Girls' Camp

I had been asked to attend Girl's Camp this year, to help with driving, hauling camping gear, and generally supervising.  Then two weeks before camp, I hurt my knee.  I told Craig he would have to go in my place, after all there were four other men going and he wouldn't be alone.  He told me that was never going to happen and that I would just have to get well.

So, on June 15, we set off for Zion's National Park.  I was still on crutches.  We set up our tent.  OK, so Brother Bradbury set up the tent.  I was on crutches, remember???

Lisa Payne had the cot, I was on an air mattress.  We had plenty of room.

The girls moved all the tables into a common eating area.

The next day was a traveling day.  We went to the Saint George, Utah temple (about 1 1/2 hours away).

We also went to the Mountain Meadows Massacre site.  Such a sad time in Church history.  A few men, acting on their own, afraid and worried, caused the deaths of many innocent people.  The church maintains this site in remembrance.

We also went to Pine Valley and saw this little church which is still operational.  It was so beautiful there.  At lease 20 degrees cooler than at camp.  Surrounded by hills.

Zion's Canyon was beautiful, but hot.  I mean, really hot.  It was over 100 degrees every day.  Here is a view of the mountain from our camp.  At night the wind blew something fierce.  Brother Bradbury's tent collapsed on him several times that first night.  The next day he added some tie lines to stabilize it.  It was hard to sleep.

By the third day, my hair was dirty and sweaty.  I washed it in cold water at the communal bathrooms, then told Brenda to "do something" with it and that I did NOT want it on my forehead.

I kept it in these tight braids for the rest of the week.  Frankly I didn't care how it looked, it was cooler than having it on my face and on my neck.

On the third day, Brenda Calloway broke her ankle.  I gave her my crutches.  Such a coincidence that I would have them there for her.  Each afternoon, while the girls were hiking, Brenda and I would go to the river near the camp and just sit in the cold water for an hour or two.  Then, when the leaders and girls came back, we would hobble back to camp for dinner.  Here is our Bishop, kicking back.

On the last day, we went into town for ice cream.

We had such a good time.  The ride home took forever!!!  Maybe I'll get to go next year without the crutches.