July 2009

Boat Camping at Sly Park:

We went camping with our friends Dan and Kimberly at the scenic Sly Park. This is the first time we have owned a vehicle strong enough to pull the boat uphill and experience boating in another lake. The truck is awsome!! Sly Park is a small lake surrounded by pine trees and a couple campgrounds. We were lucky to have a campground with a view of the lake.

A group picture by the campfire.

Jp and I by our tent. It was facing the lake...we could see our boat while sitting inside the tent.

It's not camping unless Linus is with us. He was not about to be left out of the boating activities we had planned for the afternoon. He looks kind of nervous in this picture...very much in character for our little dog.

Jp, Dan and Kimberly cooling off in the lake. The temperature was divine this particular day. One person had to stay on the boat with Linus at all times so he didn't freak out about being "abandoned". He's afraid of water, even with his neon yellow life vest and it's better to keep him in the boat.

Kimberly getting ready to wake board.

Dan...

Jp in action...

Natalie...
Wakeboarding is a favorite summer pastime for us.

Linus at the end of the day...tuckered out from the heat and excitement from the day. Cute little dog.





Hiking Carson's Pass:
This summer we did a variety of day hikes. This time we went up toward Lake Tahoe and did some hiked Carson's Pass with a group of friends. We were hoping to see meadows of wild flowers that this particualr hike is know for, but didn't quite time it right. Oh well, we had a good time anyway.

This is about the extent of the wild flowers we saw. I think they are still pretty.

Jp and I on the trail.

Snowball fight in July!!

I was the caboose and thought this was a cool picture of everyone on the trail.

Our destination...there was a waterfall on the far side of the lake. It was a pretty site to eat luch at.

Part of the group: Jp, Natalie, Lucy, Joseph, Laurel and Sarah.

Jp's Visit to Japan:

While he was in Japan, he and Greg hiked to the top of Mt Fuji...the highest peak in Japan. They started at 9pm and summitted aproximately 4am. It was a difficult hike, but they both had a great time together. What an accomplishment and experience of a lifetime!!

The map/climbing route...

Jp and Greg almost at the top.

One of the Japanese "Ranger Stations" equipped with bathrooms, a place to sleep if needed and a convience store. One of the major differences between hiking in Japan and the USA.

Jp just starting down from the summit. (Notice he's standing about the clouds.)

Jp holding our nephew Allen.

Gred, Sachiko and Allen.

While Jp was there they took him to a town nearby that was celebrating a local festival with a street parade.