Camping the Fourth

Spent the fourth camping with the BOG's and biking. Loved everything but the crows at 4:15 am, but it gave us someting to complain about :-) That and we manged to avoid mosquitoe bites until the very last day when we thought we didn't need bug spray before leaving :-(
We took a 20 mile bike ride on Friday and a 12 mile one on Saturday (6 of those miles were uphill on a 3% grade). Thanks to help from Van, Jon, and Gary - Maddie and I made it all the way and felt rather proud of ourselves. We took pictures but someone (won't mention names) deleted the pictures so I'll have to bum them off someone else.

We attended one of the camp programs offerred. A Portugese student told us what he thought of America. I was moved at his observations about how we show honor to those who fought for freedom, and what a great, beautiful, and spacious land we have. The night before he shared a piece from John Adams letter to Abigil on July 2, 1776

“ The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.[5]”

Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.

My boys sometimes bemoan the fact that their birthdays fall near national holidays - wait until they realize they could have actually been born on a national holiday if Congress moved faster!