Day 4- Entiat River Camping

This was our last morning of our backpacking trip. When we woke up we noticed it had rained a little that night, but we did not hear it. It was around 40 degrees when we woke up so Kent built a fire to keep us warm as we made breakfast and packed up.

We had eight more miles to cover and we needed some energy. Kent helped this by making us some buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. Even though our syrup fell over when we tried to heat it up in warm water, they tasted so good!

It tasted as good as it looked!

We finished the eight miles with only a little moaning and whining at the end. The last two miles seemed like four because our feet were killing us! It was Sunday, so there were more people on the trail than when we originally hiked in. We saw two groups of people on horses and also two groups with llamas. We were happy when Cassy did not make a big fuss around the animals. Once we reached Wenatchee (after over an hour of driving out) we stopped by Easy's for some well deserved hamburgers and a peanut butter milkshake. Then home to rest and take a shower!

Tubing!

Today we went tubing down the Wenatchee River. It was a very warm 95* and the water was still high enough to have a few fun waves.

Caitlin's friend (also from Petersburg, AK) Monique was visiting us from La Grande, Oregon for a few days. She has been studying for her nursing boards and Caitlin has already taken hers, so they have a lot in common.

Lake Wenatchee

We have tried to go canoeing on Lake Wenatchee for years! Every time we load up the canoe and drive the 45 minutes to Lake Wenatchee, the wind starts howling! This time, we had a back-up plan of going swimming in the nearby Wenatchee River... and it worked! Only a slight wind and small waves as you can see in the photo below. No white-caps!

Kent had climbed the mountain (above photo: right) and had checked out the area a while before, so he knew where to go. We passed by some people moving very slowly in there kyaks and headed up the White River.

Kent and Cassy on the White River. You can see how "white" the river actually is! There was a current, but it was not too strong to keep us from making our way up the river. We loved all the tiny beaches and spots to rest. Too bad the river was glacier cold!

As soon as this beaver saw us he swam right up to us! Then with a splash of his tail he was back to his underwater home.

We will definitely come back to this beautiful spot. Too bad a huge log jam has blocked us from going any further up the river. We were all alone except for Mr. Beaver and two jet skis that slightly interrupted our peaceful meanderings... oh well.

Festival Orchestra-Lake Chelan Bach Fest

Even though the clouds were rolling in and the planes flew overhead, we put on a wonderful outdoor concert at the Riverwalk Pavilion in Chelan. Even when the raindrops started dropping on the violins in the front row, we continued to the end. We performed a variety of works from a Beethoven symphony to a medley of West Side Story songs.

Festival Orchestra performing Harry Janos: Intermezzo by Zoltan Kodaly. French horn solo by Annie! :)

You can spot Annie right behind the conductor's baton!

Kent is in the back row counting measures of rests... what's new!?

This has to be one of the most beautiful settings for an orchestra. Sometimes we wish we could pull up some lawn chairs and watch the sun go down listening to beautiful classical music!

A powerful horn section! Annie Chalmers, Teri Snyder (from East Wenatchee), Sean Brown (a student from Eastern WA University), and Richard West (from Seattle).

Lake Chelan Bach Festival

We were invited to perform in the Festival Orchestra of at the annual Lake Chelan Bach Festival last week. We were housed at one of the choir members beautiful house on Lake Chelan all week while we had rehearsals leading up to the performances on Friday and Saturday evenings.

During our week long stay in Chelan and Manson we enjoyed mini golf, the water slide park, bowling, swimming in the lake, canoeing and eating at the various restaurants in Chelan. Along with the high level of music and great company of the other musicians, we had a wonderful time.

Caitlin: look at the ball! :)

Annie demonstrating poor technique. (Grandpa, all your lessons really didn't help this day!)

Kent performing a back flip off of our housing's dock into the lake. He attempted various stunts this day.

Kent performed a solo on Wednesday afternoon to a packed crowd at the United Methodist Church for Bach Fest's noon concert. His was happy to have Dawn Hoyer from Cashmere accompanying him.

Enjoying Lake Chelan

Annie's parents and Caitlin joined us on a short trip up to Lake Chelan. We had a picnic of hot dogs and fruit and enjoyed a few hours of reading in the shade, playing in the water with Cassy and watching the various speed boats load up and leave the small harbour. The weather was very warm, so we enjoyed a cold icecream cone on the way home.

Caitlin got splashed by Cassy as she was chasing the rocks Caitlin threw.

Cassy waits patiently for her hot dog.

8 Mile Lake Hike

On Sunday we took Annie's parents, John and Carol and Annie's sister, Caitlin on a hike up to 8 Mile Lake. The hike was three miles into the lake and three miles back with a gain of elevation of 1200'.

There were many wildflowers and butterflies along the way. We were slightly bothered by the mosquitoes and flies that followed us up the trail.

John standing in front of the first lake (smaller one).

Kent fished for a few minutes, had a lot of bites and caught one cutthroat trout.

A marmot was very interested in our lunch. At one point he was only two feet away from us before we scared it away.

Mount St. Helens

After our last tests we drove to Keizer, OR and spent the night there. In the morning we drove the scenic way home stopping by Mount St. Helens. As you can see in the background, it was letting out a steady stream of smoke. It was an amazing drive through the mountains where trees had been toppled over by the volcanic eruption in 1980.

Annie's Mom and Dad in front of the volcano.

4th of July

Every year the American Band College loads all 200 band directors on to three flat bed trucks for the 4th of July Parade. The weather was very warm, but we had a great time playing for the very eclectic crowd.

Kent played lead trumpet in the jazz band before the 4th of July outdoor concert held at the Ashland High School Stadium.

Annie warms up in the French horn section.

We were so happy to have our family at our last 4th of July fireworks concert. Both of our parents came flew down to join us for the weekend. Annie's grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins joined them for the festivities.

Graduation!

Our baby photos will be displayed in the halls for many years to come!

Annie accepts her plaque for her Masters degree in conducting from American Band College.

Kent joined Max and Scott McKee and recieved his plaque.

Kent, Annie, and Keith... GO VANDALS!