Second Annual Priest Lake Escape

Well folks, I feel like this is a repeat post from last month; however, for journaling sake, I feel the need to post a few pictures and type a few words to document this trip. Since Ron is now working full-time the rest of the summer with his new job, Lia and I joined my parents and went up to Priest Lake without him for another ten days. As much as we missed him, we had a great time and were fortunate enough to be joined by my Missoula brother and his family for the first weekend that we were there. As always, they brought in bundles of cousin fun for Lia and some good times and laughs for me. We were sad to see them go, but grateful that they spontaneously left behind my beloved nephew for the rest of the week! Here is a quick run down of the week....

On our first day there, we enjoyed taking our boat to one of the many public beaches on the lake where you can just park and play. We found this great beach last summer and enjoyed finding two, tiny frogs that entertained the little ones for many minutes to follow. Here they are gathered around their discovery!

One of the reasons why we love this beach is the incredible sugar white and sugar fine sandy beach that one can find after swimming across a straight-from-the-top-of-the-mountains, freezing creek that empties into the lake. Picture above is Spencer making the daring swim away from "our little slice of Hawaii" beach on the other side.

Yours truly joining him for the chilly swim.

One can also walk around the very shallow and long sand bar to the beautiful beach on the other side if sub-zero water isn't your thing. I snapped this pic of grandma with Kelsey and Spencer making the voyage around the creek. Look at that view! Can you begin to understand why I love the remote and pristine beauty that surrounds this lake?!

On Sunday, we headed up one of the dirt roads into the mountains to huckleberry pick in the prime spot that Brent discovered a few years back. However, the picking was not so prime this year as, between the seven of us, we got a measly 3/4 cup of this gem of the north. Needless to say, we won't be having any huckleberry cobbler anytime soon. :-(

Of course, no trip to Priest Lake is complete without a visit to Fairy House Beach. Lia loves the beach here and the Missoulians had to check in on their fairy houses that they constructed last month. Here are Mae Mae and Lia gearing up for some water fun.

The two girls running and splashing into the water. Both Mae Mae and Kelsey were great play companions for Lia while they were there. Lia loves the company and I love the break!

After our stop at Fairy House Beach, we decided to just drive up the thoroughfare a bit in hopes of spotting a moose (this is a common hunting grouds for them). And, as luck would have it, we ran into one munching away on some grass in the water. I haven't seen one in years, so it was a treat for me!

After awhile, the moose got bored with us or the food or both, and moved on into the bush.

Grandma with her girls cuddling up in the boat after some moose watching.

I failed to mention that the grand patriarch was tied down the entire trip due to the fact that he had just had a full knee replacement surgery a week before we left! He was found either laying down on a bed or hobbling around on his crutches the entire time we were there. As sad as it was for him, we were just grateful he was willing to recuperate up at the cabin with us!

We found a beach where we could drive the car right up to the shore so that my dad could get out and hobble right into the water (as opposed to attempting the 88 steps that lead down to our beach). He actually went swimming a few times at the beach pictured above where Spencer, Lia, and I are standing.

After the girls and the excitement left, Lia invented this little activity all on her own one day. She grabbed a floaty and a noodle and headed down into the water at our beach to go "fishing." She did this many times the rest of the week while we were there.

I had the privilege of joining her for many fishing sessions. Please notice our color coordinated floaties and fishing poles. This was all Lia's doing.

Lia and I on one of our many boat rides. She sure loves the boat and watching any willing water skier do his or her thing.

Lia getting more independent on the boat and sitting on her own. Such a big girl.

A splash fest that evolved one day after a "fishing session" gone bad.

Although Lia was a maniac last year and LOVED jumping off the dock into my arms in the water, she would have nothing to do it this year. She was much more skittish and would only be found wading around in the shallow end. However, at the very end of our stay, my mom somehow convinced Lia to start leaping off some rocks into the water.

After being caught by my mom, Lia would then sit down on "the chair rock" before...

splashing down into the water. With the exception of her face, she would completely submerge herself in the water and LOVED it!

Look how happy that girl is in that crystal clear water!

We enjoyed many a twilight dinners on the deck after a hard day at play. Here is the view at sunset on our last night there.

Lia and I on our last night with the folks who made this little getaway possible. Thanks, mom and dad for a great August escape to Priest Lake! We sure love it up there!