Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts

Sunday, July 12, 2009

proud to be a tree-hugger

I am back from an all-too-short camping trip. Everyone had to drag me away from the site this morning. I was all ready to hike or fish, or just sit by the fire under the trees for a while longer. Unfortunately, everyone was starving and hadn't planned breakfast there, so my bliss in the wilderness was cut short. (I was perfectly content with my protein bar.) The only thing that made me feel better was when B promised that we could go back to the same park next weekend for a bike ride/picnic/frisbee day with L. I am already excited. Plus, the group is already planning a float trip/camping/possible winery trip in a few months. So I reluctantly agreed to leave all that nature for the day. (Plus, B tempted me with breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.)


We had a blast...ate great barbecue, checked out the park, fished, (or in my case, talked to other people while they fished), sat and chatted around the campfire, got a little tipsy, and crashed in our tent. I thought the noises of the wilderness would keep me up, and with the exception of a few mystery footsteps that my BFF Em heard too, I found nothing scary about sleeping outdoors. That is, except the ground-shaking snoring coming from one of our fellow campers. I literally fell asleep with one ear to my pillow and my finger in my other ear. No lie.


Here are a few pictures:


The pond/lake at the park. You can fish in it or jog/bike on the trail surrounding it.



B and me chillin' by the campfire. Both of those chairs broke by the end of the night and we had to throw them away. Two less things to pack up, right?




Our happy little tent. Is it cheating if we had an air mattress and a ceiling fan? Cause we did.


The trees, the sun, the fresh air...love. it. It probably helps that apparently, I am not appetizing to mosquitos. But man, do I love being outside.


I have a bit of an odd obsession with trees. I drive B crazy when we are in the car. "Oooh! Look at that tree, baby! Isn't it pretty? Oh, wow, look at that huge tree." But I think that every tree is awesome, so I get a little annoying. At least I can admit it.



Right behind our campsite was this cool little area, where there was a great view of some rocky cliffs and some big boulders to climb up. You had to walk down a steep sandy path to get there. It was hard to capture it in a photo, at least for someone with zero photography skills, but B makes it look so easy. I swear it was more treacherous than it looks here.

So I was all proud when I made it down and climbed up on a big boulder. I was loving it. I couldn't have done that a couple of years back before I worked out. It's crazy to think about how different I am now. I think giving birth made me think I was Supergirl or something. Or maybe I just used to be a huge wuss. Or both.

Em had the best idea ever, especially considering neither one of us are big marshmallow fans. She put a Hershey bar in a cut-off soda can and set it next to the fire.


(In case you are wondering, yes, she is like 5'9" and a size 2 and has a 2 year old. And no, she doesn't work out regularly. I swear, if she had any desire at all to wear makeup and clothes that showed off her body, she'd make a killing as a model. )

And voila! A chocolate dipped graham cracker. I highly recommend this deliciousness for all you other camping-lovers.


I seriously could have stayed for three more days. I told B that when Logan is too old to want to hang out with me in the summers, I am going to become a park ranger for my summer job. B's response: "Well, it is the perfect job for you...ride around on a bike in a park, tell people not to litter, and stop every so often to hug a tree." I choose to take that as a compliment.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Into the wilderness




Bye-bye blogworld...I am headed on my first camping trip in about ten years. The last time I attempted to camp, I came down with strep throat and had to leave before spending the night in the tent. I am hoping I do not have a repeat performance. We are going to a really cool park not too terribly far from our house that has great hiking trails, a lake to fish, and some pretty spectacular views. I am super excited to go be one with nature for 24 hours. We are going with our best friends and a few other couples. Cross your fingers for a tick-free, rain-free adventure! I'll be back soon with pictures and stories, I'm sure!