We're Back!

And it's 2008; happy new year! We have just returned from a computer and TV-free week at the Quaker Summer Gathering, and we didn't even miss them...or at least I didn't. Joseph got home and was glued to some internet thing immediately, and Emily has been watching Nickelodeon...but we all had a good time in our various adventures. Adventure was the theme of the gathering, and the camp we were at had a lot of adventuresome activities, at least for us fraidy-cat Kansans...no bungee jumping, but there was a flying fox, which in this case consisted of a long cable going down a hill and across the pond (they called it a lake, but in Kansas we'd call it a pond, and it was definitely pond-coloured, on the brown side); the rider was hooked into a harness and flew down across the pond and slammed into four tires (tyres) that were threaded on the cable. Then you rode another, smaller one back across the pond. It was that last jolt that deterred the older members of the community from trying this contraption. Joseph and Emily did it, and about the third time the landing coaxed Emily's stubborn front tooth out. This was a relief for me, as I was kind of tired of seeing it sticking out at a crazy angle...

I did try the kayaks, and found them very easy to manipulate and comfortable--I think I can do this! At least on the tranquil but somewhat crowded pond. We'll see about Milford Sound in the rain--but there are a lot of kayaking opportunities here.

The kids also swam, slid down the hill on a long makeshift waterslide, kayaked, and Joseph and the other JYF's (junior young friends) tried to tip each other off rafts. There was a "confidence course" with various mysterious activities involving balance and agility, and archery, and go-carts careening down the hill, and a tippy bridge, and a friendly neighborhood goat.

On New Year's Day, we all (about 130) went on a picnic to a local park with a waterfall and swimming hole. Joseph opted to join a group of trampers (we do not hike here. we tramp) who left early (about 9:30) and were supposed to join us after a 3-4 hour tramp through the bush (woods). Not being well prepared for this sort of thing, Joseph did not have a water bottle or day pack for food...and he refused the sack lunch I tried to thrust upon him. He did eat an apple before he left.

Meanwhile, back at the picnic grounds (which we lazy ones had driven to), there was a large grassy area, and we set up our blankets and croquet and chairs and enjoyed the beautiful day, occasionally hot but interspersed with cloudy periods that cooled us down, and a cool breeze. Emily had made friends with a little boy, Ryan, about 5, and they were exploring the perimeter of the field, which was bordered by trees on three sides, beyond which was the river on one side, the access road on another, and some woods on the third. They puttered around nicely for about a half hour, obediently staying in sight. Then Emily started coming back toward us, and Ryan was still near the trees, so I shouted to Emily to go back and get Ryan. She did, and they were both headed toward us, and then I turned to talk to someone, and a few minutes later realilzed that they hadn't gotten back. And weren't visible. Ryan's grandmother and I (he was there with a large extended family, but no parents) walked off, calmly initially, to look for them. But they were nowhere to be seen. We walked to the wooded end, and a couple there said they had headed back toward us. We walked, accumulating searchers, callers, looking and calling all over the park...this is not like Emily; she does not go off; she would not go near the river--would she? After a very very long half hour, they came tramping out of the woods with a family from the Gathering...they had run into them on the way back, and the adults thought we knew they were with them, and Emily and Ryan thought they were fine because they were with familiar adults, on a flower-picking expedition...and I thought that was enough adventure for me.

Then we tried to relax and await the big trampers. Emily and I went down to the swimming hole--the edge was very rocky, and I wished I had those water shoes. She had her trusty crocs, so she played in the shallow pools and I watched for a while, but then the spirit of adventure seized me and I thought I might regret it forever (or at least for a little while) if I didn't take my first opportunity to swim in a water-fall fed swimming hole on New Year's Day. So I stumbled over the rough rocks and jumped in, swam about ten feet, and my lungs were frozen and my limbs rubber, and I dog-paddled back, climbed out, and sat in the sun. Ok, that was enough adventure. When Emily got bored of schlepping water from the big cold pool into the "warm pool" in the rocks, using her crocs as a vehicle--amazing how long it takes to be bored of that sort of thing, as contrasted with waiting for dinner--we went back to the picnic area, which was now filled with cars. The grass where a group had played soccer in the morning was covered with cars (they have no compunction about parking in the grass here). There was barely enough room for the cricket game being played at the end...apparently it was as crowded as the ranger had ever seen it--I guess a beautiful New Year's day, less than an hour from Auckland, was the perfect spot for anyone who hadn't taken off for the beach already.

But the trampers were not back. We waited, and waited, and some people went back to the camp. The old hands were not worried, and I had my worry all worn out for the day, so I didn't worry too much, except that it was on past 3 and Joseph had no lunch...they tramped in, muddy and exhausted, about 3:30. Joseph did not say much, just drank three glasses of water and ate his sandwich...apparently he did share food and drink on the trail. Someone told me later that they had been going at quite a good pace, and Joseph kept up with the tail of the young, fast ones...but was a bit wobbly by the end. They took one wrong turn, and had to backtrack, and stopped to eat...it will be interesting to see if he wants to do that again. I hope so--but maybe a 2 (translate 4) hour beginner's tramp this time?

Joseph turned 14 at camp, and he is growing taller and fuzzier all the time. I am hoping he will outgrow his aversion to hugs one of these days. He seemed comfortable, after the first day or so, hanging out with the group of kids, playing soccer and pool (it was a well-equipped camp) and doing god knows what. Emily still goes to bed quite early, so I am very vague about his whereabouts in the evenings, but it all felt quite safe and so he had a lot of freedom. The last night it is the tradition for the JYF's to stay out very late (about 3:30, this time) and play the kissing game...don't ask too much about this. Apparently it is a worldwide young Quaker activity that involves more violence than sex, as the aim has something to do with grabbing and wrestling the player to keep him/her from kissing someone else. There were no injuries this year.

The rest of us spent the last evening at the camp concert, a kind of talent show, in which Emily sang "When you wish upon a star" very slowly and very quietly, to loud applause, in a dress she made in the earlier craft activity. My camera seems to have done something weird to the last half of the pictures, so I may not have documentation of this event.

Then we cleaned up, and packed, and came home, which was very convenient, since were only about an hour away. It is cloudier here in Hamilton, though. We grew two huge and one moderate cucumber while were were gone. The cucumber vine and the one tomato plant with a head start (the one I did not grow from seed) have taken over half the garden. Weeds are working on the rest. I have quite a lot to learn about gardening here. But I will. Charlie came home in the evening, after a week at doggie camp with her cousins (she stayed with the breeder); she is a little shaggier, and seemed very happy to be home.

I hope you are all well, warm, and happy.
Carrie