I was looking through some old picttures I have and I began reminiscing about one certain place... "The Swauk". Last Monday I mentioned that I learned to Drive up at a place called "The Swauk"... Well today I thought I would reflect upon the many wonderful trips I had there. "The Swauk" is my friend Melinda's family cabin. Beginning in 6th grade when the Fab-5 (Melinda, Ciara, Alex and Laura, and myself) started to become friends we began making trips up to the "The Swauk". Some of our best memories as friends were created there. So here is mixture of pictures and rememberings:
Ah.. yes the good old days... This pictures is circa 6th grade. All I know is that I am glad that the awkward middle school look is only a phase for most of us. I personally see where my good fashion sense was developed, I mean those tight gray sweats tucked into my honking big basketball shoes is oh-so-cool.
- The pictures above depicts the many memories we had around the campfire (which was just being built above). This is where smores were eaten, secrets were told and much laughter was shared.
- One Swauk trip we went up with a mission. The mission was to submit a N'sync/Herbal Essence commercial to win tickets to one of the concerts. We slaved over N'sync-esc choreography and perfected the look of washing our hair. Needless to say, something traumatic happened to the tape and was never sent in, what a shame... the selection committee was really missing out.
Above is my friend Adrianne and myself in the outhouse... yes for sometime this cabin was not equipped with plumbing or electricity so unfortunately there were frequent stops to the outhouse behind the cabin. The one nice thing is that if you felt so inclined you could open the side door and have a splendid view while you took care of business.
- One of the most memorable trips was the one with the "Paul" incidence. Now please don't judge me and my friends by this story... we were only like 12. Paul started out as a scrap of a thick rope that was used to hang the tree swing. I took the scrap and started to unravel it while we were all playing cards. Somehow the rope landed in my friend Laura's hands and it took off from there. See Laura was very good at the card game we were playing and we were all starting to get a little perturbed that she kept winning. Well then Laura proceeded to name and talk to Paul as a way to even more rub in that she was winning. I got really fed up, so after the game ended I plotted my revenge. I went to the other room to as Melinda's dad if he had scissors. I proceeded with the scissors in hand back to where Paul was lying in the other room (this was Laura's fatal mistake...leaving Paul alone). Well of course I then used the scissors as a way to make sure Paul never existed again. Right as I began cutting I heard a scream of terror from the other room as Laura realized why I needed scissors. And that is the story of Paul.
Stops were frequent into the closest town, Cle Elum. Here I am above in one of the biggest stores down there in my cool hunting hat. We would retreat back to the town for much needed "boy- sightings" since it was all girls up at the cabin and we were middle school girls who all loved to giggle and squirm around boys.
- One trip up were got into a little bit of a prank war. I cannot recall all the details but I know whip cream was involved along with the stealing of undergarments.
- One night we all got really scared becuase we heard this loud sound. We all debated between whether it was a weed whacker or a motorcycle. We didn't know which one was worse in the middle of the night. Some of us thought a crazy man (who we believe lived down the road in an abandoned looking home) was coming after us with a weed-whacker. Finally after much anxiety we found out it was only Melinda's dad SNORING downstairs. I have never heard a snore like it before to this date... and this is how Melinda's dad Chuck got one of his many nicknames from us... Weed Whacker.
Many times we would hike to the top of the closest peak/hill. Here we are at the top of the peak, very excited and of course happy. Well by the end... our grins were wiped off our faces. We decided we would try going down another... more adventurous way. It began all fun until we reached a very steep part where we basically had to slide down on our sides and grab tree roots to slow us down. Then after that we reached a road that we thought we take us right back... well of course I didn't. Lets just say it was a much longer hike then we expected.
- On one of our last days of a trip it began to rain. However, it was a still a very warm day. Thus resulting in my discovery of warm rain. We all took off running out into the field below the cabin, belting the "HILLS ARE ALIVE" continuing to frolic in the warm rain.
- I used to love chopping wood for the fires and stoves. Usually when boys are present, I would never get the chance to chop... but with only girls around I got to unleash my brute strength on the wood all I wanted.
At the front of the property line to the cabin was a barbed wire fence. Each time we drove through one of us had to get out and undo the gate and then put it back into place one the car had driven past. Well I was very excited to do it one time so I hopped right out of the car. I got the gate undone just fine and car drove right on through. I quickly pulled the gate back out and locked it back up, with a smile beaming on my face. Then I heard laughter from the car. I looked up and realized that I was on the wrong side of the gate... meaning I had locked myself out. My beaming smile was quickly wiped off as I had to undo the gate and walk to the right side and then lock it again. My friends never let me live this one down.
- I remember totally not acting our age (like 13) when we pretended were we Indians and pioneers. I guess when you know that there is no one else within MILES of you, you totally let go of all inhibitions.
- As we got older, we turned our Swauk trips also into rafting trips. We would spend one day down on the local Wenatchee river and would go river rafting. I fell in love with one of our guides who I thought was a Latino Vin Diesel (who I was in love with at the time... think fast and the furious). The rapids were never really that big but it didn't stop us from screaming like little girls. I still am a proud owner of a cool tied dyed river rafters t-shirt! My favorite part was the tight wet suits we had to wear... they were so flattering! HA!
Our last trip up before we all departed for College we buried a time capsule in a field where the cow bones where. I don't remember exactly what we put inside but I know we all made predictions of what would happen in the next five years. I am pretty sure that everyone predicted me to be married by now... they know me too well. But this is the year we are going to dig it up. As we have all now just graduated we are going to head back in August to see what is inside.
