Cadets and Mud Pits!

After We Got Through the Mud

The older boys had a Cadet weekend this past weekend. I was supposed to be there at noon to see what they do. I went the wrong way and ended up in the middle of the woods!! In my defense, there was no sign posting because this road was never usually used as an access. When I went the correct way a rancher told me (and others too) that we were trespassing, and we would have to go to the far end of the lake!!! I did this and ended up getting lost!

Finally after driving through four mud pits, and coming to the conclusion that the camp couldn’t

possibly be out here on these kind of roads, I turned around and headed back. I was giving up. I was very disheartened thinking of my boys imagining I couldn’t be bothered to come out and see their end of year camp.

Well! On the second hole back I got stuck! These were not just holes!! They were about 6’ long 2’ wide and at least 6” deep! Pure mud and lots of water. There I was with two babies in the car, in the middle of the woods, at least 20 km from civilization, STUCK! It was a bit freaky for a minute. I began to pray and then I remembered that when I was stuck in the snow in the past, I had used small brush and branches to get my car a grip. I got out of the van and tried to get through the mud in my *sandles* and shorts without getting my feet entirely coated!!

I put some of the branches under the right back wheel (after trying to remember if I had front or rear wheel drive). The front and back of the right side were deep in mud. The left side was on solid ground. I prayed and then gently reversed and thank goodness, we went back about 2’ feet before we got stuck again.

Just as I was gathering an armload of dead brush to put under the wheels I heard a cawing sound. Up above me just soaring over my head, were two hawks or eagles! It was wild. It almost made me think of a native story or something. Kind of like they were telling me something. Well, after making that one sound they took off.

I got back in the van and manged to back up some more. I continued doing this out of this pit, and it went directly back into the next pit behind! I then had to maneuver my way around these pits to get past the three areas in front of me! When we shot out the other side my little guy yelled, “God did it!” because we had been praying.

Out in the Woods Alone

I got to the camp and then found out that the other parents had been lost too. At least none of them had gone my way and ended up in the mud!

We managed to get there in time for a barbeque.

Having a Hot Dog

Getting Supplies For Three Legged Race

After this there was a three legged race. It was fun! My big boy and I tied our legs together and lined up with about 15 other teams and off we went!!

Getting Ready The Competition

I told my son before running my old tricky method from the winning days of my childhood. And sure enough, there we were running and we were at the middle of the pack, and he started catching on to my method, and then we were neck and neck with another mother and son.

Oh, she thought she was going to win… but NO! we leapt ahead of her and crossed the finish line a mere head in front of her! And to see the feet that won the race! Can you imagine he didn’t thrash my foot!!!

The Winning Feet

My other son was also in the race. The little guys watched us all. Then my biggest boy gave me a piggy back across the field on the return trip. What a hoot!! It really was a neat time.

Having Fun