Our one night stay in the partial hook-up site was not a problem. 20 amp electric was fine because the weather had been perfect with no need for the air conditioner and our holding tanks were more than adequate for one night without sewer hook-up. We woke-up to a beautiful view of Lake Sammamish from our bedroom window.
Today would start out like all moving days even though it wouldn't be very far. Our destination was staring us in the face. It was the full hook up site directly across the dirt road from our current site. Unfortunately this still required all the usual work of breaking down camp and hitching the truck followed by unhitching and setting up camp. Check out time was officially at 11am. Yesterday Suzy, the manager at Vasa Park, told us which spot would be ours and gave us the ok to take it as soon as the current occupant vacated. We had a leisurely morning, slept a little bit later and relaxed while keeping a close eye on our soon to be new location. Adam broke down camp and we hitched the truck to be prepared for the move at a moment’s notice. Since we had to change sites our plan was to stay at the campground and enjoy Lake Sammamish all day long. The weather was absolutely perfect for this. The girls were extremely excited to try out the playgrounds, both on land and in the lake. Around 10:30 the current occupant started pulling out and we very quickly moved right in.
Setting up at the new site
While Adam was setting up our new full hook up spot the girls were playing outside the RV and on the playground. They quickly made a new friend, Autumn. We thought she was also camping with her family at Vasa Park but her family was nowhere in sight. The girls kept asking her which RV or tent was hers. She had a footprint stamp on her hand that she told us she got from here. The girls were wondering why they didn’t also have one. We quickly realized she was a day guest and was not camping. Their new little friend Autumn was fascinated by our RV and she kept asking to come inside to see. Adam and I agreed to let her come in for a few minutes. They were all playing very nicely together and keeping themselves busy playing with the tree stump collection right outside of our camper.
Autumn eventually ended up going off with her family to swim. While we were still getting situated she knocked on our door for the girls. When we opened the door, Autumn pushed her dripping wet body right inside. Adam and I were less than thrilled with how comfortable she had made herself. We ended up nicely telling her to go back with her family and we would all be coming to the lake very soon. Keeping true to our promise, we were ready and at the lakefront within the next 10 minutes.
The girls had their life vests on so they were allowed to go right out to the floating island (the playground in the lake as they called it), about a 30 foot swim away. They couldn’t wait to do so because there were 2 tube slides in the middle and a diving board on either end. As soon as they stepped onto the dock they jumped right in to swim to the slides. The lifeguards were giving swim tests to anyone under the age of 15 who wanted to go to the island without wearing a life vest. They both really wanted to try but Adam and I would not let them. They quickly forgot as they were having the best time swimming out, sliding, diving and repeating and repeating and repeating.
At times the ducks were swimming right along with everyone and the girls were loving it.
After some time on their own Adam joined and the three were having a blast sliding, diving and swimming. There was also a roped off shallow end and the girls were swimming and playing in this section too.
After going back and forth between the island and the shallow end they decided to take a break from the lake. The playground was right in back of where we were sitting. Their favorite thing to do was spin on the merry go round. They had found Autumn again and the three of them stayed in the playground for quite some time.
When it was time for dinner Adam found a counter service Greek restaurant a quick ride away. He ran over to get us something.
While he was out the girls were on the dock doing the slides. All of a sudden the Sheriff’s boat appeared and started spraying the kids with water. They were all loving it and the shrieks of happiness could be heard loud and clear from the shore. The sheriff was having a great time as he would go from one section to the other spraying the kids. When all that finished and the girls came in they told me how the sheriff asked if they wanted to be sprayed. They responded back with a huge yes and immediately their wish was granted and the water was showering right at them. Adam was disappointed he didn’t get to see this and I wasn’t able to get a good picture of it. We sat by the lake to eat our dinner.
Around 7:30pm Suzy came over the loudspeaker and started giving the day guests a warning as Vasa Park closed to the public in thirty minutes at 8:00pm. As the sun came down and the people cleared out we continued to stay by the lake. The noise and commotion of the day settled into a quiet and peaceful night. A beautiful bird we guessed was a heron landed right in front of us and we watched it for quite some time.
Suddenly a group of mallard ducks resting on the beach scurried from the sand into the water and quickly swam away. Shortly after that we saw a river otter come out of the water and scamper down the sand in the direction of the ducks. Thankfully that was the extent of their interaction. We definitely would not have enjoyed a front row seat to an otter-duck standoff.
An eagle started soaring around in the sky while we watched the sun set.
After some time had passed the ducks must have felt safe again. They all came up into the sand and curled up for the night under one of the beachside tables.
After being surrounded by people all day, sitting in the quiet with a handful of other campers enjoying the amazing scenery and the nature all around us was a wonderful note to end on.
