The end of the camping trip

I'm not sure I've ever seen a sign for this much grade on a road. Look closely, it says 25% grade! Yes, it was really, really steep. Coming down the mountain, I downshifted to 2nd, then 1st, and still had to use the brakes at times.

Some sort of interesting fungi:

For the most part we had beautiful weather for camping - cool, clear, crisp fall weather. A little chilly in the mornings and evenings (nice to have a sweatshirt and a campfire), but beautiful during the days. I was fine in jeans the whole time, but D and the kids wore shorts some times too and were also fine.

But then.... in the middle of the last night came the rain. The camp host had warned us the night before that there was a good chance of rain, but it was supposed to be only half an inch. That's not much rain and we weren't worried about our tent. (oops, famous last words) It started rained 2ish in the morning and by 3 am D was getting drips on his forehead! Through the rain fly! So, we got up and shifted the air mattress a bit so he wasn't getting hit, but then I noticed the drips on the sleeping bag too. By 4 or so, the drips had made it through the top of the sleeping bag and now the bottom layer of the bag was wet. Ugh. But of course it was still raining and pitch black dark out. Not much to do other than wait it out. Besides the kids were still asleep (even though when we did get up, A complained that his bag was rather wet).

I suppose I dozed off and on, but not a true sleep, but when M woke at 7, I was ready to start dealing with things - even though it was still almost as dark as it had been at 3. The kids and I packed up while D made dashes with the stuff to the car (in the rain still). We discussed what to do with the tent - its probably 8 years old and obviously leaking in more than one spot and we really didn't want a soggy wet tent in the car (and I won't really trust it for camping anymore) - in the end, we left the tent there and told the camp host. He said he would take care of it once things dried off a bit. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And then, since it was still raining and chilly and we had a cold breakfast planned (bagels, yogurt, fruit), we decided to take that all back home with us and go eat in the nice dry lodge, where they had a very reasonable hot buffet breakfast.

I think all the sleeping bags have finally dried out here at home and are ready to be put away again, but its been cloudy and damp here too the last few days. All the smoky laundry has finally been done and the last of the dishes washed (one pot wouldn't quite come clean at camp). I still need to restock the camping box with paper napkins and FIND the silverware we used to have in there. Luckily we had a bag of plastic, but we used to have a collection of cast off silverware from our parents that lived in the box. Wonder where it went??

at the campsite

Some scenes from around the campsite:

M is reading and A is playing on his DS.  Other times they switched activites, but both were pretty popular!

Toasted bagels for breakfast, anyone?  They're quite tasty - and warming to toast them.

It was quite windy one evening and the plates of spinach were threatening to blow away while I tried to open the can of mandarin oranges.  M decided to just go ahead and eat his spinach, but his hands were full trying to keep mine from blowing away - so he just grazed on the spinach like a cow!

A is trying to hide from the camera.  All you can see is his hand here.  I did get some pictures with him, but I thought this was a good one of M.

Amicalola Falls

We're back from our camping trip to Amicalola Falls State Park. The falls are the highest east of the Mississippi. They don't fall the whole distance at once, but rather in several (many?) bits. Here's A at the top of the falls:

Looking over the railing behind A:

Just a few of the many (MANY) steps to get down to an overlook:

See - lots of stairs - 425 of them.  Ooof - both my legs and my lungs complained going back up.

The view from the overlook.  I had a really hard time getting the falls and the kids in the light.

View of the falls from the very bottom.  See that vertical line at the top of the picture - that's the falls!

A very interesting bug - some sort of caterpillar that we found.

After all that hiking, we headed back to our campsite for a rousing game of Settlers of Catan - only to discover that the site where we had set up camp had a wicked case of sun-in-the-eyes at the picnic table.  So, mid-game, we decided that this site just was NOT going to work.  We found another site across the road that was much shadier and decided to move.  It was a little close to a family in a camper, but we could tell from their tag that they would be leaving the next day, so we picked up the tent and moved it.  Yes, D and I each took 2 poles and the kids each had one and we just carried the tent, all set up, across the street.  I'm sure it was pretty funny looking, but it was far easier than taking down and re-setting up the tent!  A few more minutes to move our chairs and coolers and then we had to get back to our game - which was not portable.  After the game, we finished vacating the original site (we felt bad about occupying 2 sites, but the campground never got more than half full on Sunday evening) and then had hotdogs for dinner.  So nutritionally sound, I know.  But we had carrots too - one big carrot each!  And A was recording his menu for posterity - or at least for his Cub Scout leader for his fitness pin.  A finally finished his week's food diary - he was at least as good at remembering to write things down as I was.

(more on the camping trip tomorrow...)

Gone to the Falls

We're heading off tomorrow for a bit of a camping trip.  The weather forecast looks great, mid to upper 70's for highs and low 50's at night - couldn't ask for better camping weather.  We're heading off to Amicalola Falls for a few nights.  We'll see the falls, go visit the Dahlonega Gold mine museum, hike a bit (much to M's disgust - though he generally has a good time once we're actually hiking), sit around the campfire, etc.  Generally relax and not be bothered by phone, computer, chores, etc. 

I'm looking forward to getting out of the house for a few days, even if I'm not enjoying the packing right now!

Pentathalon swim meet

Tonight was the first swim meet of the season.  It was also a rather different sort of meet, as there was no other team.  Instead, our kids all swam against each other and they each swam all the different events.  So, rather than picking your favorite/best/hate the least 3 events, the kids each swam 5 different events (plus 2 relays).  It made for a busy night and a lot of swimming.

A was not too happy that he had to swim butterfly and the IM (individual medley - one length each of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle).  But he struggled through it.  He did much better on the back and breast.  I didn't check times for him on most of his events, but I did on his freestyle.  He took almost 8 seconds off his best freestyle time!  (He's still not as fast as most of his age group in freestyle though.)  The swimming last fall really helped him with the freestyle stroke so he is staying horizontal while he swims and not letting his feet sink.  I think his freestyle will be even better when he isn't all tired from doing an IM.  We'll find out tomorrow how his various times compare to last years.  A is looking forward to getting some "best time" ribbons.  

I'm sorry M wasn't able to be at this meet because I would like to see how he's doing in all the different strokes, not just the ones he chooses to swim normally.  Actually it will be interesting to see which events he chooses to swim in this year.

M is currently off at Scout camp.  He called home tonight to say that he needs a toothbrush (I packed one for him, but then he used it and didn't put it back in the bag).  I'm glad he noticed the toothbrush was missing (I'm not sure he ever used it last year) and I *hope* that maybe he is brushing with his finger...  We'll be down there on Wed, so will take a toothbrush then.  He also wants a stool he wove the seat for a couple of years ago - either to prove he has done it or to unweave it and do it again - in either case working towards a basketry merit badge.

Packing for camp

M is headed off to Boy Scout camp tomorrow, so we've been packing.  I told him to go pack clothes - 7 each of shirts, underwear, socks.  "Why?", he asks, "I won't wear all of them".  

Unfortunately, he's probably right and there's really nothing I can do about it.

Last year, he came home with only a handful of dirty clothes:

2 shirts

2 uniform t-shirts

2 pairs underwear

10 pairs socks

2 swimsuits (which he evidently wore as shorts all week long)

He evidently took to heart the Scoutmasters advice to change socks to avoid getting a blister.  Now we just need someone to convince him to change shirts and underwear...

M also complains that "they make us change clothes all the time" - 

class B uniform shirt for breakfast

regular shirt for rest of day

class A uniform shirt for dinner

swimming once or twice a day

With all that changing, you would think that he could occasionally change underwear - but then you and I aren't 12 year old boys!

3 Weeks of Scout Camp

I looked at the calendar today and realized that we have 3 straight weeks of Scout camps for the kids.  

A is at Cub Scout day camp this week.  He's having a great time, but its not my favorite as it starts at 8 am.  I've been up by 6 the last 2 days getting myself and him ready.  But tomorrow I'm doing afternoon carpool so I can sleep in a bit - I just have to get A fed and lunch packed.  I can sleep in until 7:00!

Next week M has Boy Scout camp.  Overnight, from Sunday afternoon til Saturday morning.  No getting up early for me!  Unfortunately it means that M will miss the first 2 swim meets, though.

The 3rd week, it's A's turn for camp again.  This time it's only for 3 days (and nights) with his Webelos den.  A is looking forward to his first solo camping trip - until 4th grade, the boys are required to have a parent camp with them.

More camping photos

I always find it amazing how quickly it cools down when we're camping. We got back from our hike around 6pm and it just seemed way too hot to think about a campfire. 20 minutes later, though, it started sounding pretty good. And by the time we got the fire going, it did feel good (and so did my sweatshirt).

We had tried to come up with a meal we could cook in the dutch oven, but didn't manage to find one that met all our criteria, namely:

1. M would like it
2. It would make enough for one dinner, but not much leftover (too hard to store leftovers when camping).
3. Not too fussy or time-consuming in camp.

Since it turned out that we couldn't get a second night at the campground, maybe its just as well we didn't find a dutch oven dinner. The kids really like to cook hot dogs over an open fire (truth to tell, so do I - but only for one night's dinner).

After dinner, we read for as long as there was light, then it was time for smores. After we'd all had our fill of smores, the kids decided that they were still hungry, but not for marshmallows. What to do? Why not toast apples over the fire?



They didn't leave the apples on there very long, mostly just enough to heat up the skin a little. They enjoyed it, though. M said it was neat to have the skin warm and the inside of the apple cool.

After that it was time to check out the bathhouse. And the stars on the way up and back. When we got back to camp, I was surprised that A took himself off to the tent to get ready for bed. Maybe all that hiking wore him out more than I realized.... I'm not one to complain when kids are getting ready for bed on their own initiative! They brushed their teeth at the spigot at the campsite and headed in to the tent. We heard talking for 10 minutes or so, punctuated every so often by M's "I'm trying to go to sleep" - and then quiet. Ahhh. Blessed quiet.

D and I had a nice quiet hour or so at the campfire before we too hit the tent. Unfortunately every time I woke during the night my legs were cold. I'm not sure why since I have camped in this same tent and sleeping bag in much colder weather and been fine. and I even remembered to put on clean socks.

In the morning we got the word that no, there hadn't been any no-shows or cancellations and that we wouldn't be able to extend our stay. So we got busy packing up the campsite.

Taking the tent down, M crawled under it. I called him the "wicked warlock of the east" - see those feet sticking out...

Camping Excursion

We finally got to go on our camping trip (delayed from Monday's not so nice weather).  It was beautiful weather. We left here early afternoon on Wednesday and made a pleasant stop at the next county's library (thank you, thank you, thank you for connected libraries and library cards good in multiple counties!) Armed with 3 bags full of books, we were ready to head on.

When we got to the park, we registered and started looking for a space. The rangers confirmed that we had a registration and said to just find an empty space. So, we start driving around. First loop, all the spots are full or have a little tag on the post. Same thing with the second loop. and the third. and the fourth and final loop. Umm, we do have a reservation and checkout is supposed to be at 1pm, and it is now 4pm, so where is our space??? We went back to the ranger office and ask for assistance. One guy finally goes off to do a reconnaissance. When he comes back, he has to confer with the other ranger for a bit before deciding that space 4, which says someone is still there until the next day, is really empty (the guy checked out a day early). So, finally we can go get set up.

Luckily, by now the kids are old enough to be of genuine help in setting up a tent. They may grumble a bit about helping rather than reading a book, chasing a lizard, poking each other with imaginary swords - but they can and did help. And in no time, we had the tent up, air mattress inflated, and sleeping bags and pillows in the tent.

Next stop - nature trail. Again, maybe not their first choice, but we all had a good time.

We found a cool tree where we all took a rest:

M decides to get silly with camera angles:

M is probably plotting how to get A!
 

As we continued on around the trail, the kids would race to touch the blazes on the trees. or cross a bridge first or whatever. A climbed under one bridge to be a troll. I guess that made the rest of us the 3 billy goats gruff?

A found a cool hole where a tree had been uprooted:

Here A is "king of the hill"

Every time there was a fallen log (and believe me, there were a LOT of fallen logs), A wanted to walk the log. Sometimes the log was too small, and there was one log that was cracked and broke while A was on it, but mostly the walks were just fun. A little out of the way, but what's a little extra log-walking, then running to catch up when you're 9?