DAVE MATTHEWS BAND!!!

This past weekend Brice and I snuck away with our friends Eric and Nicole for 2-day camping and concert getaway at the Gorge in Washington.

Dave Matthews was playing at the Gorge, so we planned a trip around the concert - and opted for camping in the great outdoors to make it even more of an adventure.

We arrived at the campsite just before dark, and had time to set-up the tent and gear and prepare dinner - - and sat down to eat right as the sunset. We had an incredible view of the sunset from our campsite. After dinner we sat around under the stars and marveled at the night sky.

We headed off to bed exhausted from the long drive and great meal. Around midnight that night, our quite campsite turned into noisy junction. Cars kept pulling in and we were woken-up by campers trying to noisily set-up their tents in the pitch black. The worst came around 3am when both Nicole and I awoke to "Moan-a-Lisa" as we've since named her - - a LOUD gal who just didn't mind letting the whole campsite know how much she was enjoying the company of her male companion. When we woke up that morning the campers next to us asked us if we heard the two love birds... "How could you miss them!?!" we said. We later nicknamed them the "jack rabbits" when they were back at it for the whole campsite to listen in on around 8am that morning. Ah to be young and carefree....

Nicole and I whipped-up some strong coffee and hearty breakfast burritos for breakfast and our day had begun! Our pal Eric is a seasoned climber, so the first full day of our trip was a climbing lesson for Brice and I. Eric showed us the roaps (pun intended) and guided us both through a super fun (but challenging, at least for us) climb. Both Brice and I made it to the top (although I whinned a bit more than he did on the way up). Eric was the master, guiding both the climbs we did, and then taking off to climb some more while the rest of us napped in the sunshine.

That night was the concert so we headed to the Gorge for the show. We pulled into the parking lot and were amazed to find that parking was (WHAT??!?) FREE!! A band called OAR opened up the show - - they rocked! And Dave Matthews didn't disappoint. He has some tremendously talented musicians in his band.

It was a great trip, with wonderful friends; and one we would love to make an annual tradition.