Wow, can't believe it's been almost a month since I last blogged! I've been away at Fir Point Bible camp (will blog about that later) and then visiting my folks in Grants Pass. Yesterday mom and I returned from camping at McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in Northern California. We only stayed two nights, but it was so nice. My sister Carrie and her family met us and shared their RV with us. First thing we did when arriving, Nick (who was with us because he'd been helping Grandpa clear brush around the pond for the past couple weeks) and Katherine (who is going to spend the next couple weeks with the Juchau family while I work at Fir Point again) went around to all the empty campsites to glean leftover firewood. We found several bags of kindling, newspaper, lighter fluid, matches and three big logs! It was enough to have a nice fire to roast wieners and toast marshmallows over. It even lasted through to the next morning, so we warmed sausages and toast up over the coals. 
The falls were beautiful and we learned so much. Down at the base of the pool it was a pleasant 65 degrees, and Carrie, the kids and I hiked down the first night we were there. It got dark fast, though, and we almost didn't make it back to our campsite before it was pitch black!
The next morning, we had pancakes and bacon (thanks to the RV stove) with cantaloupe and hot cocoa. As we walked back to explore the falls, we passed by an amphitheater where the Jr. Ranger program was in progress. We joined Taylor, a Biology student from St. Louis, MO, who was talking about the Native Americans who lived in this area long ago. They made flour by grinding acorns and poured boiling water through it to take away the bitter taste.
Then they'd add berries for flavor (some of the native berries we found and tasted along the trails included currants, skunk berries, salmon berries, thimble berries, manzanita berries and gooseberries). The native people didn't have pots, but they wove tight baskets and dropped fire-heated rocks into the water to instantly boil it. Taylor also shared about some medicinal herbs and vegetation that the native peoples used.The ranger talk ended with the kids all playing some games that the native children might have played. They took turns blind-folding and spinning one child while the others spread out in the nearby forest. The blinded child in the center would call out for everyone to take one step closer to him or her, and he or she would listen and try to point out where she heard someone stepping. If the center child points at you, you're out! Some of the girls got smart and took their shoes off so they could walk very quietly in the pine needle underbrush. I'm sure this game taught both listening and tracking skills to the native kids.
After the kids got their Jr. Ranger booklets stamped and each received a cool badge, we headed to the falls to hike the 1.2 mile Falls Trail Loop. On the way down to the splash pool we saw black swifts, little sea birds that nest behind the falls in the summer who entertained us with acrobatic flying they use to catch insects. The falls themselves were absolutely beautiful - two big falls from the stream above, plus a myriad of little rivulets from underground streams that flow straight out of the cliff face.
We followed the stream bed for awhile and then crossed over a neat bridge and started the climb back up to the top of the falls. Another bridge over the stream at the top of the falls brought us back to the visitor's center, which had lots of info about native wildlife in the park. Back at camp, we ate sandwiches and then headed down to the nearby Lake Britton for a swim. The water was cold, but pleasant enough that only the first few minutes were shocking. Everyone on the beach at the swim area was pleasant - mostly families and the kids all played together pretty well.
After dark, we sang campfire songs and Emma read a spooky ghost story while the fire died down. The next morning we packed up camp and Emma, Katherine and I headed over for the Jr. Ranger activity: plaster casts of animal prints. Taylor shared a great bunch of info on what you can tell about an animal based on it's foot/paw/hoof/claw print. We learned about mountain lions, bears, skunk, badger, squirrel, eagle, otters and many other animals. Before saying goodbye to Katherine, the two of us hiked a short trail to find the Pacific Crest Trail logo to complete our "Discovery Quest" and earn a patch. We also had to track down a few park staff for signatures, but we did it!
I miss all my kids now, and my best friend in the whole world - my husband. I'm so blessed and I'm very thankful for this break from the kids and time to just soak up and bask in God's amazing creation. But being away from loved ones has made my heart yearn for them even more and appreciate them, too. God, please care for my family while I'm away and bring us all safely back together.
