Camping- Vashon Style

We joined 6 other families this weekend and camped at Dockton Marine Park on Maury Island.  In all we had 14 adults, 13 kids and 4 dogs.  The park opened up 6 kayak, bike or hike in sites on Vashon last year.  The campsites are over looking the sound and Rainer.  It was an amazing place to camp and we didn't even have to leave the island.  The hike in is about 1/2 a mile from the parking lot.

 The temperatures were great and the kids took advantage of it and went for a swim.

 We enjoyed a potluck meal with an amazing view.

 The kids had a blast running around and playing various games.  

  Bocce ball

 All of the sudden the wind picked up and you could see all the fuzzies flying off of the Dogwood trees.  It was magical.

Catching the fuzzies

 Watching the sunset over the mountain

 

 There has been an abandoned boat on the side of the beach for awhile.  The kids decided to take it for a ride.

 Enjoying conversation and sitting with 2 furry friends

 

 It was a beautiful, clear night with a full moon.

 The bocce balls lit up at night and the kids played on the the hill playing many games.

The clear night allowed us to watch the international space station pass over head.  In the morning the kids were up early to begin where they left off in their games and the adults sat and watched seals and porpoises.  It was a really fun camping trip and we can't wait to do it again. 

Olympic Discovery Trail Bike Trip

This weekend to celebrate Scott's birthday, we did a 25 mile bike/camping trip.  It was a beautiful weekend with lots of sunshine!  I was so impressed with the kids.  They have never biked more than 8 to 10 miles at one time because they usually bike when we run.  The trail is a mostly paved 140 mile trail that starts in Port Townsend and ends on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in La Push.  We did a paved portion from Port Angeles to Sequim.  We stopped at Sequim Bay State park to camp for the night. 

The Spring blooms were amazing along the trail.  This stretch out of Port Angeles had a lot of dogwoods.  There was another stretch in Sequim that had more dogwoods and so many lilacs.  

Maia wailed the first few miles and tried to jump out even though she was belted in.  We ran her a few miles to tire her out and then put her back in.  She was only quiet if I led the bike pack but if anyone else went up front, she would wail again.

 We enjoyed s'mores later.  

There was a beach and a dock at the State Park.  We loved watching a few crabs pick the dock for their evening meal. 

 The campsite had an amazing sunset.

 An animal tried to get into one of our bear boxes last night.  I think it was a racoon.  See the racoon face in the picture, she left her signature.  

 Good morning!

The route took us a total of 4 hours and 45 minutes from start to end with 3 1/2 hours of biking time.  The trail was mostly flat except for a few hills out of Port Angeles.  The ride had 1,000 feet of elevation gain and was a blast to ride. We were in and out of dark forests, along open farm fields, and along the water.