Time Flies

At the weekend the first half campers went home. It's incredible that they have been at Aloha for 3 and a half weeks. Which means I've been in the US for 6 weeks. In a way it feels as though I've only just arrived, but then it also feels like it's been my life forever. The endless cycle of bugle playing reveille at 7am, breakfast (2 courses every day!), activities, lunch (always served with dessert!), more activities, dinner (more dessert), and an evening programme that changes every night, taps (kids bedtime at 9), and then all the staff had down to the counsellors room to hang out or head to one of the many after taps events. So far i have been hypnotised, danced in an 80s party and a kids sleepover and spent a fair amount of nights Up The Hill - at our brother camp where there is a huge bonfire every night.  

The fire on the 4th July was excessive! It was easily as big as one of the huge old 3 story victorian townhouses. We all went over the Lanakila for a funfair put on by the boys, dinner, fireworks over the lake and the bonfire, which was lit by the oldest campers in a Moari style display of flaming torches.

I've done so much since I've been here that it's hard to keep track of everything. Lots of climbing of course, and I've been running most mornings. I get in the lake when there's time - sometimes it gets so hot that you can't help but dive in. 

MJ's Mayhem was one of the best days. Instead of the regular schedule and activities, we went crazy with this year's marine theme. I was in charge of mattress surfing, which was ridiculously fun and also kinda painful! There was also lots of crazy stuff at the water front, like a run across upturned kayaks, and an upturned canoe slide. There were boat rides around the lake and sunbathing on Waikiki, our little stretch of beach. 

Meet Bri, one of my best friends. She is AWESOME! She is Australian so she talks funny, but she has a very beautiful soul. We are very similar and spend a lot of time together. We are planning our adventure after camp, as we have to get from Vermont to LA to fly out of. It's going to be an epic 3 weeks, we've already figured that much out, and the fun is going to continue in Aus!!

The actual Best Day Ever was when we both had the same day off. We headed to the Lake Morey Resort and spent the day lounging beside the lake. We went out on a paddle board and just sat out on the water looking at the incredible sights that surrounded us.

And then the coolest thing happened. Or thingS. Parker and Nick. They work on the waterfront at the LMI and we got talking - everyone talks to everyone here, it's really nice and also kind of weird at first. There was no one else going out on the daily pontoon boat ride so it was just the four of us. We headed out into the middle of the lake, stopped the boat and dived in. Climbed out and dived in again. And again.... We spent a long time underneath the boat, in between the 2 hulls which was really surreal. When we got back in the boat, the motor wouldn't start, so we had to get towed back to shore! And then, as it was getting dark, the boys had to go and find a family who had taken a canoe out around the lake and get them to start heading back. So we got to ride in the speedboat!! Then obviously the resort's pool and hot tub - because we just can't get enough of water.

We spent the day with the guys, and they've become good friends. We've got plans for the next day off to hang out again. Can't wait. Days off are rare, and though you want them to catch up on much needed sleep, there is so much to do!!!

Welcome to Pines. This is the unit I live in.

Not to brag or anything, but we've won Golden Broom every week! 

There are a lot of beautiful places around camp.  You can hike up the many trails into the woods and find something incredible around every corner. 

Father Gulick's Ravine

The Aloha story goes; Mother and Father Gulick were cycling round the lake, thought what a great place it would be to live, saw a for sale sign, brought the house and a few years later turned it into a camp. The camp began 110 years ago, and its history is very strong in everything that happens here.

Glenn's Falls is one of my favourite places to go. Its a short walk away, and when you're there you can be completely alone. As you walk further up the trail the falls get higher and more spectacular. I took my campers there and Lizzy and I (the sensible ones!) sat on the banks and watched while Delphine and Sidney went into the ice water.

I am now a woodland hippie! 

Winships is another amazing place. Named after the man who sold the Gulick's the land back in the day, its part way up the mountain with an incredible view. There are some shelters up there that you can camp in and fire pits where you can cook dinner.

My favourite place of all has to be The Bluff. Its a 45 minute hike up the mountain through the forest. There's an outcrop of rock where eagles used to nest that looks out over the lake and the mountains.