Bear Attacks!

Stories of bears invading camp, sneaking candy out from under pillows, were hindering my peaceful night's sleep. I was trying hard to focus my ears on the calming ripple of the stream running alongside my tent. I could feel myself drifting off at last, when a low growl to my left broke my trance-like state.

"I KNEW IT! I should have put my deoderant in the bear can like I was told!"

Wait, there it was again, a rumble off to my right this time. "Wow! He moves fast!"

Suddenly, to my great relief, that moment of fleeting panic was quickly doused by my own laughter as I realized it wasn't a bear's fearsome growl that was frightening me... it was the thundering snores of Mr Adams and Mr Redmond! First on my left, now on my right, back to my left. It was a bit like dueling noses...only not so melodic.

I knew I should have taken that empty tent on the other end of our campsite.

CAMP WHITSETT NEWS

Camp Whitsett Welcomes us with extremely limited and achingly slow internet and absolutely NO phone service... so no blogging like last year. In fact, my phone's dead from "searching for service", so no pics from me. Mr Finley may have better luck, so keep checking in.

We met the water first. Cold, dark... I didn't like it. AT ALL! No Gamble boys to cheer me on with, "Come on, Mrs Redmond! My mom would do this!" Everybody passed but Donna. Then I met the tree. Bill hoisted me up to hang the "bear bag line", wow I've never been so tall! But I got my first camp wounds as I grabbed onto the tree and slashed my fingers on the way down. Blood isn't a good color on me. Already had one lost boy, one head injury, and our turn at the mess hall. Perfect way to start our week, I say! Did you know that pine cones could draw blood, too? Matt's head could tell you stories. Ok, here's the first real blog: The evening sky glowed orange and purple as the crowd gathered at the ampitheater near the lake. With the coming of dark, the noise hushed to a restless silence. All eyes were drawn toward the sound of soft paddles entering the water in the distance, stroke after stroke. Faintly, a single flame came drifting slowly across the lake. Soon you could make out Indians in full dress canoeing toward the shoreline. As they disembarked, the ceremony began, fires were lit, and the fun started..."There was a moose named Fred!" (YES! I know this one!!) In keeping with that proud Scouting tradition, the bad jokes and silly songs kept us laughing and groaning, sitting and standing, singing and clapping throughout the night. Awww... the joy of Boy Scout Summer Camp. I hope I get to do this every year for a long time to come!

Ok, there's a line at the computer... and everyone's already jealous cuz I've got my own private HOT shower (being one of the few women in camp...) so I better GIT! More to come daily, if I can...

Love to all you suckers who stayed home! HA! Mrs Red