We started the trip with Matt's side of the family in South Central Oregon. This part of the trip was planned about a year and a half ago, for the purpose of spreading Grandma Ethel's ashes on Macduff Peak, which was her wish. Macduff Peak was named after Matt's great great grandfather, Nelson, who was a forest ranger in those parts.
Most of the adults and all of the older children hiked up the mountain on Saturday morning. Matt and his brother Trevor drove the two big vans as far up the mountain as possible and then everyone disembarked to hike to the summit. Grandma Dianne, my sister-in-law, Jessica and I stayed back at home base (Belknap Hot Springs Resort) with eight littles. When the hiking crew reached the summit, they held a small worship service. Our niece, Maggie, picked wildflowers all the way up the mountain and placed them on the plaque at the top.
Later, Grace told me that the logging road up the mountain was not very driveable, as it was washed out in one place. The road was also very narrow and very steep. Turning the vans around to go back down the mountain was especially nerve wracking, she said. Needless to say, taking care of eight littles (including a screaming Joel who was absolutely heart broken that he wasn't big enough to go on the hike) seemed much more favorable to me than going up that mountain. I'm sure Matt was glad I didn't go, too. My tendency to let out squeals and winces while he drives normal roads is annoying enough. (Not that he is a bad driver, I'm just a bit of a ninnie, especially when he's maneuvering the big van in and out of parking spaces.)
We spent the afternoon after the hike at Clear Lake. There are no motorized watercraft allowed on the lake. Row boats are available for rent and Matt procured one for our enjoyment. I'm not sure how much he enjoyed rowing back and forth across the lake, but his many passengers did. Lydia and her cousin Mackenzie and second cousin Elaine entertained themselves while Matt was rowing by making beautiful works of art out of the pine cones and flowers they found. Joel did get to go on a "hike" with his Daddy, after all. They found a little trail that ran around the lake to explore together.
We celebrated a successful hike and two August birthdays that night at an excellent pizzeria, despite the fact that the original restaurant that had been reserved for the occasion was without electricity and was unable to take our party. It was nice to see Matt's cousin and his family as well as some long time Macduff family friends, Bobbie and Don. (An interesting aside--a few months ago when Matt was on a business trip in San Antonio,Texas, he visited the Alamo. Bobbie and Don happened to be there at the same time. Bobbie was sure that Matt was the same Matt Macduff she's known for so many years, but she figured he couldn't possibly be in Texas, so she didn't say "hi." Later, she read this blog and found out that she had indeed seen Matt in Texas.)
On the way back to the resort after dinner, we took a small detour through this covered bridge and stopped so that Grace could take pictures. As you can see, it was gorgeous--a beautiful ending to a special day.
Grandma Dianne had t-shirts made for everyone. Grace and Elizabeth thought of the design and the Bible verse--Prov. 3:6.
On Sunday morning the whole Macduff clan gathered outside for worship time, surrounded by the Lord's majestic mountain scenery. It reminded me of our study in Isaiah this past year and all the times the Lord called on the mountains and the trees to worship him.
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing,and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
After worship, we loaded up the van to leave the mountains and head to the beach!
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