SUMMER SERIES: CAMPING

How the open sky dictates our days, filled with fluffy clouds, blue notes of promise or shades of gray when storm clouds gather or smoke from fires obliterate the majestic views we yearn to see.
This summer was an irrational season when our province experienced the worst, widespread wildfires in history. Our camping season was cut short but what we did revisit, explore and marvel at always reminded me of the greatness of God and how he draws my attention to detail and in the end I was grateful to come home to a house still standing.

CAMPING IN MAY

Shuswap Lake at Herald Provincial Park

Across the lake is the CP Rail line - train cars to count all day.

Bundle of Birches

Reinecker Creek gives this park a bubbling sparkle.

A tree that had a mind of its own.

Cedar Seeds

It's all about perspective.

Counting the years

Natures surprise

CAMPING IN JUNE

Fresh air and blue skies at Kettle River Provincial Park

Cousins freezing their feet in June

A disappointing CLOSED sign at Beaverdell Ice Cream.
Gramma to the rescue with treats in the trailer 

CAMPING IN AUGUST

Shelley camping with the bears ( I mean girlies)  Missing Levi who was home sick in bed.

Hours of refreshing fun.

Explorers

Beauties in the charred forest.

DO NOT DISTURB!

Travelling east to Champion Lakes and the sky turned brown.

A sneak peak at what would have been a great place to kayak. Another year.

Forest tears

 Morning after one night at Champion Lakes. The smoke was thick and acrid.
Packed up and headed home -sigh.

Ten days of camping cancelled because of fires. Sad because we planned to explore five new provincial parks.
Held hostage by acrid smoke and a resolute driver heading home.

Surprise -
the air cleared a lot at Rock Creek so we camped three more days back at Kettle River.

Karl, Simon and Luke join us and we had hours of fun swimming and watching these two grandsons jump off the trestle bridge. My special moment was Simon jumping and diving for this heart rock. Thanks Simon.

Barb and Garry visit us on their travels home to Grandforks.
Always a good time with these two. 

Mr BBQ  takes a moment for a hug.

The morning before we left Champion Lakes I read Psalm 104 about God's amazing creation, but as we drove through hours of heavy smoke there was little to see of that beauty. At Kettle River the Fireweed seeds were blowing through our campsite and God showed me his intentional creativity and attention to detail. Each Fireweed plant can produce 80 000 seed which will blow in the wind to germinate in open areas especially after a fire. And next year when we camp at Kettle River as we always do we will see more of this beautiful flower or to some an invasive weed.

Earth's crammed with heaven

And every common bush afire with God

But only he who sees takes his shoes off,

the rest sit around and pick blackberries. 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning