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This week, we went backpacking. We started at Odell Lake

and headed along the Trapper Creek Trail for about 6 miles.

We camped at Diamond View Lake.

The next day we took Crater Butte Trail

and about mile 6, we realized that we were out of water and there would be no water on our route for several more miles. So, we took a detour. Encouraged by the name of the trail. How can you go wrong when you are headed to MARIE Lake?

We took a dip and filled our waters and then hiked another 3 miles before setting up camp just off the Pacific Crest Trail.

The following day we made our way around Diamond Peak.

And then headed to Yoran Lake.

Before getting to Yoran, we stopped for a dip in Lils Lake.

Dad and I swam out to a small island.

After our swim, we hiked a bit more and then set up camp at Yoran Lake.

Mom made us take many family pictures.

Back at home, I made a new recipe – fruit pizza.

I did not like it. Come to find out, I don’t care for pineapple and the cream cheese ‘sauce’ and glaze both were sweetened with pineapple juice.

We also had soba noodle salad with smoked salmon.

I am reading Chronicles of Narnia, Book 5, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, so I am pretty obsessed with sailboats at the moment. Here I am making a sail.

Lots of work this week. First, I had to repair our fence:

I replaced three posts.

Then, I planted a tree, a columnar white pine:

I finally got some time off, and we went to Crater Lake:

We hiked to Watchman Peak:

and then hiked down to Cleetwood cove for a swim (that is Dad, not me, jumping off the cliff):

I constructed an entire Lincoln Log village:

and worked on my bike jumping:

On Sunday, I did a triathlon at the pool. Here I am getting ready for the swim:

Heading out for the bike leg:

and finishing up with the run:

Some food from the week. Cool it Noodle Salad with radishes and peas:

Emerald City Salad with cucumber, avocado, and mint:

After the Cape and a short stop at Nan and Pop’s, we headed to Connecticut to visit Papa, Yaya, Coby, and Theo. I did a lot of dog walking, and even picked up poop! We also hit the links for my first round of mini golf:

We took a trip to Yaya’s shop and a walk through Elizabeth Gardens:

Next, it was back to Rhode Island for some time at the beach:

We went paddle boarding on Ninigret Pond

and floated with the outgoing tide:

Unfortunately, I got stung by a clinging jellyfish! (2+ weeks later, and I still have a scab!)

I drove Pop’s tractor:

and took a ride in his race car:

and did a lot of gardening:

I also got to spend a lot of time with my cousins:

On my birthday, we started the day at Allie’s Donuts, where we picked up my cake and had a donut.

Next, we headed to the Yawgoo Valley Water Park for some water sliding:

followed by slip-and-sliding in the backyard:

I had giant maple-frosted donut cake. It was delicious.

Flying out the next day, I was not happy to leave:

Looking down at our beach in Wellfleet.

A trip to Race Point:

A late afternoon swim at Duck Harbor:

A hike and swim at Great Island:

Off for some rafting fun:

Sunrise from the cottage:

The cottages:

The steps (54) to the cottages:

The food we ate. I helped GUM (or as I like to call him, Gummy Bear) make waffles.

The first of many oysters shucked by Dad:

Bluefish, cod, scallops, and Pop’s veggies.

More of Pop’s veggies.

So much fun, I wore myself out.

Guess what? I’ve been busy. I am working on jumping my bike.

I discovered the joy of a good Cuban sandwich.

And I watched Iron Chef on Netflix with The Bigs. It inspired me to create some new recipes. This is a grilled fried rice sandwich.

Here I am making a dessert recipe.

Wasn’t half bad!

And while Mom made Dad peach salad and rice noodle salad for his birthday,

I made dessert. Apples, peanut butter, melted chocolate chips, and avocado chocolate ice cream.

Next up we went to Hood River for the week. I biked through a tunnel like the Tour de France riders.

Had my favorite breakfast, the bagel, egg, and ham sandwich.

Hiked to Umbrella Falls.

Did some swimming. See the buoys behind me.

I swam to them when Mom wasn’t looking. Startled her a bit.

Worked on jumping my bike some more.

Went cherry picking.

We picked this on Wednesday. By Sunday it was all gone.

I did a paddle boarding clinic with a 3x world champion stand up paddle boarder. This was the warm up:

And made lots of mischief with my buddy Kailia

And now I am packed and ready for my next adventure…

The Bigs are bothered by how I wear socks all the time. They say things like: ‘it’s summer., free your toes’. They are particularly bothered by my sock and Croc combination. Seems like a good choice for dribbling practice to me.

After two weeks of mountain biking camp – I am a machine. I also have lots of new rides to take The Bigs on.

But, I am always up for an oldie but goodie like a ride to the chicken (which someone painted red, white, and blue for the Fourth).

I love all things Independence Day and kept busy making lots of patriotic art. Here I am painting a piece of wood to look like a flag.

I made sure my outfit was festive too.

I’ve been pretty busy each week. The Bigs signed me up for all kinds of camps. This week was rock climbing camp. I loved it and it made me so tired – but I still found some time to goof around with Hadley…

and to do some swimming and paddleboarding.

The Bigs have decided we should have reading hour in the afternoon. I believe it is them being lazy. Sometimes I notice them reading with their eyes closed…but I’ve always been a big reader, so I don’t mind.

One exciting new meal this week. Pork with ginger, green onion, and eggplant.

When we read Harry Potter, I like to ask what words I don’t know mean. Just this week, I asked what orb, object (v), slipstream, stupidity, prophecy, accusations, ignorant, encompassed, gravely, mediocre, whereabouts, solicitously, dais, underestimate, reluctantly, justice, and cheeky meant. The Bigs solution? They bought me a very large dictionary (which was incredibly hard to find, but the nice folks at Dudley’s Bookshop found us one and told me the first word I needed to look up was etymology).

This week and next, I have mountain bike camp in the morning for three hours. I am the youngest rider. Afterwards, I go to swim lessons or help around the house.

Here I am walking to Freddies to pick up some groceries.

On Saturday I went to the pool to practice stuff from lessons.

I also got in a little tennis.

The Bigs found me napping a lot this week.

Some food of the week. Father’s Day dinner: chicken marbella and peach and raspberry salad with Chinese five spice.

We also went to the Yacht Club with a gift certificate I bought Dad for Father’s Day (wink, wink, Pop). Dad had a burrito bowl,

I had a shimshon bowl (hummus, pickled veggies, greens, israeli Salad, shrimp, flat bread, and sauce).

And Mom had a poke bowl with tuna, seaweed salad, avocado, and ghost sauce.

Another thing we made this week was roast sweet potatoes with fresh figs.

And I made raspberry lemonade using a recipe from my Highlights Magazine (thanks, Nan)

I also made my own popsicles. One half lime, one half pomegranate.

Since last Friday, we have only had ONE day that broke 65 F. Five days were less than 60 F. Plants in our planters died from the cold. It seems like it’s raining all the time. Everyone is grumpy. It was so cold on Mom’s run the other morning, there was ‘steam’ coming off the river.

The day I had mountain biking class, it was moderately warm, but not warm enough for our usual end of class popsicles.

On Saturday it was so cold and rainy we went climbing. Thanks, Papa.

Thankfully it cleared up for Oliver’s summer kickoff party.

This is the view from Oliver’s house. Fancy!

Every year ODOT plows Mackenzie Pass but does not open it to cars for a few weeks. Everyone in Central Oregon makes sure to get over and ride the pass while it is car free. We do it every year and this year we waited and waited for nice weather. It never came, so we bundled up and went today.

Our goal was the Castle of Dragons (AKA the Dee Wright Observatory). I made it no problem, riding almost all 20 miles myself, despite other riders passing me and yelling at me. They would holler things like ‘Nice job, kid!, Wow, buddy!, Good job, little fellow!’. You’d think I was the only 6 year old riding or something.

Enough of the picture taking. Let’s get going.

It was a very rainy weekend. Good gardening weather. I planted petunias:

the planters on the porch:

and the hanging baskets on the deck:

I spent a particularly rainy afternoon building Knex contraptions:

and learning to wax the skis before we put them away for the summer:

It was graduation weekend. I got all dressed up for a party for the graduating engineering students (the were impressed):

I wrote a letter to the Bigs during after care this week:

A few new dinners this week. Brown rice pasta with chickpeas and za’atar:

Rice noodle salad with cucumber and sesame seeds:

Baked rice with confit tomatoes and garlic:

Last week was spirit week at school. Monday was crazy hair day.

Tuesday was dress all in blue day, Mom forgot to get a picture of that. Wednesday was safari – dress like an animal day – so the lion suit came out of retirement. It was 70 out. I was hot.

Thursday was perhaps the BEST DAY ever. Dress like your favorite book character. I was Harry Potter of course.

And Friday was school spirit day. I wore all my DSM gear.

It was also the day we left for the coast. The weather forecast was NOT promising. Driving rain, gale winds, and 50 degree temperatures, but we had to make a reservation months in advance so we were going. There was much grumbling from The Bigs. We drove about half way on Friday and the first night we stayed along the North Umpqua River. No rain.

On the drive Saturday morning it was raining and the wind was so strong, the car got pushed into the other lane. Here we are eating lunch in the car

because it was pouring and the picnic table at our campsite was under water.

After lunch, we threw on our rain coasts and headed to the beach. Did we get wet? Nope. It maybe sprinkled on us. We walked and played and enjoyed the beauty!

And when even managed to make a fire.

The next morning I helped make breakfast.

Then we headed out for a hike where rhododendrons

and irises grew wild.

Again, despite a horrible forecast – no rain.

After all that walking, I needed a snack. A chocolate chip cookie at Bandon Coffee hit the spot.

Then it was off for a walk on the jetty.

Then skipping stones on the beach.

After a long day, we kicked back with some roasted marshmallows

and then watched the sunset.

The next day we walked from the campground to the mouth of the Sixes River…

where these guys found us almost as interesting as we found them.

Did we get wet? Nope. Did we have fun? Yup.