Gordon family reunion 2008

Some 45 members of the Gordon family gathered June 20-23 at Bowstring Lake for our family reunion. Ella and Sarah started the festivities a day early with swimsuits and popsicles!


No brain freezes here!



The sun was pretty strong, so Sarah got all bundled up for her first inner-tube ride with daddy. Look at those cute feet!


Eric and David enjoyed the campfire on Friday night.


Awwww!

Most of us took a morning trip to the Lost Forty wilderness trail one day. Sonja, Monique and Gordy lead the way.


Sonja, Sarah and daddy take a break from the mile-long hike.


Mommy and Sarah walked together quite a ways.


Cousins are cool! Sarah and Ella goof for the cameras.


Back at the trailhead sign.

Gordy, Cindy and Rich.


Tressa, Sarah, Symone and Lucas.


Ella took quite a hankering to Richard! Here she is sitting in on a hand with the big folks.


Lunch time! Roger and Gloria's garage was converted into our dining area, and it worked great!


Ella and Madeline play peek-a-boo with their cousin, Sarah.

We rented a big jumping gym for the weekend for the kids to use. Sarah's taking a wild ride here but was just fine.


Aunt Ellaina takes a spin on the slide.


Sarah, Ellaina, Ella and Aaron.


Uncle Aaron goes BOING!


CHEEEEESE!!!

On Saturday evening, Gordy led a lovely lakeside ceremony in which wedding vows were re-affirmed for Arthur and Florence, Dick and Mary Ellen, and Roger and Gloria.


Aunt Florence shares a tidbit from the past.


The ceremony was well-attended!


The moment of truth!


A final word from Gordy.

I don't even want to know what Noah did or said!


Roger and Gloria's clan, minus Sarah, who was taking a nap.


Dick and Mary Ellen's clan.


Arthur and Florence's clan.


We love you, grandma and grandpa!

Rich and Erin.


Amber and Richard.


Ellaina gets ready to tandem-waterski with Cindy.


Hey Cindy, is that water cold? The ice only went out of the lake about six weeks ago!


Teghan and Noah get ready to go tubing.

Is this how you wear pajamas?


The girls in their matching jammies. Ella wasn't feeling very Paris Hilton-y this evening.


Madeline and Sarah.


Another shot.


Sarah wore the new fishy lifejacket daddy got her and went swimming! She was very brave, holding on to daddy's hands and jumping into the water. She also kicked her feet and moved her hands to swim in the water while daddy held on to her.

2008 Jaunt with Jim Klobuchar

A couple of weeks ago, Rich embarked on the 2008 Jaunt with Jim Klobuchar, a 440-mile week-long bicycle ride through central Minnesota. Here he is taking a break at a historical marker just north of Pelican Rapids.



The bike: 2007 Trek Madone 5.0 with a reinforced, 32-spoke rear wheel to handle the big guy.



Our first day was an 86-mile ride from Pelican Rapids to Osakis, mostly on the 55-mile Central Lakes Trail. It was great! No cars, a nice tailwind, and lots of sun. That is, until we pitched our tents and headed to supper. A thunderstorm rolled through and kept us inside the restaurant for an extra hour until it passed, leaving us with these interesting clouds.



Across Lake Osakis, there was some virga, which is falling rain that doesn't quite reach the ground.


Storm clouds over the Osakis water tower.

Fun with Rhonda and David

After riding 70-some miles from Osakis to Brainerd on the second day, our friends Rhonda and David invited several of us to the lake home owned by David's family for a weenie roast. Here are Mary and Julie leaning on Rhonda.


Here's John teeing off for a game of "mountain golf," which was invited by David and his brothers. Sort of like croquet, only a lot more fun. Look out, Bob!


All nine of us crammed into the boat, and David and Rhonda gave us a tour of Sylvan Lake.


Steve, Rich and Bob rode in the bow.


The home on Sylvan Lake.