Gold Panning on Quartsville Creek

First adventure of the season:  gold panning!  Only two hours from Portland is the most beautiful place.  Mountains, river, reservoir, sky and fresh air, and no media or homework allowed!

We spent the whole day... Just.  Being.  There.

Quartsville Creek comes out of the Western Cascades and forms Green Peter Reservoir.  The water is emerald in places.  We made our day camp up stream from the reservoir a few miles and had the whole place to ourselves.

While Matt panned for gold (he found four or five tiny little golden specks!), MyGirl and I tried to weave a basket out of river branches, and MyBoy read his book in the sunshine (he's on his second tour through the Hunger Games series).  The puppies got to play in the water and rough house with each other.

I spent the day enjoying doing absolutely nothing, mini vacationing in the wilderness.  The sound of the river, the happiness of everyone around me, and the slow time of nature was much needed.

It is exciting being in a new place and exploring the area for the first time.  I can't wait to see what else we discover about the beautiful forests that surround us here.

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. 

~Kahlil Gibran