997 words
There will be a distinct lack of jive in this post, so put your urban dictionaries away sucka! (oops, that one slipped out) Anyway, this is my second blog post about my birthday this year. It's odd, I know, but I just wanted to really rub it in for those poor bastards who have that whole leap year birthday thing going on. That's right poor birthday planning parents, I've got two birthdays in 2011 and your kid loses one every four years!
When my wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year I told her. Then she said, ok, I'm not doing that, so what do you want that I will actually agree to? Camping was up there in my choices, so camping is what we did. Back in California you never really camped, you just shoved your crap in a car and left and hoped for the best. In fact, the last time we camped in California, we were at a nice lake and it was bed time. Like 2:30AM bed time, when these bastards show up at the site with kids and proceed to crack open Cokes for the kids and beers for the jackass "guardians". After about an hour of listening to them make as much noise as possible (I was asleep, probably adding to the noise in my own way) my wife stuck her head out of the tent and asked if they could please keep it down. She was politely told by the 8 year old sucking down caffeinated corn syrup to "shut your trap lady". That was the last time we camped in California.
In Montana in order to go camping you really need to plan it out, which means a truck load of stuff weather its for 1 night or 16. We headed off to Cliff and Wade Lakes, which we were told by a few friends was called the "Caribbean of Montana". I was happy we never ran into a drunken effeminate pirate on this trip however because I had the same outfit you see. In order to get to these high mountain lakes you have to drive through desolate sage brush and little else.
Then you turn a corner and BAM! You're greeted with this scene. We just sat there and looked at it. When you see something like this you have no other choice, you just have to look. Like when I was 8 and my neighbor took me to his house one afternoon. His older cousin was passed out on the couch with her boob hanging out of her blouse. I think I had the same look on face in these two instances, you just have to look as long as you feel safe that someone isn't going to wake up and run you off.
After an hour or so of setting up camp, which isn't as easy as those Cialis commercials make it seem. We took Roscoe P. Coltrane down to the lake to play, he had been so patient with us earlier. We also got to enjoy the small waves on the rocks, the sun setting over the mountains and eagles fishing in the distance. I wish there was a setup camp pill I could take, 'cause man, I would. Happy birthday to me!
I made us breakfast in the morning, which consisted of hash browns, bacon, and eggs from our girls. The coffee was terrible and we loved it because we were camping. That's what you do, you remove the fly from your beer and drink it happily, because you're camping. You either eat the ash on your meal or you just remove it with a much dirtier finger and you smile about it, because you're camping. Roscoe P Coltrane on the other hand was none to pleased that we put his doggie floatation vest on him when we got on the lake in our little boat. But, he got on board with it after a little bit, because he was camping!
We put our craft ashore and enjoyed the serenity of it all. I played ball with RPC while Jenn went looking for cool stuff.
Well, it didn't take her long to call us over to see this moose skull she found on the shore.
I was about to claim it for the Wheaton compound, when I thought I'd rather leave it there for others to enjoy it. So I placed it on this log that jutted out over the water. I'm hoping it stays there for our next visit. If you see it, leave it there!
The water looks like it's right from the damn carribean man, it's amazing.
The wind started to pick up at about 10:30AM, when we were in the middle of the lake. It's not so easy to keep a little inflatable going true in a stiff breeze. This is my "getting stuff done" or "sexy face", depeneding on the situation. Sometimes it means both! Booyah! Happy Birthday to ME!
There are a bunch of dead fallen trees that line the shore. You have to be extra careful in the little inflatable raft. But when you do find a spot it's just nice to sit there and take it all in. We saw some otters playing in the water along with eagles and osprey fishing.
The water was also nice and warm. If it wasn't so windy and my pasty white torso wasn't in danger of becoming bacon I would have jumped in for a swim with Roscoe.
All in all it was an excellent early birthday treat. Tonight we dine on locally grown potatos courtesy of my neighbor and homemade chocolate stout cake courtesty of my wife. If it's your birthday then HAPPY DAMN BIRTHDAY! If it's not, then maybe you should pretend it is. Oh yeah, and if you're in Manhattan, MT this Saturday stop by my booth at the potato festival where I'll be peddling my photos with my friend who makes gorgeous wood crafts. Cheers!
These places are gorgeous! Hope you had a great time on your birthday!
Posted by: Ruby @ Science Summer Camp | 01/14/2012 at 12:55 AM
I'm glad you had such a great birthday, nephew. Beautiful spot - maybe someday we'll get to Manhattan, MT and you'll take us there....... Love you, Dofey
Posted by: Dofey | 08/30/2011 at 02:35 PM
Wow Nice lakes and looks far less crowded than my side of Montana :> polson is getting crowded :>
Posted by: John Jolliff | 08/29/2011 at 12:43 PM
Hey Marijn, you can't imagine how awesome that makes me feel! Thanks for the wonderful comment!
Posted by: Jeremy Wheaton | 08/19/2011 at 06:05 AM
You can't imagine how awesome these pictures look to someone from the Netherlands, each one of the photos seems to feature more land relief than our entire country!
Happy birthday again!
Posted by: Marijn Rongen | 08/19/2011 at 05:12 AM
"Consider yourself reported!"
These pics are amazing. We're going. End of story. Done.
And... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIL!!!
Posted by: joe mama | 08/18/2011 at 07:31 PM
Happy Birthday, Jeremy!
I found your blog through your brother's a few months back, but think that you're entirely awesome and talented all on your own! Hope you had a great day.
Posted by: KiraG | 08/18/2011 at 07:18 PM