Jack's Creek

For a very fun weekend we went camping with four other families up past Santa Fe at Jack's Creek. On our drive the mountains were so green we were enchanted. Gordon wondered aloud if this is what Ireland looks like. We saw several deer, chipmunks and ground squirrels. For some extra adventure, we bought our very first fishing poles to try our hands at fishing. This weekend was free fishing day here in NM so we didn't have to get a license.

Here we are hanging out in the morning





I did five little girl's hair, none of them were too please with the process of it.




We went fishing at a place called Cowles Pond. They also had several booths set up with activities for the kids set up. The girls watched how to tie your hook on a line, learned how to identify different kinds of trout, and what trout to expect in the pond we were at. There was a painting activity that was the clear favorite. They had rubber fish that the girls smeared paint on, then pressed papers against them to impressions of fish. The last booth we went to was on the type of bugs were in the pond. The station had several pans filled with a little dirt and water. Then when you looked close you'd notice hundreds of little bugs moving in the pans. No wonder the fish liked it here! The girls got to pick out bugs with tweezers then examine them under microscopes. They liked that.

Once we went through the stations we finally got to the fishing. Some of our friends are old pros at fishing and took the time to teach Gordon how to set up our new gear and use it. Gordon caught on really quick and was soon figuring out where the perfect spot was to cast the line in so it wouldn't get tangled in the weeds.

Lily with our Barbie fishing pole


Isobel taking a turn


Gordon with our most common catch


Eve with our first caught fish (actually caught by Cassie)


Gordon with his first fish


Abigail in her messy glory


Me with my fish (the biggest one caught!)


The girls playing in the stream between two ponds



We ended up with four fish and we cooked them up for dinner, frying them in butter, onions and a little bit of Sprite. It was good, Abigail thought so especially, eating more of it than anyone else. The campground host was really friendly as he made his rounds and he stopped and ate dinner with us too.

We really liked the beautiful area up there and plan to go back again. Maybe try out some other camping spots and having Bryce teach us how to fish in a stream.