This is the ultimate peace that I imagine when longing for the wide open prairie of eastern Washington. Tranquil, with just the sounds of ducks foraging on the lake bottom, the piercing calls of the yellow headed blackbird, and a hint of wind blowing through the sagebrush. Our son Rue packed up his camping gear, his daughter Daisy and her friend Chelsea and then picked Taraz and I up. We were 'loaded to the gills', with barbeque grilling baskets, a stack of wood, and food for a few days at Quincy Lakes. This isolated stretch of recreational land is open to fishing and camping, and has some of the most dramatic canyon hiking in the state. We hoped to pack it in, swim and hike, and have some good times around the campfire. (See Flickr account.)
We drove over late in the afternoon just after Daisy finished the last day of school (how's that for immediate gratification!).
The girls took out their i-Pods and Nintendo DS's, and we drove to our favorite camping site. 
Taraz and I set up my tent, and Rue and the girls worked on the other tent. I pulled out my kitchen gear and Rue made a fire. 
Everyone else headed out of camp while I got burgers and smokey links ready for the fire. I got out some baked beans, cornbread and lemonade, and when the others returned, they settled down to some serious eating. 
The next morning I sliced left-over meat from the night before and added it to stir-fried onions and vegetables. Then I poured in a can of tomatoes, sauce, 
and a package of gnocchi. Rue toasted English muffins over the fire, I made coffee, and we fueled-up for a day of hiking, some swimming and the possibility of some adventure!By 10:00 we were at the Dusty Lake Trail-head which leads down to a dramatic canyon with paths in multiple directions.
We were the only hikers for miles around, just nobody here! 
Rue, our oldest son, planned the trip and kept everything organized, economical, and efficient. He did the driving, kept everyone busy with tasks, and saw to most of the details, from collecting wood, packing and re-packing the van, scheduling rest-stops and watching the price per gallon for fuel. As we drove further out into these remote areas the price of gas increased, as do all the incidentals - fuel, wood, food. 
Taraz brought enthusiasm and energy to our trip, helped wherever necessary, and needed constant watching and monitoring as his motivation on any hiking experience is to dislodge boulders (sometimes with our help), sending them rattling, rolling and disintegrating into rubble down the canyon. The dust and vibrations echoed into the valley below.Our destination was an island in the lake, where everyone could swim. There were footholds where the kids could climb and jump off, and everyone did, with the most magnificent sprays of water and gasping shouts.
It was wonderful watching everyone! 
I stayed on the beach and soaked up the sunshine.
This is Chelsea, wearing her life-vest on the trail - inconvenient, uncomfortable, but necessary. Rue insisted that anyone who planned to swim should wear one, and I backed him. Sometimes, especially after lunch, jumping into cold water can bring on a sudden shock to the system, spasms and charlie-horses, and we just didn't want to risk any mishap. Once in the water, Chelsea and Daisy could float with ease, and not have to work to stay afloat.
We hiked upward, near the canyon wall, which made the return trip quite pleasant - we were in the shade most of the time. It was about 80 degrees mid-day, so by the time we returned to the trail-head the girls enjoyed bathing their weary feet in this little stream.
They had just spent 6 hours hiking without complaint, and I was very proud of them. When we got back to camp, I made coffee for everyone, and we relaxed awhile. This downtime is always so rejuvenating and enjoyable - mainly because we survived our excursion without incident, with everyone holding up well. Of course the hard part is packing up camp, loading up the van, and driving for three hours to get home. We did, and George greeted us as we arrived home (about 9:30 p.m.), and helped unload my stuff from the van. Rue loaded up his car, dropped Chelsea off at her home, and probably got home by 10:30. I know he was one tired puppy! However, all of us really appreciate his hard work and organization. He made it possible for all of us to have a fantastic time at Quincy Lakes.
