I went hiking with Miss H. on Sauvie Island today. It was advertised as a flat, three-mile hike to an old lighthouse. Sounded great!
Well, okay, technically that was all true….it just didn’t mention the ankle-deep mud, the snakes (okay one snake), the mosquitoes that ate us alive, the aggressive vultures guarding the dead shark that was bigger than we were, the wasps, or the holding-onto-branches-while-bouldering-to-avoid-falling-into-the-river part at the very end.
Here’s me, relieved that that part is over and that we’re going back on the actual trail:
That “beach” you see over my right shoulder is the bouldering-holding-branches part.
But of course, the “actual trail” is where the mosquitoes were. After ten minutes, we both agreed: Yeah, back to the beach.
A boat went by.
Also, some guys went by in a speedboat and yelled, “Take your clothes off!” Miss H. hollered back, “That’s further down the beach! Keep going, you’re almost there!”
Yet despite all that, and being covered in sunscreen, (completely ineffective) mosquito repellant, mud, and sand, we had a fabulous time. I’m exhausted and very satisfied.
And my feet look sillier than ever. I’ve got a sandal-tan from my Keens (they look kind of like this, only covered in mud at the moment) that…well, just look:
Those are perfectly clean feet–I just showered an hour ago (and yes, those are mosquito bites on my right foot). I only ever wear those shoes, and, well, that’s what happens.
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In other news, my brother is displaying astonishingly good sense and has decided to cohabitate with his fabulous girlfriend. Since neither of their places were big enough for two, they’ve rented a new one; they’re moving in now. Dad sent me photos of the process:
I won’t even point out that he is upstaging me and Mark by an entire month. Except, oh I guess I just did. 🙂
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Speaking of Mark, he is coming for another visit tomorrow. Yay! And as of October 1, this will be his home. Double, triple, quadruple yay!