Happy and Not-so-happy Campers

JULY 3 (continued)

We made it back safe and sound. I was glad Keegan came along for the ride to Fort McPhoo (that's what my friend Lynn calls it). It certainly made the 2.5 hour drive go faster. And we drove right onto the Mackenzie River Ferry. No waiting! Bonus! We were there waiting when they arrived.

They had a good time, and wonder of wonders, Mackenzie won the "Girl Camper of the Week" just like her big sis and Josiah received a group award for "Best Cabin of the Week." They earned points for certain tasks, like being ready on time, getting in line, and having the cleanest cabin. Huh? Have you ever seen his room? Mackenzie also clocked the best time for the girls on the rope course. When Bronwyn heard that, she said, "I knew it! I just knew it!" There was some trouble in Jo's cabin, though, with two boys picking on another, which distressed Josiah. Josiah got punched in the stomach a couple of times himself, but one shout from Mackenzie of "YOU QUIT HITTING MY BROTHER!!!" and that was the end of that.

Kenzie said on the drive down, the van got a flat tire. It had rained, and the ground was so wet and soft, the van sank too low for the jack to raise it enough. So they had to find a big rock to set the jack on so it could do its job. And it was a difficult job at that. At least Paul has lots of experience travelling that road. By the end of the camps, Paul will have driven the Dempster eight times in three weeks. That's around 6000 km! Wow! And yet it's 'all in a day's work' for him.

The drive home was a little more hairy. We made it to the ferry before it closed. Then rain started coming down pretty good. Okay so far. But then Estelle was not a 'happy camper' and the kids could not console her and begged for me to let her out of her carseat. But there's always a storm before the calm with her, and even though it took a while, she did drift off to sleep. But my nerves were a little rattled in the driver's seat. I'm usually the one doing the consoling, not the driving; and not just driving, but trying to give instructions in consolation at the same time. We got home at 1:40 am. Bronwyn was there waiting for us and gave Jo and Boo a big hug, lifting Jo off the ground. As late as it was, those bigs guys did not want to go to bed. They had so much so share after not seeing each other for two weeks. And I'm sure they'll still be talking for days to come.