Pandemic camping

We have had quite a few camping trips this summer. In normal years these can be hard to fit in because the kids have so many obligations, but not this year! There are some risks involved for sure, especially the public bathrooms. We wear masks and don't linger. 

Our first trip was to Lake Quinault, just the four of us. The campground was COVID-ready, alternating full with empty campsites.

The most memorable part of that trip, though, was the rain. We were there from Friday to Sunday; it started raining late Friday night and rained continually through Sunday morning. (To be fair, it is the rainforest.) Jordan and Dale built an elaborate tarp shelter, and we spent almost all of Saturday just hanging out in that tiny little outdoor living room, playing cards and eating and reading books. Limited as it was, it was at least different from being at home! We did find a dry hour or two for a walk in the beautiful woods, returning covered with mud. And here we are at some non-raining hour, apparently burning some wet wood.

The other trips we went on have been with friends. We went back to La Wis Wis with much the same crowd and had a very pleasant time. We had to have a zoom meeting in advance to discuss the protocols: no sharing food, masked most of the time, no communal tent for the kids (the kids were all at one campsite but only siblings shared tent space). It works. We've also been back to Middle Fork, one of our favorite spots, but have not been able to camp there: apparently bears have moved in. 

We camped again with friends at a place near Middlle Fork, Tinkham campground, which has a surprising view of I-90 but was better than nothing. Here's a socially distanced group photo from Tinkham... we did a panorama, and did some fancy footwork to get everyone in. See how Aaron is on both sides? 

The only water at Tinkham was from this astonishing hand pump.

We also find time for the occasional day trip. Here we are at Deception Pass early in the summer; we drove up, hiked for an hour or so, had a picnic lunch, and left just as things started to get crowded.

Jordan and Dale have also been on two camping trips without Aaron and me, arranged especially for (and by) the 16-year-olds and their dads. That's fine... Aaron and I are content to stay home and eat sushi.