July 8, 2011

This blog is intended to be a journal of our trip to Utah, so that I don't have to rely on memory when I get around to creating the scrapbook for the trip. You are welcome to come along for the trip, just keep in mind that I am writing for my memory!

Friday, July 1, 2011
We arrived at Lickdale Campground mid-afternoon for our traditional Other Family Camp Out (OFCO). Camping this year were Rick, Deb and Haley; Mother and Dad Koelsch; Pete, Regi, Ryan and Buddy; and Abbie, Jeff, Maggie and Kota in the brand-new tent Abbie got for Jeff for his birthday. When we arrived, only Abbie and Jeff were not yet there.

Pete and Rick went together to do a Low Country Boil for dinner - something that Rick fell in love with in Tybee Island, Georgia. The weather was beautiful, and we enjoyed a campfire and s'mores after dinner.

Saturday, July 2, 2011
Saturday was 'family day' - something we started for those who could not camp for the weekend but still wanted to be involved. This is usually when we do a planned community dinner (the rest of the meals, with the exception of last night's dinner, are either on own or impromptu covered dishes). Mom and Dad Mohr, and Patti and Heidi came for the day. We had a potluck lunch without meatloaf and without pierogies (teasing!!!) That left the afternoon for whatever anyone wanted to do. Abbie and Heidi went back to Abbie's house to move her piano out (sold it), and the rest of us sat and tried not to be hot (warm day, starting to get humid), and chatted. Ryan and Heidi rented pedal bikes for 1/2 hour and toured the campground. Most of us decided to go to the store for ice cream for dinner. We enjoyed a good campfire and played Balderdash.

Saturday night we woke up to rain, and didn't think a whole lot of it. I woke up sometime later to hear Haley scratching at her door and whining to come out after we heard thunder, so Rick got up to let her out. She was happy when she could be up in the bedroom with us. Sometime later I heard my phone 'pop' indicating a text. That was about 3:35 am. Here is the text message exchange for the next hour:
Abbie: We are in the car waiting this one out. BIG bolts!
Abbie: Thinking about going home to sleep and then coming back in the morning, but we aren't sure.
Deb: What does the radar show?
Abbie: A long line of storms not moving. They seem to be moving northeat, which would explain the storms starting a while ago and not ending.
Deb: What time did they start? I didn't look at the time.
Abbie: 12:50. I came out during the first sprinkles to bring everything in. 2:50 we came out to the car.
Abbie: Radar shows storms moving south to southeast.
Deb: I'd say come on over - but it would be a mess with the dogs...
Abbie: Yea, it would be.
Abbie: And the dogs were being SO good tonight! No barking! Even now in the car they are just sleeping.
Deb: Of course!
Abbie: Wish I had my camera! These bolts are amazing!
Deb: Looks like we might be getting to calmer skies soon. Come on over and get your camera.
Abbie: Nah. I will wait here. These bolts are amazingly dangerous, too.
Deb: Dad just unlocked the door if you want to come get your camera or need anything. They don't seem too close.
Abbie: They are close. We are watching them. The whole sky lights up. It is beautiful. But we will keep that in mind.
Abbie: It might be hailing.
Deb: Really?
Abbie: I think it stopped. We were hearing a tinny sound of the roof and during a bolt we saw stuff bouncing off the tent.
Abbie: Radar was indicating hail.
Deb: Hmmm
Abbie: No tornado, there is no wind and no indications on the radar of a tornado.
Deb: Flood watch - but not for here.
Abbie: Good to know sine we eventually will be back in the tent.
Deb: Seems like we are on the back end of the weather.
Abbie: Let's hope! Just when we think it passes there is another close bolt.

We stopped texting after that, and then, about 7:30, the fire sirens at the local fire house about one block away went off!
Abbie: WHAT was that!
Deb: Fire house. Good morning!

Abbie and Jeff got up, packed up and left by about 10:00. We spent a lazy day trying to stay cool, although the humidity at times dropped off. Reig fiddled a bit - great to listen to as I rested my eyes (they would be busy during the next 2 weeks - had to have some down-time!) Later afternoon Pete, Regi, Ryan, Buddy, Rick, Haley and I walked to the far end of the campground where stream access was easy, and Pete and Ryan enjoyed a bit of rafting, Buddy enjoyed swimming, and Haley, when she was not trying to get out of the water, enjoyed ridding the stream of all the branches. She dragged several large branches out of the water. She was also very curious about the stones Pete and Ryan were skipping, and very concerned for Buddy swimming in the water.

We had dinner separately together - each at our own campers but about the same time. Ryan ate steak with Rick. We again walked up to the store for ice cream - good thing we don't live in walking distance of ice cream! We also enjoyed a campfire, but turned in earlier than the past 2 nights. We were pretty much packed up and ready to travel.