Maya’s Birthday Swim
Maya the Birthday Girl by Margo
Birthday, Bush Whacking, Blueberries and Bears!
Five of us set out to do Brockton Point, Depencier Bluffs, and Mystery Lake for a swim. Six were meant to start, but volunteering to feed a large group of kids over several days at a summer camp took its toll on one person. The 60th birthday girl was the youngest. The leader got the group lost on more than one occasion. But the result was great: bush whacking, trail finding, and great scenery were the result. Including seeing several bears (see photo).
We had to guide a couple past one bear, from atop a cliff after yet another wrong path. We were just back tracking the same path when we stumbled upon a bear cooling off in a tarn - see photo. This was a great moment. Made up for the bush whacking required to get to where we wanted to go.
From Brockton and the Bluffs, we had great 360 views including Mt. Baker peeking out from the mist/smoke/pollution. It was hot and tiring so lunch was taken in the only shady spot on top of the bluffs, besidesome stunted trees.
A toast with dairy-free Bailey's was made. (Yes! There is such a thing!). The dark chocolate covered mangoes were a great hit too. Dairy free too.
And then the swim in Mystery Lake, to top it all off, was magical. What surprised us at Mystery Lake was our eldest member. More than 10 years older than the birthday girl, he took the longest time to get into the water, swam the farthest, and spent the longest time in the water. I take my hat off to him.
It was a hot day. Tiring. But the company was great. The toasts were great and the gift exchange was something else too. Let's just say that when one card was read the laughter heard would have scared any bear for miles away.
