Our August Trip to the Property

We started out our trip on Tuesday.  The weather forecast didn't look very good for Monday, and James had some work that he needed to do that morning.  We got up to the cabin on Tuesday afternoon.  The new deck looks awesome!  We used it SO much while we were there!

Wednesday morning we got up early (6:30...that's early for vacation, right?) and headed to Strawberry.  We rented one of their big pontoon boats and hit the water.

Megan caught the first fish.  But before we could get it in the boat and on the stringer, James had one on his line.  So I was helping Meg with hers while James took care of his fish and I got a bite on MY line.  Rachel reeled mine in and we had three nice rainbows within just a few minutes.  The rest of our time was pretty much the same.  There wasn't much time when there wasn't a fish on a line, and usually two or three at a time.  It was the best fishing EVER!  I've never been in a spot with that many fish in such a short time.  James had called ahead and asked what bait to bring.  The recommended garlic or corn scented power bait.  That's what we used.  It was an amazing day fishing!

We had to put this one of Rachel's back because it was in between the slot limit, meaning it was over 15 inches.  But it was a beautiful, fat fish!

 Sadie did good on the boat too!

As we were finishing up, the wind started to blow.  Hard.  And the waves started up.  It was kind of a miserable ride back to the marina.  We had planned to eat lunch on the boat (we still had it rented for an hour or so) but it was just too cold and wet.  So we ate in the van.

We caught ten nice big rainbows.  It was a GREAT day fishing.  All the fish were bigger than the paper towel they were laying on!

This is how Sadie rides in the car.  She is funny.  Sometimes she will lay down on the seat, but usually she will just sit and look out the window.  I swear she thinks she is a person!

 

We hit Red Fleet State park on Thursday.  We had never been there (although James remembers going when he was young)  It is a beautiful place!  Wow!  We are going back for SURE!

 The kids and James went fishing.  (Hey, someone had to take pictures!)  They saw little bluegill fish swimming in the water as they walked in.  It was a nice (if small!) sandy beach.  Sadie even went swimming!

 This is the campground at Red Fleet.  It was kinda strange, in that it was just a big grassy spot and you just plunked your tent down...not a lot of privacy or trees.  But the water and scenery would be worth it!)

 

Then we went to Steinaker State Park.  They are only about three miles apart, but very different in appearance.  Steinaker has a beautiful, big beach.  Had we known that we would have waited to swim here!  We'll just have to come back!  :)

 This is a pic of Mikayla and Sadie running down to the stream Friday morning.  They were cute together.  Sadie did awesome at the cabin.  Once she settled down and got used to it!  I wish we had gotten a picture of her chasing lizards!  That was pretty cute!  She wouldn't hurt them, just chase them!

Rachel is big enough to drive the rhino this year.  She did a great job!