Wednesday, July 4, 2001

We were awakened by a spirited, yet untalented rendition of the Star Spangled Banner over the camp public address system. We stumbled on down for pancakes and sausage before morning chapel.

After chapel, the girls hit the archery range and Alex went to the climbing wall.

The girls all had fun shooting at the targets and balloons, although most balloons' lives were spared (Garry hit one - strictly by pure luck).

The climbing wall is a 40-foot wooden structure with three climbing sides.  The beginner's side features an incline to ease the initial part of the climb.  The experienced side is vertical.  The advanced side has a reverse incline that climbers must scale.

Alex took a shot at the vertical wall without too much success. He then opted for the inclined wall and made it all the way to the vertical face for the first time - quite a success.

We ate a quick lunch of submarine sandwiches and headed to the beach. The temperature hit 75, although the brisk wind chilled you out of the water. The first part of the afternoon was blob time. Garry served as the designated blobber sending many skyward. Alex hit the high mark for the afternoon easily clearing 12 feet. He landed a bit hard, losing hit balance in mid air. He toughed it out, though and still enjoyed the water for the afternoon. It was Mom's day on the blob, so all of the family camper moms spent some fly time courtesy of their husbands. Arlona enjoyed the last blob of the afternoon, nearly reaching Alex's level.

After swimming, the girls went for a trail ride through the camp. 

Alex, Arlona & Garry checked out the high ropes course. New this year, the course features several rope-based obstacles perched about 25 feet off the ground. Participants are harnesses, so it is perfectly safe, but still, you are 25 feet off the ground. There is a second level under construction that is nearly 40 feet high.

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The kid's dinner started at 5pm tonight. They had pizza on the deck and were all entertained by the camp staff. The adult family campers enjoyed a quiet, private banquet with cheese & crackers, punch, salad, rice, bowtie paste and chicken cordon bleu. Candles on every table and an attentive wait staff made for a very nice evening.

After evening chapel, it was off to Cadillac for fireworks. The kids had fun with sparklers and just running around. The camp picked up 30 pizzas and we all munched way too much. The fireworks went from 10:30pm until almost 11pm. A late bedtime for all meant sleep came quickly.

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This page last updated on Wednesday, July 11, 2001 06:45:02 PM