2nd Annual Durocher Family Camp - Bear Lake, UT/ID

It only took a week after the wedding to be geared up for our long planned family camp out. This year we gathered at Bear Lake, Hot Springs, Idaho side. It was arrid and dusty, but the beach was long and wide and the water an awesome color aqua blue. Apparently there are particular reflecting minerals in the 6 x 18 mile lake that make the 200 foot deep lake a shimmering brilliant blue. We arrived there Thursday afternoon with Michael arriving first and dubbing a great spot out of alot of traffic...well at first anyway. By Friday night we had a large group of people squeeze in around us to the tune of 8 tents and more than a dozen cars. The RV park was rummored to have over a thousand overnight guests (tent or trailer registrants so that means a ton more people than that!) on this particular weekend of Pioneer Day.

We had a terrific time on the beach! Michelle's family was having a Munford reunion and invited us to share their water toys of jet skiis and a boat. We had a total blast riding the (5) 4-wheelers speeding up and down the long length of beach and splashing in the water! Most unusual was the tractors that backed up the boats. I called it "Redneck boaters," but with the water level being so low, and no boat docks or ramps available, the huge tractors can push them out rather far without getting stuck in the sand. It was quite a sight! On our way back from the 5 mile ride David's 4-wheeler blew a tire and Morgan drove it back riding on one side for about a mile!

We shared a couple meals with Munfords and had meal assignments with each of the kids. It worked out great to feed our group of 13. Nick brought Dans camp trailer (home sweet home for Michelle and he for another week, being parked along side Davids house,) and it was great to have our own private potty!.....remember the thousand registrants....yep, the porta-pottys were in heavy demand. Nick and Michelle will soon move into a new housing area which is real new and in a nice area south of Logan a few miles.

Friday Annalisa and friend Brett arrived mid afternoon and later David and Ashlee. We ate with Munfords, afterwards getting D&A's tent up before dark. In the morning we had a great dutch oven breakfast and headed for the beach and took a long 4 wheeler ride along the water. Bridgett had gotten a bad sunburn on Friday and ended up sitting out of the days activities because it hurt too much to move! Poor girl...she looked a fright...bright red and puffy. We all put sunscreen on like it was nobodies business! The temps were in the mid 90's but cooled to the low 70's at night which was very nice. Friday turned out to be a day of high winds that churnned up the normally clear water, but it was fun anyway and actually kept us cooler.

Saturday afternoon Mike and family left after some super rides on the 4 wheelers and jet skiis. Gavin even got to drive the jet ski and had a blast. Michael brought Gavins own motorcycle ( ask Gavin and he says, "my Honda 50".) He's not even 3 yet and driving his own real....not toy...motorcycle!

Late Saturday night the rest of us pulled up camp due to the noisy nature of our latino sardine packed group next to us...and we didn't want to pay another 20 bucks for a noisy night of people chatter! We parked, albeit at midnight, on the other side of Bear Lake on the Utah side and had a perfectly quiet spot at a picnic ground. David and Ashlee had gone home to Logan so we took a mountain trail 4 wheeler ride to Ephraims Grave in the Logan Canyon. It was spectacular scenery getting to the grave and monument of Ephraim, a local 9 and a half foot standing height Bear that weighed 1100 pounds. Ephraim was shot by a rancher for killing livestock, and became a legand due to his size. We have a photo of us sitting at the monument which represents the Bears height. It was a great way to end the trip and see some back country. The song, America the Beautiful, kept coming to my mind while beholding the natural wonders. We got Nicks trailer set up again at Davids house and had leftover lunch of BBQ pork from the wedding. Yep, it was a super trip and the best part was the fine company of my children! Did I mention how dirty we got? Way dirty, grimy hot sweaty bunch of people. What a perfect gathering of fun!