Hood River is a small town of about 7,000. Like most small towns, they celebrate the 4th of July with a town parade. Our friends, the Dierkers, had been invited to walk in the parade in support of their friend who is running for state senate. The more the merrier so the McLains joined in the parade too. We were very near the front of the parade so we were able to peel off at the end and watch the parade pass as well. My first favorite parade entry was the senior lady baton twirlers with an average age of 60. Super fun costumes and legit dance routine. Second favorite entry was the marching band, again of just seniors, called The Beat Goes On. They were also fun to watch. After the parade we relaxed in their city park and listened to the live music and munched on black berries, a local favorite.
We went back to Todd and Stacey's for lunch and a few hours to hang out with them and play in their yard. They live on 1/3 acre and have all kinds of kid-friendly toys to include a trampoline, tree swing, and badminton net. The badminton was the favorite activity, but the McLains lost to the home team.
Our first party of the day was billed as a slip 'n slide party. We brought our suits and we also picked up some pool floats on our way. The host family lives on a large piece of property which gently slopes down hill. For many years they have been hosting this party on the 4th and they have fine-tuned their slip n slide. It was about 8 feet wide and 100 feet long. The father has constructed a rubber launch pad at the start at the top of the hill, soft bumper edging to keep the riders in the slide, a custom sprinkler system which watered the entire slide and at the bottom a splash down pool which was about 3 feet deep. All year long he stores this structure in his barn and each July 4th he re-installs it in his back yard. It was so much fun. The kids spent hours riding up and running back up the hill. Even the adults took turns and it was really fun. The day after afforded some sore muscles.
Party number two was to another friend's house near the Columbia River to watch the professional fireworks display over the river. It was great and we were so tired by the end of the night
We are so grateful to the Dierkers for their friendship and for showing us such a great holiday. Their home town is a delight and I am so glad they have built such a wonderful group of friends.
Yesterday was a drive day. We broke camp by 11am and pointed toward the coast. Dave drove about 6 hours and the kids took turns napping, putting together puzzles, and journaling. Adelaide keeps a really great scrap book and each day she prints a few pictures of our trip. We arrived in Langlois, OR, just outside of Bandon, about dinner time. We cooked some brats and pasta and had a rare campout dinner next to our RV. Almost every breakfast is in the RV and most lunches too, but we are usually out and about at dinner time.
We rounded out our evening with a campfire and s'mores and had a really good day.
- Jll
We went back to Todd and Stacey's for lunch and a few hours to hang out with them and play in their yard. They live on 1/3 acre and have all kinds of kid-friendly toys to include a trampoline, tree swing, and badminton net. The badminton was the favorite activity, but the McLains lost to the home team.
Our first party of the day was billed as a slip 'n slide party. We brought our suits and we also picked up some pool floats on our way. The host family lives on a large piece of property which gently slopes down hill. For many years they have been hosting this party on the 4th and they have fine-tuned their slip n slide. It was about 8 feet wide and 100 feet long. The father has constructed a rubber launch pad at the start at the top of the hill, soft bumper edging to keep the riders in the slide, a custom sprinkler system which watered the entire slide and at the bottom a splash down pool which was about 3 feet deep. All year long he stores this structure in his barn and each July 4th he re-installs it in his back yard. It was so much fun. The kids spent hours riding up and running back up the hill. Even the adults took turns and it was really fun. The day after afforded some sore muscles.Party number two was to another friend's house near the Columbia River to watch the professional fireworks display over the river. It was great and we were so tired by the end of the night
We are so grateful to the Dierkers for their friendship and for showing us such a great holiday. Their home town is a delight and I am so glad they have built such a wonderful group of friends.
- Jll
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