Post-Camp Conversation

Adelaide has been enjoying her camp this week, which has "animals' for the theme. Yesterday they went to an IMAX movie which she told me was about elephants and orangutans and the people who helped them re-establish themselves in the wild. In her telling of it, the orangutans were endangered and scientists helped them become not endangered any more.

She then told me that she wanted to be one of them, and I felt proud that she would want to do interesting and important work as a biologist or similar role. But as she went on to describe in detail the journey the orangutans made back to the jungle, the boat ride, the swinging from the trees, the food they ate, I realized I had misunderstood. She was, in fact, wishing she were an orangutan.

Water Adventure

Today was the last day of Adelaide's boating camp and the culminating event was a trip the length of Lake Union to a fish and chip restaurant for lunch. After a week of so-so weather the sun was shining and the arm was warm and lovely today, so I decided to make good on my threat to show up on the water. I headed out from Agua Verde in the general direction of Ivar's in the hopes of connecting with Adelaide somewhere on route. I ended up going all the way to the camp and arriving in time to see the kids getting into the boats.
Despite Adelaide's interest in having me come by the camp, I was discouraged from paddling back with the group, so I had to use the zoom lens on the camera phone while bobbing in the water at a distance to try to sneak some photos of the kayaking girl. Even so, it was fun to see them in action. Adelaide is in the front seat of the blue boat.

I was also similarly welcomed yet not at lunch, so I hung around long enough for a chat and then let her enjoy her time with her friends. It was a wonderful day to be out on the lake.