This past weekend, for the third summer in the row, we all¹I think we ended up with 20 of us — and 3 dogs! visited East Lake. Thanks to Kristi and Troy, we had an abundance of kayaks, a canoe, and a “relaxation station” to play with. Matt and Erica brought another canoe and a stand-up paddleboard. We all brought our swimsuits and sunscreen, though many didn’t use the latter enough.

Miska, Gilly, and Mousse enjoyed playing fetch and swimming in the water. Unfortunately, the beach was tough on their paws. We’re going to need to find a solution for that next time. Does anyone have a positive experience using dog booties?²If you haven’t done so, you must search for dog booties videos on the internet. High-stepping fun!

Some went to the obsidian flow nearby and everyone went to Paulina Falls. Every evening, we went to the beach to watch the sunset. The Whitewater Fire near Jefferson made a smokey sunset our first night, but slight winds from the east cleared up the rest of the weekend. The final night, the sunset was so intense that none of you will believe I didn’t edit the photo.

Of course, it was a great opportunity for a jump shot. The photo was a happy accident created by my holding down the shutter on my smartphone while others snapped away with their DSLs. One of my shots coincided with someone else’s flash and everyone in the air. Of course, that called for an animated gif. Heather and Gilly posing mandated another. ;-)

Lots of family, a few dogs, and hot weather made for a fun time. I wonder — will next year make four?

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  I think we ended up with 20 of us — and 3 dogs!
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  If you haven’t done so, you must search for dog booties videos on the internet. High-stepping fun!