Campfires, salamanders, skip-flat rocks, unwashed hair, musty sleeping bags, fast-melting ice cream bars, cousins-aunts-uncles-grandparents-friends, wet towels, waterbirds, plastic shovels, creaking boat oars, the startle-flop of a hooked fish, smelly lifejackets, crispy molten-centered marshmallows, evening bats, lingering gunpowder smoke. Summer!

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On the way to the Vincent Creek/Smith River area last Thursday night. We drove down to the cabin from Seattle, left Dylan with his grandparents, re-packed the truck and headed out another 45 minutes to get to the campsite.

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The official campground was full and we were thinking well shit when JB spotted a tiny drivable spot that led down to the water.

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It was shallow enough to cross and we—okay, mostly JB—shlepped all our camping gear over to a beautiful stretch of rocks on the other side of the river. (I know, right? Hello beefcake.)

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Totally secluded area, gorgeous scenery, child losing his mind with the joy of his first camping trip. My god, what more could a person ask for?

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OH THAT’S RIGHT: MARSHMALLOWS.

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If you don’t burn your marshmallow to a flaming ball of sugary death, peel off the crispy blackened carcinogenic layer, eat it, then burn the insides at least two more times, I don’t even want to know you.

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JB found a bunch of these creepy motherfuckers and proceeded to freak us right the hell out by picking them up with his actual fingers.

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Later, Riley and I pretended to be crawdads. PINCH PINCH PINCH OH HO HO I GOT YOU HA HA HA listen it’s funny if you’re three.

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I wish Dylan was in this photo, but I don’t wish that hard enough to second-guess our decision not to bring him, because this would have been an entirely different experience had we been chasing a toddler around the rocks/water/open flames the whole time. Next year, little D.

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We came back to the cabin on Friday, and that’s where we stayed for the rest of the weekend. JB and his brother carried out their annual Boomapalooza over the river, and it was awesome as always.

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Riley stuck it out for the small fireworks . . .

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. . . although he wasn’t too happy about them. Once the big ones started, he assumed his usual position inside the cabin with Grandma, who is another member of Team I Hate Loud-Ass Explosions.

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The weather was phenomenal all weekend and we spent a lot of time on the water.

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It’s hard to tell in this picture but you should be totally impressed and shit because that rock I just jumped off was about fifty seven trillion feet high. I’m pretty badass, especially with my plugged nose and all.

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Riley got to hang out with his cousin Brodie and you can just tell they’re going to be friends forever. I love seeing those two playing together.

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I feel like I take this exact photo every time we go to the cabin, but what can I say, it’s pretty out there.

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Who’s tired from this perfect summer weekend? All of us, man.

Last, I’ll leave you with probably the most patriotic video ever captured in the history of mankind. It’s so goshdarn all-American in its content I will caution that your boss may not appreciate you playing the audio at top volume, so you may want to consider turning down your speakers before enjoying.

Happy Fourth of July, Bald Eagle! from Linda Lee on Vimeo.

Happy fuckin’ 4th of July, friends. Hope you had a good one.

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Gleemonex
14 years ago

Holy marshmallow-flaming Shatner — I thought nothing on this earth could make me want to go camping, ever ever ever. But this — this did. A little. Can I come with, next time?

BellyGirl
14 years ago

Your hair is rocking my world! I like the longish-flipped out goodness. And JB? Dude, he is ALL man, trekking across the river and grabbing crabs from the river. Did he pound on his chest a bunch during the weekend too? Hot hot hot.

Shelly
14 years ago

Awesome pics! That location looks amazing! When you suggested keeping the volume down on the video while at work, I was like, meh… but then when JB yells Happy Fuckin 4th…I flipped out slamming the mouse on the desk trying to turn down the volume. Oops!

Anonymous
Anonymous
14 years ago

DAYAM! Your huzband is sexy.

oregoncoastgirl
oregoncoastgirl
14 years ago

LOVE THE VIDEO. Well, and the pictures, too.

kat
kat
14 years ago

dude. looks awesome. and amazing.

bouncy
bouncy
14 years ago

Seeing pictures of your nice family makes me genuinely happy.

Rhi
Rhi
14 years ago

In Oregon? There is an entire FESTIVAL celebrating those little creepy crawdads. BLECH.

kim at allconsuming
14 years ago

I have no idea where you are in the States, but I want to go there right this very minute.

Lesley
Lesley
14 years ago

What Bouncy said. Your whole family seems lovely, Oregon is drop dead gorgeous, and you and JB are smokin’ hot.

Also, the eagle video is hilarious.

Jasie VanGesen
14 years ago

That video is so classic.

Alyson
14 years ago

Ya know, you can eat those pinchy things…..

But your pics DO make me yearn for the days when my boys were little……OK, not so much, but they do bring back fond memories.

Victoria
14 years ago

I love everything about this trip you were on and the photos are absolutely awesome and you’re all fantastically good looking people and YAY!

Rachael
Rachael
14 years ago

I already had a crush on JB but that pic and the cheeky grin he gave after his cry to the bald eagle. HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Soleil
14 years ago

“If you don’t burn your marshmallow to a flaming ball of sugary death, peel off the crispy blackened carcinogenic layer, eat it, then burn the insides at least two more times, I don’t even want to know you.”

I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!?!

Lisa
Lisa
14 years ago

great post – what a gorgeous family you have!

Melissa D.
Melissa D.
14 years ago

Great pics and just laughed my ass off at JB on the video.

Josh
14 years ago

I saw a bald eagle once. I was standing next to a big ass highway unloading rental chairs for a wedding. It wasn’t really that majestic of a scene to see the national bird. Oh well, at least I can say I’ve seen JB shirtless! Way hay hay!