Clear Lake in October

 On October 4th, our homeschool church group went to Clear Lake.  We had gone as a family in October many years ago and I was so struck by the gorgeous turquoise water and the yellow maple leaves, and I have wanted to go back ever since.  Life got busy, we moved, my plantar fasciitis got really bad, and we just never got around to going.  One Sunday, I was describing how amazing Clear Lake is to our homechurch and it turned into a planned trip!  I couldn't remember exactly when we had gone before but we were a little early as the leaves were just starting to change color.  

It was quite busy (turns out it had just reopened due to the fires).  The entire trip was lovely except for one thing...I have isolated myself from the mask "phenomenon" by letting Phil do all the shopping and errand running and I didn't realize how bizarre people are behaving over the Corona virus.  I get that there are a lot of scared people and I get that some prefer to take precautions.  But I don't get how people have become that afraid, have become that angry, have become that paranoid.  Anyhow, I really hadn't seen how this played out in every day life.  I would say 75% of the people that were there were masked up during their hike.  And they acted so bizarre...people scrambled off the trail up into the woods to get away from us.  They hid behind trees.  They turned their backs on us and rounded their shoulders as if to protect themselves from our presence.  They panicked (one lady started acting like she was hyperventilating while her husband tried to reassure that it was going to be ok while they hid way off the trail from us.)  They were angry and told us that we needed to be more careful.  People were alone in a boat in the middle of the lake wearing a mask for crying out loud!.  It was so unnerving!!  The chances of catching anything outside from people obviously healthy enough for outdoor activity is pretty much 0%.  And to be that afraid, when you are already wearing your mask from someone who isn't...people have lost their common sense and ability to reason.  This really was unnerving to me!  Without sounding weird, I have a little bit of a "6th sense" and this virus, the government overreach, the church's reaction, the rapid culture shift, and the mask wearing especially has really bothered me to the core. 

We all met in our separate cars for the great kid switch out!  I was in the girly van!

Before we were even unloaded, the kids were making forts.

Moss mask

These two were so excited about fishing.  We rented a boat and they spent all day on the lake...and didn't catch a think LOL.  











How I always look on adventures.

















Craig and Nyla brought their kayaks...I am thinking that we need to get some!



Poor Glorielle fell in the lava fields and really did a number on herself.  She had scrapes on both arms, hands, and legs.

Still little enough to ride on Dad's shoulders.






This was funny....Ruth and I were bringing up the rear on our hiking group, and we accidentally took the wrong trail.  I have hiked Clear Lake enough to know when things were not looking familiar.  All in all, we hiked a good 15 minutes before we came to the road and knew we were not in the right spot.  We were laughing and laughing to be so lost!

But, we saw this beautiful tree.

This is where we went wrong.  There was a couple of people hiking around and they were on the right trail and we assumed that they were hiding off the main trail like so many others so we took the side shoot without even realizing it.


After our hike we ate and spent the rest of the day playing on the kayaks.  

Isaiah caught the only fish...within 5 minutes of putting his line in the water.

Sawyer, ever the good sport, posed with the fish.



Brighton trolling the water's edge for treasures.  He found lures, an old wooden paddle, and who knows what else.  

So thankful for good friends!

The ride home, a long day for Shiloh!


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