far away fridays

Every summer of my kid’s lives has been charmed by this beautiful place called Pinecrest…well, up until two years ago anyway, that’s when their lives began filling with obligations of work schedules and family campouts had to take the backseat….one of the lesser attractions of growing up. My family loves this lake for its family atmosphere and its breathtaking design. Every summer allowed each of us the opportunity to explore different levels of nature. Here we could unwind by the campfire, kayak, fish, hike, or even explore more adventurous trails a bit higher where even more beauty could be discovered. This is the lake where I could let my kids go (greater distances each summer) with walkie-talkies in their pockets and not have to worry too much about them. Each year we would meet dear friends and catch-up with each other’s lives around the campfire. At Pinecrest there is a long-lived tale about a boy who went missing, so every night after dark when families are sitting around the campfire, they each take turns yelling at the top of their lungs, “Elmer!” I never could figure out why the little ones got such a great kick out of this, but it has been going on for years and years. I love family camping…the marshmallows…the smell of campfire…the sleeping bags…the pine trees…waking up to the brisk reality of another way to live and breathe…and of course, coffee never tasted so good! My very first experience at Pinecrest was with Annette and her family when we were little girls and then after Dave and I got married we went every year with family and friends…some of the people have moved away, and some have passed away, but I know my kids have very fond memories of stories and friends they have made for themselves, just as I do. I really hope it is a place we can revisit soon…it never seems to change…and that’s part of its charm.