Day 1: ChelanWe hurriedly ate our lunch at our house, loaded the car and started the 3 1/2 hour trek to lake Chelan. Two mountain passes and three movies later, we pulled into Campbells—a historic lodge turned beautiful resort. We were delighted to enter our surprisingly beautiful lakefront room. No dated floral bedspreads or tasteless art in sight. The decor was classy and modern with a Northwest twist. The walls were adorned with pictures of mid 20th century families enjoying the lake. We had a sliding glass door that opened to our own private patio, and a path led down to the beach and pool.
We decided to eat a quick dinner at what turned out to be a overpriced, overrated restaurant, and head back to Campbell's to enjoy the water. Tula was quick to wade into the lake up to her torso followed by me, and eventually Patrick. Alden had no interest in getting his feet wet, but instead stood happily in the sand throwing "boats" (sticks) into the lake.
It was getting late and we decided we didn't haul all of the pool accessories from Seattle for nothing. It took some persuasion, but eventually the kids decided to trade their sticks and rocks for swimsuits and floaty toys. I spent five minutes blowing up an inflatable car for Tula to float in, and nearly passed out—she hated it. First, I thought she just didn't like being in the water, but it turned out she just didn't want anyone to hold her—not even a giant floating car. That works fine at a wading pool or the beach, but not so well when the shallow end of the hotel pool is two inches over her head. She would stand on the stair and without trepidation, attempt to walk off of it into the deep water.
She is one stubborn girl (ahem... admittedly, with a stubborn mommy). She screamed when I put her back in the floaty car, screamed when I tried to hold her to swim, and she screamed loudest when I hauled her—flailing arms and legs—out of the pool. I had originally hoped to slip stealthily in and out of the water in my not-so-flattering bathing suit. Instead, I didn't have time to even grab a towel, and I was walking past a couple hundred windows trying to strong-arm a tantrum-throwing toddler.
Meanwhile, Alden and Patrick played and splashed in the pool. If you've ever heard our past swimming pool stories, you know this is a surprise! The last time we were in a pool Alden had a life jacket, two noodles, and a rubber duck and still wouldn't uncurl from a ball in the waist-high water. I'm glad to see him overcome some of his fears!
The day ended with the kids in bed and Patrick and I sitting outside on the patio drinking a glass of red wine, watching the moon dance on the ripples of the lake. I thought to myself, "Are we crazy for leaving all of this after one day, and boating up into the woods?"
Check back tomorrow to find out if Stehekin was worth the 2 1/2 hour boat ride and to see some pictures of my dear, camera shy, husband!
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