That is how many visitors we have had to this site since April 2005. Wow, a lot of traffic. I tried at one time to add some advertisements to the blog so that we could get some revenue off all the visits that could be earmarked for reunion get togethers but it was a pain and I realized that 25000 really isn't that much in relation to the other sites that make a lot of money off visits, plus the fact that people would have to click on them to make it work. Basically, not worth it to buy a tootsie pop for everyone at the reunion.

Awesome news from all. Kim is about ready to pop, Tom is about ready to be a tired abused man, Tracie is about to become a lonely woman, Marnie is gallivanting around the country, Andrew is double-sucking, Mike makes me a not-so-lonely person in HP, Mom & Dad are racking up the FF miles, B&B are planning the new cottage, Grandma is breaking bones daily, it seems, and the Germany Stinchies are sending pictures. Ah, what fun!

Washougal Stinchfield's are cruising along. Can't believe it is almost November!! Practice acquisition takes place in 2 months, nerve-racking, but going really well. We are growing. These next two weeks I have a million Scoutmaster Training "opportunities". All day tomorrow. Tuesday 3 hrs. Overnighter next Fri/Sat. Can't wait until I get all this preliminary training out of the way and just settle down into a normal schedule. Soccer ends soon, so that'll help as well.

I went backpacking with Isaac last weekend. We went up eagle creek about 4 miles. It is a canyon on the Oregon side of the Columbia Gorge just west of the Bridge of the Gods. The hike was precarious at times with 200 foot cliffs dropping off the right side of the 4 ft wide trail. Luckily they had cable hand rails to grab onto. Not too much traffic up there after we passed all the day hikers coming down. There is a waterfall called Punchbowl Falls, very beautiful, almost unreal. Then there was this High Bridge area where a bridge went over the "creek". It was a ravine only about 15 feet wide that was about 100 ft deep at least, with the water at the bottom. Kind of took your breath away standing over it. We then found a place to set up camp. There was no one else around. We heard some backpackers over on the trail a couple of times while we were eating dinner. I was tired but Isaac wanted to start a fire. I let him try for 20 mins before he gave up...good, I wanted to go to bed. I'll teach him how to start a fire another day. It was pitch black once the sun went down. Couldn't see your hand in front of your fact. You could hear the creek down deep in the ravine, but that was it. Glad Isaac doesn't sleep walk. While we were talking laying there in our sleeping bags, we could hear something walking around outside out tent and could hear it breathing. I said "Hello!", but no answer. It was there about 5 mins, then walked away. Who knows. The whole time though I was thinking, "You idiot!! Why did you put our food in our packs IN the tent!! Didn't you learn anything as a boy scout!" I was just waiting for a bear to help itself to some leftover dehydrated meat lasagna with a little side of Dave and Isaac, but it didn't happen. I had my hatchet right there for easy retrieval though, just in case we got a guest. Like I would have been able to do anything. I was just thinking about how Black bears are the most likely bear to be around there and how the experts say you are supposed to be aggressive and charge them...they will run away. Again, this is only for black bears, not Grizzlies. I was ready to try it. We left to go back the next morning, starting our hike in the pitch black, so that we could return for Parkers soccer game (I am the coach) at 0900. We made it just in time. Sore hips for a couple of days because I have not carried an extra 60 lbs. on my hips for a while. But they are doing better.

Already signed up for Hood to Coast next year. Any family members here in Clark County want to help as volunteers or drivers? I guarantee you will enjoy it. Let me know. I have been laying off running since the Marathon in September. My time was poor, 4hrs 40mins, but I completed it limping due to the injury I had sustained before the Hood to Coast. Letting it heal then I will be back in it. I'm not stopping Buffy! I miss it already. One of those runner things I guess.

Isaac is growing by leaps and bounds. Not only physically but in responsibility and maturity. Really weird to see. Maybe it is middle school doing it. The one thing that I am very glad of is that he still reads a lot...and I mean a lot. He'll have two large series going simultaneously and be able to keep track of it all, amazing. We try to encourage and support that at all times...except at 11pm on a weekday, which we do have to contend with occasionally. He is doing real well in soccer and is better than me at guitar. He just absorbs the guitar stuff naturally. His fingers move faster and, the kicker, he practices more than me. Most of all I love that he loves to do stuff with the family and he loves to hang out with me, I want to keep that going as long as possible.

Taylor, Parker and Morgan are doing well. All the kids are doing well at school, can't complain there. A tribute to their mother staying in the home and encouraging them, couldn't do it without her.

Lunch is over, I better get back to work. Good to see you all are doing so well. Congrats again Tom, you'll love it. I'll add some pictures from our latest escapades when I am home.

Dave