Part 16 in a series about our trip to Alaska in late June through mid-July, 2011.

The agenda for the final day of our camping trip was to go rafting on the lake!  We were planning on going rafting each day but the winds were so strong that the waves were too high on the lake to do it.

This morning was our last chance so we were really grateful that it was relatively calm.

After a bit of hard work getting Dad’s raft inflated and assembled, we headed out onto the lake!  Actually, Ellie and I took a mid-morning nap while everyone else headed out for the first ride.

Then it was time for all of us to go!

Don’t let those cute smiles fool you.  Ellie basically despised her entire boating experience and fussed and whined almost the whole time.*  So after maybe 10 minutes, we put her and Nik back onshore and headed out for a little more boating and fishing.

Ellie was clearly happier on the ground!

As we headed back into the shore, a float plane flew right over our heads.

After our boating adventure, all that was left was to put the raft away, finish packing up the Suburban and drive home!  On the way home, we played a rousing game of “As I Was Going to Grandpa’s House,” in which each person has to remember what everyone else is bringing.  We did this in alphabetical order to make it easier but then proceeded to add a alliterative element of fun.  For example, we were bringing “lovely leaping Lipizzaners” and other far more complicated phrases that I wish I could remember!  I highly recommend this game for making time go very quickly on long car rides!

*I think that what she actually despised was the life jacket.  Unfortunately, for life jackets to do any good, they have to fit really snugly and aren’t all that comfortable.  I think that’s what she was complaining about, more than being out on the water.  However, as anyone who grows up in Alaska knows, no one (young or old) should ever go out on the water without a life jacket.  That’s a non-negotiable rule for the incredibly cold Alaska waters.