Two nights under canvas

It was a weekend of the great outdoors!  On Friday night, after extensive dental work at Elliot's new practice, we tested out our mini tent in their back garden.  Thankfully they remembered to turn the automatic sprinklers off, but the rustling in the trees all night long led me to believe that Palo Alto is a wilder place than I first thought.

Then on Saturday it was up Mt Diablo with the Schwimmers, and back to our big tent.  We had the West wing and they were in the East, although the sloping campsite did threaten to have us all sleeping at the same end mid-way through the night.

It also turned out to be "public night" for the local astronomical society, who had all manner of telescopes set up at the summit.  We popped up there before bed and got to see the Ring Nebula, M13, a comet that was whizzing by, and Jupiter with its moons flying around.  I mean, you know the universe is out there but actually getting to see it is awesome!  And further, undeniable proof of a benevolent creator.

Evan takes it easy.

Sunset!  I was hoping for a green flash, but I think the fog scuppered us.

Logan learning to cook on his dad's everything-burning stove.

Dinner.

Fun with glowsticks.

Hannah tests out her new camping griddle at breakfast time.  Pancakes, sausages, egg...yum.

Evan and Logan get on with the more important work of building a road.