On Friday, August 8, Jack, Lorri, Mal & Jake piled in the van and headed up to the Green Valley Falls area of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in the mountains about 40 miles east of San Diego. There we met Ashley & Sara, their cousins, Nick & Chris and their parents, Steve and Lynn, and last and least, Gracie the wonder dog.

We set up camp: one van, one car, one pickup, three tents, a pile of wood and a dog kennel, all in one camp site.

The kids decided that they would all sleep in the biggest tent and use the other tent for a changing room and Gracie's kennel. This arrangement was fine except that they were awake most of the first night yakking and giggling. The second night they were so exhausted, they didn't make a peep.

Sara and Mal ate on the big rock guarding the entrance to our campsite while some sat around the picnic table or pulled up chairs.

Geocaching:

On Saturday morning, I took four of the kids, Jake, Chris, Ashley and Nick, on a Geocaching hike. Geocaching involves the use of a handheld GPS reciever to navigate to a previously hidden "cache" full of small goodies. It turned out to be about a three-mile round trip, but the kids liked it.

The cache in its hiding place is on the left and the four hardy hikers are on the right.

The Falls:

Unfortunately, it was a little late in the year for there to be much water in "the falls". Mostly it was a series of stagnant puddles and slow moving water. The best spot is pictured here. The kids enjoyed climbing and splashing around and sliding on the slippery rocks.