Road Trip-part 4- Twin Harbour State Park

August 7th, we drove to Twin Harbour State Park, near the tiny fishing town of Westport, Washington. The park was huge and after being turned away at the first couple of places we tried, we were greatful for a spot basically right on the ocean. We spent lots of time walking on the beach, throwing the ball for Scout and just soaking up all that is "The Coast!"

This was where I lost my 19 dollar Walmart shoes. They were cheap shoes, but they were the ones I had worn every day the whole trip! I loved them! I thought they were attached to the diaper bag as we walked barefoot on the beach. When I went to get the camera out of the bag, I realized the shoes were gone. They must have fallen off and been swept out to sea! I was dissapointed, but greatful they were just cheap shoes....but on the way back up the beach, Scout found them!! She was chasing her ball when she got distracted by something. As we approached, I discovered she was sniffing my shoes!!!! They were soaking wet and full of sand, but they had washed back on shore!! If only they could talk!! They must have had quite a little adventure!! My shoes were not the only things that washed up on shore while we were exploring the beach. After a bike ride into Westport to check out the fishing boats, and after a yummy dinner made on the camp stove, we went back to walk on the beach before bed. The beach was nearly empty, so when we saw a little bird being tossed around by the surf, I couldn't just stand there and hope someone else would do something! I couldn't stand to see it flop around, gasping for air, trying desperately to fly out of the water.

Right or Wrong, I decided to try to save it!! I handed Ryder to Marty, I stripped off my shoes, rolled up my pants, grabbed Scout's "chuck it" and headed into the water. Damn, it was cold, but for some reason, it didn't bother me the way it had earlier when I was trying to just wade in. I was focused on the little birdie and the huge tumbling waves. I used the chuck it as an extension of my arm, reaching as far into the surf as I could. I couldn't scoop the bird up, but I could use the chuck it to hopefully, gently fling the bird to the dry beach. After several attempts I managed to get the bird on the beach. It hopped around trying to fly, but couldn't quite catch it's breath. Marty and I piled seaweed and sand around three sides of it, creating a wind barrier in hopes to allow it time to recover from it's journey at sea. We talked to the bird and tried to care for it the only way we knew how without actually touching it. We left the beach that night, hoping the bird would miraculously find it's strength and venture into the blue, blue sky....it didn't. The next morning we saw it a few feet from the shelter we had created, resting in peace...poor little guy! Perhaps I should have just left the bird in the water and allowed nature to take it's course, allowed God to carry out his plan. Maybe then, things would have ended differently for this little creature..but I hadn't. My own instincts had taken over and I selfishly needed to "save the bird!" Ugh, I felt soo sad!!

We left the next morning and headed to Tacoma, Washington. We were hoping they'd have a good mall as we were almost out of the USA and had not done any shopping yet. We found a mall, put Scout in the trailer with the Air conditioning blasting in the parking lot and headed inside...disspointment!! The mall wasn't anything special, but we did enjoy our lunch at the food court. After filling our bellies, we headed for Winatchee National Forest and camped at Kachess Lake in the mountains. It was an amazing spot, soo beautiful!!!

We decided to take advantage of the scenery and walk around the lake. It was time for Ryder to attempt being "worn" on my back. My shoulders are in a constant state of fatigue from wearing him on my front...he is just getting soo heavy. Marty helped me strap him in the Baby Hawk, on my back and as he was leashing Scout a jet passed overhead. The jet was super close and super LOUD!!!! The noise scared Ryder and he lost his mind..I lost mine too as he was on my back, too far away for me to hold him close and console him. I frantically undid the straps and scooted him around front so I could hug and hold him. Once he had calmed down, Marty insisted I try the back carry again. We didn't get very far before Ryder began protesting...he just wasn't happy or ready to be back there. I was determined to finish our walk, but I had to admit Ryder was just too heavy to carry in my arms over tree roots and stumps for that long. Marty suggested I kind of balance him in the baby hawk, facing out, just to help take some of the "load" off my arms..I did, but I wasn't happy about it. I love "wearing" Ryder, but we are at that in between stage, where he is too heavy for the front, but not ready to be worn on my back.

After Ryder went to bed inside the trailer, Marty and I enjoyed our first fire of the whole trip. For us Albertans, it was weird to not even feel like having a fire most nights as it was just too hot. That NEVER happens when camping in Alberta. EVery night a campfire is a must have. NOt just for the yummy s'mores that almost always get cooked over the fire, but to keep warm! We had a couple drinks, listened to the Hag, on the ipod stero and shared our favorite parts of the trip so far. I had not had the opportunity to shower for three days now and still we had not located a campsite with running water!!! I went to bed, after that smokey fire in desperate need of a shower!!!!

We left Kachess Lake at 9:30am and arrived at Petaros at 12:15. We had lunch in a park by the lake and cuddled with Scout.

After lunch, we learned there were no campsites in Petaros. We actually decided to backtrack half an hour to Chelan Lake as we heard that was an amazing place to camp....only to discover there was no vacancy anywhere!!! We decided we had no choice but to push on until we came to a place that had camping, hopefully before the Canadian Border....We hit Omak, but it was their stampede weekend, so the place was a zoo and ofcorse no camping left!! We stopped there long enough to feed Ryder and have a quick snack ourselves. We arrived at Osoyoos Lake State Park, at 8:20pm. They had vacancy and I finally got to have a shower!

This was one of those campgrounds where everyone is pretty close together, but it is right on a lake so I could see the appeal of the families that obviously came here for a whole week or two to boat and swim and tube! The weather was beautiful and the showers were awesome!!!

In the morning, we'd head for Canada!!!!