Lancaster (Lan-Cast-Er, as us Michiganders Say)
This week we’ve been vacationing in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. It’s been our first real vacation in nearly two years, and we’re all feeling refreshed. We’ll post some pictures and videos after we’ve had a chance to sort through them all, but here’s some highlights in the meantime:
- The Choo Choo Barn - After years (literally) of watching Noah’s “I Love Toy Trains” videos, this was a sort of home coming. Lots and lots and lots and lots of toy trains. Just do a search for choo choo barn on youtube, and you’ll get a taste for the place.
- Hershey’s Chocolate World - Candy! And more Candy! And finally… Candy! The Chocolate World is basically a free 7 minute ride wrapped in an overpriced food court and overpriced Hershey’s candy. But it was still a lot of fun. And we truly enjoyed the trolley tour. It was eye opening to see the Milton Hershey School, both for it’s beauty and vision. The “free” candy on the tour didn’t hurt, either.
- Outback Toy Store - Hands down the most awesome toy tractor store. Ever. We all had that deer-in-the-headlights look when we walked in. Incredible. We’re lucky we only walked out with one new tractor.
- The Strasburg Railroad and Museum were stops on our last “day way” trip. I think the museum was a better deal (especially for the price), but riding a 100 year old steam train was pretty cool. All Aboard!
As Noah would say, “we’re a little sad” to be heading home, but we’re very thankful for family time we’ve been able to enjoy. See you back in Michigan!
Colorado Stories: The Wake Up Call
Time for yet another Colorado Story:
You can file this one under “Funny. And by Funny, I mean Awful.”
So, you know how some events are really annoying when they happen? But then, with some time and counseling, they just seem funny? Well, this might be one of those for me… someday. But not yet. Frankly I’m still a bit annoyed at some Hoosiers for this one. Maybe you’ll agree at the end of this little tale.
First, some background. You might recall that we stayed at Quaker Ridge, a Christian camp north of Colorado Springs. Lovely place with a awesome view of Pikes Pike.
Not quite as tall, but much closer to Quaker Ridge, is Soldier Mountain, roughly 9,200 feet above sea level. More importantly to us, it’s about 1,000 feet above Quaker Ridge, and a hike from Quaker Ridge to the summit is about 4,000 feet.
That’s right: 4 feet forward, 1 foot up. Not a walk in the park. And, actually, the last 300 feet are more like 2 feet forward, 1 foot up.
On loose rocks.
The view, though, is worth the work. Here a view from the top. Click the picture for a larger version.
This picture was obviously taken during the day.
The rest of this story takes place a night.
For, you see, one of the “perks” of staying at Quaker Ridge is sleeping out, under the stars, at the top of Soldier Mountain… and I can’t emphasize enough how much “perks” is in air quotes. Big, giant, raise-your-hands-above-your-head, stand-on-a-chair, air quotes.
Now, for the record, I like camping. Did it most of my life growing up. I don’t mind tents, I don’t mind sleeping out underneath the open air. I don’t mind hiking, or climbing, or sleeping bags. I enjoy waking up to a great sunrise.
So, I really like the theory of sleeping out underneath the stars at the top of a mountain in the middle of the Colorado wilderness.
But, as Jan L.A. van de Snepscheut said, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.”
First of all, it’s camp tradition to leave around 11:00 pm to sleep at the top of the mountain.
So, let’s keep track of this all: 1,000 feet, loose rocks, 11:00pm. We actually got off a bit late, like 11:30. So, 1,000 feet, loose rocks, 11:30pm.
On the hike up our youth group quickly diverged into two teams: the quick team, and the not-so-quick team.
Amy and I were in the non-so-quick team. Team Quick made it to the top of the mountain by Midnight. Team Not-So-Quick got there about 12:35.
1,000 feet, loose rocks, 11:35 depart, 1 hour hike.
And, because there is no Soldier Mountain Hilton, you need to — literally — dig in once you get to the top. Oh, and being, you know, a summit, there’s not a lot of level ground up there. So you want to make sure your head is facing uphill, so you don’t pass out.
Let me tell you: you haven’t lived until you’ve tried tried to make 6 feet of semi-level ground by pulling out roots and tossing rocks. In the pitch black.
1,000 feet, loose rocks, 11:35pm, 1 hour hike, roots & rocks, face up hill.
All told, we actually did a fairly good job getting settled in. The kids were real troopers, and Keith, our more experienced youth leader, made sure we were far enough from the edge as to not fall in.
I’m pretty sure everybody was asleep by 1:00… or so. Ahem. Alden, I’m looking at you.
Well, our group was asleep. Little did we know that, just a few short hours later, another group would be waking up.
For you see, around 4:00am, the group from West Lafayette Indiana was waking up.
To climb up the mountain.
To watch the sun rise.
—
Recall, if you will, Team Quick. Their time up the mountain: 30 minutes. Our Hoosier, er, friends, also had a Team Quick. A very “joyful” Team Quick. And by joyful, I mean highly annoying.
Team Quick Indiana made it to the top of the mountain around 4:30am, and decided they needed to encourage their follow group members. So, they started yelling, in words seared into my memory, “Way to go guys! You can do it! Woohoo!”
I’m not 100% sure they knew we were there at first. We were only 20 feet away, but it was pitch dark.
However, I’m fairly sure they saw us by the time Team Not-So-Quick Indiana made it to the top around 5:00am.
And I’m down-right certain they saw us by when Team Really-Slow Indiana finally showed up around 5:30am.
1,000 feet, loose rocks, 11:35pm, 1 hour hike, roots & rocks, face up hill. Dumb Indiana kids yelling at the top of their lungs at 4:30am.
Now, it would be one thing if they kept moving up the mountain. There was, after all, an extremely nice spot about 150 feet beyond us that was wide open and perfect for a group their size.
But, no. Instead, they decided to mill about, among the sleeping bags, talking about how dumb it was to get up at 4:30 to watch a sun rise.
—
So, two groups of tired, annoyed people milling about at the top of a short mountain in Colorado.
What could go wrong?
Well, maybe, perhaps, one of our kids might have suggested that Team Indiana move along. I’m sure he was polite.
And, one if their leaders, mistaking our kid for one of his own, might have suggested our kid go take a long walk off a short pier.
Tired and annoyed had turned into a big pile of awkward.
And thus, we waited for the sunrise.
Which, in hindsight, was totally not worth it, because the sun comes up on the other side of the mountain, behind some trees. So it’s not really a sunrise, as much as a big bag of bright.
—
After a while, our Indiana friends tried to do some devos. And we packed up our gear and started back down the mountain.
1,000 feet, loose rocks, 11:35pm, 1 hour hike, roots & rocks, face up hill. Dumb Indiana kids. Pile of Awkward. Another 1,000 feet.
On the way down I happened to pass the leader who had suggested the pier. Despite the situation, I felt bad we had given them lip. So I decided some peace pipe was in order, and I apologized on behalf of our group.
He mentioned something about “yeah, I didn’t know it was your kid” (as if it was ok to suggest peirs to his own kids?) and that was that.
But, right as I turned to continue down the mountain, he made the offhanded comment: “You know, if I learned anything tonight, it’s that you shouldn’t sleep so close to the edge of the mountain.”
—
And that, my friends, is why West Lafayette Indiana is no longer welcome in Holland, Michigan.
Westward Ho! Or, how we survived a week in Colorado with 200 teenagers
Ok, it wasn’t really two hundred teenagers. Well, it was, but we were only responsible for about 10 of them.
Actually, I was really working, so Amy was responsible for 10 of them. Here’s the scoop:
A few months ago Amy and I were asked to be high school youth group leaders at Holland Heights CRC, where we’ve been attending for a year or so. Despite all the changes going on, we felt called to become leaders. The only hitch? They really wanted us to come up their summer trip to Colorado.
“What?” we said. “Colorado? Now? Are you crazy?”
In hindsight, we realized that’s a dumb question. Of course they’re crazy–you can’t hang out with gang of teenagers and not go crazy.
So, despite some reservations about the timing, we said yes. And, on June 22, we set our sights for Colorado. Five states, 20 hours, and a brief overnight stop in Kearney Nebraska later, we arrived at Quaker Ridge Camp for 7 fun-filled days of physical and spiritual challenges.
Actually, I should explain that last part: while we were staying at Quaker Ridge, our hosts for the week where actually a group called Colorado Challenge. These nut jobs great guys put on the event every summer, and mix outdoor activities with a great series of challenging spiritual messages. And the worship music wasn’t bad, either.
And by “outdoor activities” we’re not talking put-put golf. There was whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, repelling, paint ball, low high ropes, more mountain climbing, mountain biking, and keeping down the camp food.
Ok, so that last one isn’t really an outdoor activity, but it was a challenge.
(Actually, the food was fine, but I couldn’t resist the cheap joke… Okay, and actually there was put-put golf. …but did I mention the mountain climbing?)
The week was too full to capture in one measly blog post, so I’ll post a few stories later this week. For now, check out our photos from the week. And here’s a map of some of the places we visited, in case you want to check them out.
Walkin’
Our vacation is winding down, but Noah’s walking skills are ramping up. Every day he’s gaining a bit more confidence, and we finally caught some of his traveling heroics on video. So cue up some good walking music and check out these clips:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osyEktbVzV0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTGKf09O6og]
He’s actually made it a bit farther than these clips demonstrate, but we haven’t been quick enough with the camera.
The Birds
Cue the World War II dive bombing music, and check this out:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyfjJQarM8I]
We woke up this morning to a few hundred birds diving into the Atlantic for a fine fish breakfast. Pretty cool, if you ask me.
The weather, on the other hand, continues to be nice and toasty, and that nasty breeze from last week is quickly becoming a distance memory. (Actually, we could have used a breeze last night. We got attacked by a thousand little bugs taking pictures last night. Ouch.)
The View
Ah, gotta love this view:
Pancake Breakfast
Vacation. Day 6. Weather: breezy, but sunny. Not a drop of rain to be found. Food: fattening. Company: excellent. Activities: joyously lacking. Except for a few walks on the beach and a wonderful fried shrimp dinner out, there’s nothing much to report.
However, lest you think this is a completely worthless post, below is a short little video of Noah enjoying a waffle this morning. Being lazy the forward thinking father I am, I gave him half the waffle intact, instead of cutting it up. Much enjoyment followed.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZe4lROjsZw]
Topsail, Day One
We’ve officially given up on Michigan. After 18 6 months of winter, we’ve packed up and headed south to Topsail Island in North Carolina. There’s nothing like some sun and sand to melt those winter blues away.
Noah enjoyed a few firsts today: he made a sand castle (well, he got some help. ), and… he walked all be himself for the first time! (Sorry, we didn’t have time to catch it on video…)
I’m sure we’ll be posting more pictures as the vacation progresses (teaser: the beach house we’re staying at has it’s own elevator), but for now I’m going to log off and put Nojo to bed.