16 hours

16 hours isn’t how long it will take you to read this post, but it is a long post.
16 hours isn’t how long it has been since I have posted something new, it is actually much longer than that.
16 hours will be a significant sign of the times as you will come to find out.

Memorial Day 2009
The NoRen and the SoRen Zimmerman familys visited with the SoWa Zimmerman family for bike riding and fun. Did we ever.
The days were gorgeous, the nights were clear, the company was vigorous, the agenda was action packed, and fun was had by all.

We started off with a camp out after a late Friday arrival. The Men camped out, for that is what we were my friend; that night, in that cold, we were men.
The next day, with the sun on our face, and crinks in our necks, we didn’t wait long for the fugue to begin

nor the arrival of the NoRen Zimmermans.
And plans were drawn up for a bike ride in Portland in the late afternoon.

The day then was filled with frequent visits down to the “Chicken Poop”,

trampoline fun,

kitties,

and general dirt lovin’ fun,

with an occasional movie thrown in for good measure.

Nap time proved the right time to set up the bikes, fix flats, load up two vehicles, corral four blonde dust devils and hit the road.
We made for a flat portion of Springwater trail which turns out to be quite a well known route in Portland…so popular in fact it has it’s own website – I wonder how it get’s it’s internet connection…no matter…where was I? Oh yes, biking.

We left the walkers at the Beggars Tick Wildlife Refuge. Abby and Arthur in tow and Jamey G. on his own for the first time. 6.25 miles, one test ride (and one small touchdown), about 80 minutes, and 10 hungry bellies later we made our way over to La Hala.

Here we feasted like kings, or the Lebanese equivalent, let’s call it a Prime Minister. The food kept on coming and the gang kept on eating right on through bedtime.
The kids had played hard yet only one fell asleep on the ride home.
And again, the tough ones, the Men, camped; and all of us over ten engaged our trusty air mattresses.

The night was clear and cold and the stars were magnificent. There were too many satellites to count.

The next day we re-packed the cars for a bike ride of a different sort. A nearby oasis of a park, Lewisville Park served as our stomping ground.
It was good for climbing trees,


taking naps, and yes; riding bikes.

Lewisville proved to be the place where Abby learned to ride. The pedals were put on, the training wheels were off, the helmet was clicked in and

Let go Dad! I don’t need you any more.

It kinda hurts the first time you hear it but truer words weren’t spoken for the remainder of the afternoon.

After lunch we headed back to Fort Bale for a windy evening of kite flying.
These days seemed meant for just being.

Cousins on the farm,

making up games,

flying kites,

and finding snakes.

The Mens camp that night was invaded by a powerful force. Abby insisted on Camping on the Tramp! Without further instruction we turned the trampoline into a bed made for six. With good camp-jokes to keep us laughing and a view of the International Space Station brighter than the brightest star, we stayed up late and slept hard…indeed we woke up even harder.

Monday was our day to leave, but with a good breakfast and more experiments to be run from The Explosives Kit we soon learned of SuperSnot and other creations,

I need green food coloring and warm water.

We didn’t head out until noontime.

Four hours later the SoRen Zimmermans arrived home. A remarkably quiet ride with two good movies to occupy the nearly hungover Mermaids.

When the eagle had landed we all, save Abby, wanted naps. The Mommy caught 45 minutes, The Daddy an hour, and The WeeOne capped the weekend with a 16 hour nap (unbroken ‘cept for a midnight snack of warm chocolate milk).

It was powerful fun.