talk about the MRI results. The news was mostly good; she's definitely got a left knee problem, and it is a residual of that fall in 2009. But it's not surgical. Instead the problem comes from a kneecap that isn't tracking properly due to injury. It's not too uncommon and it's fixable with physical therapy and, then, home exercises. She's already been doing the exercises daily. The doctor was optimistic.
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Work's wrapped up, we're 80% packed and scheduled to leave on Monday. Brian and Whitney are going to drive us over to Onion Valley and hike over Kearsarge Pass with us. Katie has been in PT for her knee, we've got her hiking poles and a knee brace designed to push the muscle that's the problem back into place as she walks. We're thinking lower milage (102 miles in 9 days). We've got the whole weekend to finish packing and to relax.
I'm hoping for the best and looking forward to more fun, laughs, beauty and miles on the PCT with my two girls.
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Have a good trip
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Awesome and enjoy yourself and the time.
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Have a good trip.
Are you bringing any guide books?
You never know.
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Have fun! Just got back from a trip to the Sierra backpacking for several days. But for the smoke from the fire, it was a great time to be in the backcountry.
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Got our permit today, and the weather is looking less and less "thunderstormy."
Where'd you go?
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Dinkey Lakes
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Dinkey Lakes
I didn't know where that is, but I looked it up: you were just south of our intended end-point at Lake Thomas Edison.
Was this your annual trip with your uncle?
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Great that you are all officially permitted now.
Fingers crossed that the weather cooperates - I'm sure you guys will have a blast!
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I didn't know where that is, but I looked it up: you were just south of our intended end-point at Lake Thomas Edison.
Was this your annual trip with your uncle?
uncle, dad, cousins, nephews
Hopefully the smoke will stay limited for you. It was pretty smokey where we were. I have a smoker's cough today.
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OK, this morning we're a mix of two old sayings (one for really fast starts and the other for slow):
"1. We're off like a herd of turtles..."
But we're not quite that slow, so mix it with:
"2. We're off like a prom dress,"
and you've got our approximate speed.
Hoping for good luck and that we are not able to communicate with you all for quite some days now.
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