July 28, 2012

Well, the rest of our time at the lake was very nice.  After going home for a brief pause, so that Diana could take her West-E, we returned.  Her test, I would love to note, was taken very near a certain Hutchinson Rd. I personally took that as a good sign and had no doubt that she would pass her test. But back to the real point (sure, my fiance can now do her student teaching this Fall, big deal.  ... that's a joke.  I'm pretty proud of her, and she consistently makes me proud), I got a tour of the lakes, both the large one and Upper Priest, played games, did crosswords, sat by the water every morning and most evenings, and generally relaxed.  There was some disruption near the end of the trip- which I will not really go into here- but other than the last night, it was a wonderful time.  
July 25, 2012
Let's say that I don't have a high affinity for being in the water. I love to watch it, listen to it.  But put me in it and I have a tendency to submerge.  I took swimming lessons as a kid, was even good at them, but over the last half decade I have become less of a floater and more of a sinker. Which is totally cool, given my love of being able to breathe.  Well, knowing this- and probably mostly for selfish reasons... who are we kidding, everyone loves to see me look silly- Diana bought me arm floaties at the store on the way back to Priest Lake after she took her test. Being kids floating devices, I was skeptical of their ability to hold me above water, but they worked remarkably well.  I am remarking on it. 

Diana convinced me to take a run into the lake on the evening of our return. 

It was a little chilly after the sun stopped shining on our portion of the lake.

But, because I love her so, I did it anyway.  Pretty sure I got back out a minute after the photo.  Or less.

July 26, 2012
On Thursday we took a tour up north and to upper Priest.  It's a much smaller lake, much less developed, and generally was much less busy than the large lake.  Not to say that Priest Lake is busy, because really, for how many people vacation there, it creates an illusion that you are one of a few.  But I think we really were one of just a few at the upper lake.  We parked it on the hot and sunny day to jump into the water and cool down a bit.  I again displayed my amazing sense of style, sporting the ever trendy arm floaties.  Yes, I require two sets to keep me afloat.  And yes, that blinding white thing above those semi-tan calves is my nearly translucent body.  

"I am going to jump in and freeze up because it's so cold, and then I'm going to drown!" .. I didn't drown.

July 27, 2012
Friday was, as most days were this week, a relaxed day.  Diana and I took the opportunity to take a rowboat out on the lake and do some fishing.  She is the one that did the fishing while I kept control of the boat.  For, although the wind seemed to desire it so, I did not want to crashed into the shore.  We have been fly fishing a few times before, without much success.  Diana had got a bite on Thursday while we cruised upper Priest, but today she got her first actual, substantial, no-doubt-about-it bite.  I watched her reel it in, until it was probably 10 feet from the boat.  At which point it decided that the ride was over and, flipping out of the water, let go of the hook and went on its merry way.  I like to think that she just skipped the messy part of unhooking it and setting it free again, since she was just going to release it anyway.  But now that she's had that little taste, I fear her hunger with be insatiable. 

Row, row, row your boat...

Gently down the stream...  

Row, row, row your boat.  I'm singing in rounds...

July 28, 2012
That brings us to today.  Today was our last day at the cabin.  A lot of the cleaning was done last night, as Diana and I held down the fort while her dad and step-mom went off to deal with some issues that arose yesterday evening (their adopted daughter has some severe psychological issues, and although being a very nice and bright girl, had a breakdown while on vacation).  Which meant that our morning was slow-paced.  The couple who are staying there after us came up in the morning and hung out with us as the crew finished clearing out the fallen tree. We also cleared out, headed home- stopping for huckleberry milkshakes on the way, of course- and arrived at Diana's dad's in the evening.  Where we sat on the back porch and drank a beer. 

A good end to a good trip.  And being home means that we are all the closer to being out of our apartment, out of Spokane, and out of the lower 48.  Time is creeping up on me and its slowly becoming more of a reality.  Soon life will be very different from now.  I think it will be good.