A Grand Entrance to Family Camp

Backblipped one week late -- On Father's Day Sunday we packed everything we thought we'd possibly need to spend a week on California's Catalina Island at Campus By the Sea family camp tucked into Gallagher's Cove. We've been attending camp since summer of 1980. Grandpa Fun, Gramma Rosie, granddaughter Desiree and her little 2 year old son, Tristan, were on an adventure.

The boat was scheduled to leave from the Port of San Pedro at 3:30, but we had received noticed of a schedule change -- 5:00 p.m. was the new departure time. Crossing the 26 mile channel would take approximately 1 hour. We arrived at camp that evening sometime after 6:00. Des had not been to camp since she was a young adolescent. This would be the first time to bring our great grandson.

We embarked the boat. Then right next to Tristan's window, the boat crewman tightened and secured the ropes. The hour passed quickly and soon we could see the island from the boat's front window. Moments later we were at the camp's dock and pier. The waves were surging and tide was high. So the ramp up to the pier was steeper than normal and disembarking the boat took longer than usual.

I was holding Tristan and finally it was our turn to walk off the boat and onto the dock. As I walked up the steep ramp to the pier all camp staff members were lined-up and applauding each camper. When Little Tristan heard the clapping he just smiled from ear-to-ear; everyone just applauded louder and Tristan's shyness won over as he buried his face in my shoulder. A grand entrance is the only way to describe that encouraging welcoming moment.

Once all campers were off the boat the camp staff was down the ramp, into the boat and lugging luggage to the shore. Everyone was then told which cabin would be theirs for the week. We were given Seagull's Suite. It is a rustic camp, so cabins have no electricity. Battery operated lanterns and flashlights provided illumination. Then we were all off to find our cabin and get our things unpacked.

The evening meal followed quickly and then the first group gathering where we all got to meet each other and see who was there. Families had come from Arizona, Washington State, Colorado, and of course California.

We were pleased to see families with kids of all ages. Tristan was so interested in the other young children and that first night all the kids were invited onto the stage to participate in the children's songs. It was the first time Tristan saw and heard the kids doing "The Butterfly Song." He loved it.

When activities concluded the four of us headed to our cabin to crawl into our sleeping bags and snooze the night away. I knew that Mr. Fun would want to be at the shoreline the next morning to meet the daylight as it arrived. So getting to bed early was important. It was Tristan's first night on a cabin bunk in a sleeping bag. Desiree got to experience Grandpa's snoring and I am sure that is one memory we'll chuckle about for the remainder of our lives.

June 21 was the longest day of the year and we were thrilled to have daylight well into the late evening.

Day 1 and we were already learning that -- memories are the very best souvenirs.

Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol