Freestone Family Vacation

August 2011

Family on the deck

This was our second trip this year to the Freestone Inn, this time with all the kids, grandkids and my mom. We rented the Steelhead Lodge at the Freestone for the family trip and the house could not have been better. With three bedrooms a big kitchen and a deck that overlooked the lake it was perfect for us.

Steelhead Lodge	View from the deck

Sunday, August 28

Catherine, Marshall and I drove up together and stopped in Chelan for lunch on the way. We arrived at the lodge first and got unpacked and ready for everyone else to arrive. Catherine headed to the pool, Marshall to the lake and hot tub and I went to fish so I could keep an eye out. I got one trout about the time Kristen, Cadence and Mom showed up. We all joined Catherine at the pool for a swim and got back to the cabin just as Christian, Jenny and Nolan arrived.

Cadence in the pool	Catherine lounging after her swim
Tim & Mom	Kristen hanging by the pool

Marshall

While they settled Cadence and I hit the lake and got a couple of trout. Cade learned how to retrieve a Prince nymph, played one trout and learned how to net fish.

Me & Cade fishing	Cadence fly fishing	Cadence with the first trout of the trip

We did a dinner of salmon, corn and asparagus on the grill then all caught up over dinner followed by smores and the start of a killer game of 9-hole golf.

Grilling dinner	Smores
Playing 9-hole golf	Happy grandkids

Monday, August 29

Catherine, Marshall and I got up early and headed for Goat Peak. We stopped at the Mazama Inn for coffee and pastry then headed up the road to the trailhead. Catherine had to get out and herd some cattle which were in the road at one point. We were the only car at the trailhead at 7:45 a.m. and quickly were on our way up. On the hump Marshall pulled ahead of us and we didn't see him again until we were nearing the summit. We stayed a while at the lookout with Chad who was subbing for Lightning Bill before heading back down. We were back down the trail quickly and back at the lodge around 11:00.

Cows on the road	Goat Peak trailhead

Panorama at Goat Peak Saddle

Marshall waiting for us at the summit	Tim & Catherine at summit

Once back I decided to fish before lunch and got the mid-day damsel feed perfectly. I got about four fish on adult damsels then a big midge hatch began and I switched from the #10 damsel to a #24 black Raccoon and caught another four or five fish on the midge. Browns seemed to prefer damsels while rainbows took the midges.

Kristen, Cadence and Mom had headed for Winthrop for the morning where they hit some shops, played mini-golf and had ice cream (before lunch!) Chris, Jenny and Nolan went to the Mazama store and then hung out at the Inn.

Mini Golf	Ice cream in the saddles

We all had lunch then took off for the afternoon hike to Cutthroat Lake. The two mile hike the lake mid-day was a bit warm but enjoyable. Cadence had to stop and eat a lot along the way but made it to the lake on her own. I was a bit worried about the hike back out but she did pretty good by distracting herself telling stories about the imaginary funny bear we ran into on the hike.

Cutthroat Trailhead	On the trail...	Chris, Jenny & Nolan

At the log bridge	At the lake

We got back to the house and prepared a big mexi-feast before continuing the game of 9-hole golf which Cadence won by a landslide.

Tuesday, August 30

Catherine and I woke up way before everyone else so I took off for an 11-mile run while she did yoga. By the time I got back people were stirring so we had breakfast and started the day. Kristen, Cadence and I rented bikes and did a ride up the Methow Community Trail to the Mazama Store where we had ice cream and got goat shirts for Cadence and Nolan. I had never road with a tag-along behind the bike before, it took a bit of getting used to but after a bit Cadence got better at balance and made it easier. Catherine, Marshall, Chris, Jenny, Nolan and Mom all walked up to the River Run trail and did a long walk.

On the road before we hit the trail	At the Mazama Store

After lunch it was fishing and swimming time. Catherine and Marshall went to the pool and the rest of us to the lake and hot tub. The lake was actually warmer than the pool. Nolan got to have his first swim experience in his crab floaty while Cadence swam around with me. She did some wade fishing with me later but there was only one brown for the day.

Cadence in the lake	Nolan in his floaty

On the beach

For dinner we all drove into Winthrop to East 20 Pizza where we devoured 4 large pizzas between us. We then stopped for ice cream (again) and headed back for another game of cards which was won by Kristen this time around.

Family pizza night	followed by more ice cream

Yee Haw!!!

Wednesday, August 31

On our last day Catherine and I again got up first and I took off for a run while Catherine did yoga. When I got back Marshall was up so he and I went to the Mazama Store for milk and a couple of incredible, still warm blueberry scones. Back at the house everyone was still asleep so I headed to the lake. On the first cast I hooked the biggest trout I'd ever hooked in the lake, it must have been about 5-6 lbs. Unfortunately I never got it in to measure, close in he was rolling and head shaking hard and snapped the 5x tippet. Oh well, just then a midge hatch started in full and Cadence showed up so we spent the next hour catching one brown and three rainbows on midges before we had to stop to go eat breakfast and pack up to leave.

Cadence petting a trout	Fishing with our goat shirts on
Tim fishing	Last trout of the trip