We woke up on Monday morning feeling super happy - everyone, including me, had slept from 9-6. Liesl was thrilled to be feeling better. So we made a fire, roasted apples and bacon and bagels, and drank hot chocolate and marshmallows in celebration of a great sleeping night. And then we drove a mile down to the trailhead for Sahalie and Koosah Falls on the McKenzie River.
I have seen the falls before, but the volume and drop of water is so impressive and fun to see.
The falls were amazing to view, but the forest was a perfect playground for two imaginative kids. They dunked pine cones into the hole of a tree root, climbed up stumps, balanced their way across logs, and jumped across the trail into a bed of soft bark.
And then we headed back to our campground and lake for more kayaking. Our goal today was to make it to the far side of the lake, to the little store. It would have been far easier if Liesl rode in the kayak with us, but she was determined to ride her floatie across, so that's what we did.
By then it was mid-afternoon and the kids were tired and hungry, so we settled in to read books for a few hours. I went for a short run along the lake and came back to find them paddling around the cove.
After dinner, I was seized by the urge to take the kayak out at sunset -- just because we could! What a luxury to have our own boat! and I'm so glad we did. It was truly the magical hour. There were a few other boats with people fishing, but the lake was still and calm, the fish were jumping, and some birds were diving to catch fish and then fighting with each other in midair above us. We watched and watched, turning our boat to keep things in view, until darkness finally drove us ashore. It was pure magic, and the best part was watching and listening to the kids' appreciation and awe.
The birds crash-landed headfirst into the water as they caught their fish. It looked painful! They only succeeded 1/10 times, I would guess.
And then to bed, in our tent, overlooking the gorgeous lake.
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