Deception Pass Camping

We just returned home last night from our first camping trip of the summer to Deception Pass.  After camping many years in a row at Ocean Shores, Ron and I decided last year that we wanted to start exploring other areas of Washington.  As a result, one of the camping trips I scheduled this summer was at Deception Pass that had been recommended to Ron by a few co-workers.  And, boy, did it not disappoint!  Deception Pass is the name of the straight of water that separates Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island.  A pair of stunning bridges cross this pass and we got to drive over both of them on our way onto and off of the island.  We all had a great time staying in a new campground, exploring the beautiful beaches, walking over the bridges,and just being together as a family.  The weather was gorgeous all weekend long and it just felt so good to be outside, breathing in that fresh, ocean air.  I am a big fan of the Pacific Northwest and this beautiful area gave me one more reason to love living here!

Our ridiculously overloaded truck as we were about to hit the road.  We always look like the Beverly Hill Billies every time we leave on a camping trip.

After arriving to our campsite on Friday afternoon, we set up camp, and started dinner.  Both Logan and Lia wanted to help cook dinner on the Coleman stove.

A rare and adorable picture I manged to get of Logan and Ella hugging.  Oh, how I love these two, little people!

The three kiddos all lined up and eating their dinner.

After dinner and some campfire time, we got the kids ready for bed and bundled up in their sleeping bags with their glow sticks.  I always love how snug and cozy they look in the tent at night.

Ellie and her glow stick.

The kids getting warm around the fire on Saturday morning.

After breakfast, we went down to the beach for the first time.  We couldn't get over the stunning view of the bridge and how clear the water was.

Ella on papa's shoulders.

The Hartland fam and the Deception Pass Bridge.

The kids enjoyed throwing lots of rocks into the water.

The kids also had lots of fun climbing over the large rocks and fallen trees at the bottom of the cliffs on the far side of the beach.

Lia walking across a fallen log.

Many boats came through Deception Pass while we were on the beach that morning.  Here is a picture of a beautiful sail boat passing through.

The three kids walking down the beach.

The kids and me inside a cool cave we found.

We returned back to our campground for lunch and some bike riding.  It was fun to see Ella cruising around with them on her bike for the first time while on a camping trip.

Lia speeding by me.

Logan really had a chance to practice riding his "big boy" bike this weekend.

Ella keeping up with the pack as usual.

While I stayed back in the campground and napped with Ella, Ron took the older two fishing to a pond in our campground.  Afterward, we all packed up and headed to a different beach to spend the afternoon.  We had lots of fun making a giant, sandcastle.

The two, little ones and me.

Logan gathering treasures in his bucket.

Papa helping Lia build the sand castle.

Everyone hard at work and at play!

Logan and Lia showing off the finished sand castle.

After heading back to our campground for dinner, we went out on a family bike ride that evening.

On Sunday morning, we went back out to the first beach we visited yesterday.  We then decided to go on the hike to cross the huge bridge that is so high up in the air!  Although the views were stunning, I kept on fearing that Ella would fall off the bridge since the barriers on both the water side and the road side were so short, but we held on to her tight and she survived!

The stunning vista from the bridge.

Ron and the kids walking across.

The impressive "underside" of the bridge once we had reached the end.

A shot of of us once we had crossed the bridge and walked out to a view point.

Another family shot.

Walking back down the trail before packing up and heading home!