Trip Diary

Sunday: We're off and running...no, we're not. The van has died. In Grandma's driveway. Let's hope she doesn't come home right now. Dad has walked off home, back through the rain to get the car.

We have arrived at the local waterhole...and the van has died again. Dad's taken off in the blue car to go get a battery.

Okay, here's the scene: Three INCHES of mud in the driveway. Pouring rain. Packing the contents of a large van into two rather small cars, cutting out what we can along the way so that it all fits in.

I wound up leaving an entire bag at home so that we would have more room. I, Mom, Dad, Whisper (shaking on the floor) and Spritey (bouncing in Mom's lap on the front seat) are in the red car. Anna and Sara drove the blue.

So, NOW we're off.

Monday:

Spritey is losing her third coat (as evidenced by the seat she was in yesterday). When Spritey begins to lose her third coat, she can completely cover a chair in a matter of minutes with the loose stuff.

Why Spritey couldn't have lost her third coat earlier is anyone's guess. She's been miserable all summer because of it.

Whisper, however, has already covered the campsite with holes (she loves to dig.)

Tuesday:

Went to see the butterflies (Monarchs down by a point on the lake.) Dad got lost trying to get there, then we spent an hour driving towards the point.

There were hardly any butterflies, thanks to the wind, but there were BURRS in the woods, and boy, did Spritey and Whisper catch them. I spent a good 15 minutes pulling them out of Spritey's fur and still didn't get them all.

Wednesday:

In the process of brushing Spritey's fur out, Anna discovered burrs in between her toes, stuck in the fur of her paws. Very difficult to get them out, and to top it all off, Whisper had them, too.

Supposed to rain tonight. We'll see.

We laid out on the beach for awhile in the warm sun, and Spritey chased me all over the place when I tried to run off, outran me, and then nipped me in the ankles for running away. No leaving the herd for me.

Thursday:

Pouring, pouring, pouring rain. We're going to Newberry and we're taking the dogs. Mom wants to do laundry and Sara wants to go to a restaurant.

Had a good dinner and we came back in the dark. Mom decided that we absolutely needed to find her nightshirt and her book, both of which Anna managed to lose. I had no earthly idea where they were, but somehow wound up being the one having to LOOK for all these lost things when I was cold and tired and wanting to go to bed and get warm. I lost my temper.

Friday:
Freezing today. Spritey has taken up a new habit-shoving her nose into the dirt and pushing it around. Amusing as hell. Took video of it earlier, and then Mom dropped buckwheat pancake batter and Spritey decided to bury it. I got video of that, too. Will post it when I get home.

Those videos are here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzwrTdyxwKk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAom5e548c0

Saturday: Bloody weather. You wouldn't know it was August today, thanks to the FREEZING cold we're experiencing. We went out to the point today, and the only time I was really warm (in two sweatshirts and a T-shirt, no less) was when I was sitting fully in the sun.

Nice fossils this year; Dad had to crowbar a rock apart to get the good stuff out of it.

We went to Seney Wildlife Refuge tonight (save Sara) because it was so cold. Saw swans, ducks, and even a beaver. Got back so late we couldn't see two feet in front of our faces and had to use the pit toilet in the pitch dark. Fun, fun, fun...

Sunday:

Packed up this morning. Red car wouldn't start. Dad borrowed a pair of jumper cables, got it going, and then didn't turn it off all the way home, fearing that if he did, it wouldn't start again.

Got home and now I'm tired, so good night.

Ta,
Bec