The storm didn’t really pass, we were up at 6am with umbrellas, and realized we didn’t set up the fly for the picnic table. We rushed around trying to get the dining fly set up making a big muddy mess. It was a long morning, everything was wet and muddy. Including the jmonsters who had strolled out among the mad dash to get the fly set up and started in where they had left off the night before, can we go fishing, swimming, for a bike ride, or play at the park. We started to get the jmonsters fed, cold cereal, and Mommy made another dash to the store for some coffee. The jmonsters were pretty impressive with their persistence to get a camp fire going with wet wood. If only they showed the same perseverance with something constructive. We were able to sit around our smokey camp fire, with wet chairs and enjoy coffee and donuts.
We decided to go down to the lake and try our hand at some fishing. The park was hosting a triathlon, so a lot of the prime fishing holes were blocked off for the runners. We ended up in a pretty soggy spot with lots of trees to get hung up on. After a few technical difficulties and a few choice words, we got most things untangled and a couple of worms in the water. The jmonsters pulled in a few rock bass and some sunnies.
We headed back to the site for some lunch, because jmonsters can’t go more than an hour without eating. We made the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with lots of Doritoes, because we’re camping. Of course the jmonsters got the campfire going again, because we are camping and things seemed to be drying out. The jmonsters set off for the playground while Mommy and Daddy relaxed a bit and whined about our lack of sleep the night before.
We decided to head out to the beach for a dip in the lake and to wash some of the stink off from us. We packed up Sandee in the cart and set off on our bikes. Small monster is now riding his “big boy” bike with training wheels. He isn’t very good at it yet and we really paid the price for biking down to the beach. We encountered a pretty steep hill, Tall monster was off like a flash and Mommy followed him towing the dog behind. Daddy rode with Small monster giving words of encouragement as we went. Small monster started down the hill and totally forgot how to brake the bike. There was a scream of terror as he gained momentum yelling that he couldn’t stop. Daddy followed yelling for him to put on his break. Finally able to get up along side of him and grab his handle bars to try and slow him down, but the best laid plans sometimes end in disaster. We locked up and headed for a grassy section, bracing for the impact. The good news was Small monster slide on his side and was made it through relatively unscathed, just really scared. Dear old Dad, with emphasis on the word “old” went head over heels over the top of his handle bars, coming down in a nasty heap. Nothing broke, just his pride, and really sore ribs were the only outcome. We were able to compose ourselves and finished the trek down to the beach. Both Daddy and Small monster walked their bikes.
We bobbed in the water for a bit, it was really cold, which actually felt pretty good to Dad’s aching body. The jmonsters made lots of sand contraptions and swam here and there. After an hour or so we headed back up to the camp for a snack. Mommy and the jmonsters headed back down to the lake to do some more fishing while Daddy decided to take a nap and lick some wounds. The jmonsters didn’t catch anymore fish, but they had lots of bites and were able to see two water snakes.
We decided to get a few things packed up, Mommy was leaving tonight because she has the annual Father’s Day golf outing Sunday morning. Daddy was going to tough it out with the jmonsters and head back in the morning before joining Mommy at Grandma and Pap-Pap’s for an afternoon cookout. We had a great dinner, of turkey burgers and hot dogs. Mommy cooked the hot dogs so they weren’t raw this time.
After dinner Daddy was really starting to feel his ribs and decided to head home with Mommy while he had help breaking camp. There was some bartering to be done with the jmonsters, but they agreed as long as we still were able to have a campfire and some more smores. We made it to the house by 10pm and were able to get a shower and sleep in our own beds. The end to an action packed day and a half.
We dusted off the tents for a night of camping at our favorite State Park. After looking at our sad tent of 14 years, we decided it was in our best interest to purchase a new one so we wouldn’t spend an hour trying to figure out how to put it up. We had bought the jmonsters one for Christmas a few years back and we were jealous of how easy theirs went up. After a quick trip to Dick’s (and a lot of extras) we were ready. Saturday morning we loaded up for the hour trip to Hanging Rock. We were trying to ignore the fact that it was going to be 95 degrees that day, and we were sleeping in a tent. Luckily the campsites were in the woods and were shaded so it only felt like 90! Before too long we had the tents up and were ready to cool off at one of the many waterfalls in the state park. We decided on the Upper Cascade falls that has a little wading area that the kids could “swim” in. Sandee came along and enjoyed cooling her feet in the mountain water. That night we made a camp fire (still 90) so we could have the mandatory smores and mess (daddy’s favorite) that goes along with camping.
