Water Survival

We started the weekend early back at the lake because Geoff's squadron had water survival training. The squadron and families were invited to a post-training BBQ and to camp out before and after the training. I have never seen Geoff do water survival so it was fun to watch. Especially since they had two helicopters from CA to assist in the training and the guys were actually hoisted into the helicopter from the water...it was a gorgeous day - albeit the water was a little on the cold side. We could see really well too because the helicopters were able to go fairly low...much lower than they can in the ocean.

Everyone getting set-up for the day...the local sheriff team was invited to participate...as was a dive team for safety...

and some additional able-bodied assistants:

In fact, the first rescue of the day was none other Jack...not our Jack...but Jack the fox terrier in the picture below:

He belongs to our friends Rocky and Pappy and is very protective of Pappy. Rocky said that he leapt out of their camper and sprinted down to the water bc he sensed Pappy was "in danger". Jack the dog stood shaking on a big log before deciding it was time to leap on a raft then into the water. A big life support guy "rescued" him.

Testing some signaling devices:

Geoff's turn:

Going up:

Pulling himself in the chopper (I must admit...it looked fun...not the part where the water is slapping you in the face...just the hoisting up part):

Heading out:

Geoff and the boys camped the night before and did great (once they fell asleep) but their skin flared up after being out overnight and they were really itchy the next day. We stayed the full day and even went on an extra-long trail bike ride with daddy. Geoff took the boys home for a bath and dinner and I returned to the lake for awhile after doing a Target-run. I was looking forward to camping that night but the boys were too miserable to stay.

So the next day Geoff and the boys returned to the lake to get our stuff and they had another full day of playing in the water, going out a boat (with none other than Jack the dog--who somehow ended up in the water again and was missing until Pappy spotted him just swimming back and forth behind the boat)...and grilling quesadillas before returning home where they literally all walked in the house, laid down on the carpet and went to sleep.

Totally out:

For at least two hours.