Boookie turned nine last summer and this last weekend, finally got his long-delayed birthday hike with the Mayor. They hiked in to Pete Lake, north of Cle Elum in the Cascades and camped overnight, then did some day hiking before heading back out.
Boookie hiked 8 miles with a backpack, which was a big accomplishment for his first time out with a pack. He had the coolest gear in the whole wilderness area, with a pocket knife on his belt and a new assault backpack complete with Navy knife from Apu, compound bow, and an attack meerkat.
Boookie trying out his bow for the first time. He's always been fairly noncommittal on whether he's right- or left-handed, and when the Mayor was looking at pictures he realized Boookie switched which hand he was shooting with, depending on the angles and his mood. He appears to have been well named, a member of the Benjamite special forces
who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss (Judges 10:16).
Boookie stalking his first deer. The Mayor was overjoyed to get to talk him through distances, angles, obstructions, wind, and finally the ethics of why we won't ever take this shot.
Boookie showing Cutie Kittie around up at the headwaters of the Cooper River.
Our campsite at Pete Lake. It was really this amazing. A family of beavers greeted us when we arrived and as we packed up, an F/A-18 came screaming through the valley. Everything was to say "Happy Birthday" to a very special son.
