A Fun Old-Fashioned Family Camping Trip & Weekend

My extended family owns land about an hour from here on a small river. The river is a huge local recreational area where people camp, fish, swim, float, and just spend a lot of summer hours. The land we own has several great gravel bars, fishing holes, swimming & jumping spots, and some nice areas to camp. So, this weekend my brother & sister decided it is a great time for a Fun Old-Fashioned Family Camping Trip. We planned, like my other brother & family, to visit but not camp. Until Thursday night.

Thursday night was a tipping point, when the minions known as our children begged & begged until we did the unthinkable. We gave in. We decided to go camping.

Friday we were on the run as soon as our feet hit the ground. Because we hadn't camped in many (MANY) years, we were less than prepared. We popped up the little ol' pop up camper & cleaned it out. We made a list of all the items that needed to be replenished or replaced. After a four-hour trip to Walmart & Sam's, we loaded said camper with....stuff. Lots of it. We loaded 4-wheelers on a trailer, threw a bunch of....stuff....in the back of the Expedition and Pickup, baked a cake for Aunt D's birthday, packed, iced cake, loaded up our crew plus The Big Boy's Friend That is a Girl, K, and ..... wait. What about the little dog that lives in our house? Can't stay out, can't stay in, too late to board....so Benny loaded up, too, and we headed out.

We arrived at dusk. After setting up camp in the dark & digging around to find some hot dogs & marshmallows to roast for a fine & nutritious supper, we settled down to some campfire talk. It was lovely.

Picture the setting: The river flows just a few yards away....my brother's camper is a toy hauler that is larger than our first house. It has several large beds, several tv's, hot water, microwave, and....satellite. Fox News 24/7. Deluxe. Next to that is my sister's airstream with running water, generator, beds, kitchen, etc. Verry nice. They have awnings, carpet, space, organization. Then, next to that is our popup. No electricity. Water in large bottles & coolers only. Very little space for the stuff of 7 people. A luxury compared to our previous camping abode, a small tent, but still the runt of the litter. However, we did keep up with the Jones's. We, too, had an awning.

We had a relatively short night, waking at the first hint of light the next morning. It's funny how camping can make me a morning person. Then, after a big breakfast of 2 lbs of bacon, 2 lbs of sausage, eggs, fruit, coffee, juice, & croissants, we started a busy day of swimming, fishing, jumping, running, riding, and general playing.

Various family members & their dogs came and went through the day. We played hard and the evening brought several family members together for a Family Camping Birthday Dinner. We ate, had a Rainbow/Hippy Birthday cake, then settled in for some guitar music and conversation, when Ben (the dog) got sick. He started coughing and hacking and was terribly sick....all....night....long. I still don't know what was wrong, and he has improved significantly since he has rested at home for two days, nonetheless, it was a long & exhausting night.

Early Sunday morning meant time to load up & head home in time to shower & go to church. A Sunday afternoon nap did wonders for us, and we then unloaded & began what will be at least of week of clean up for the two night trip. At this writing, I begin to hyperventilate when I near the laundry room, and a trip through the sleeping bed/camping-supply-laden living room brings tears to my eyes.

Just when one would think the weekend is winding down, Thing 1 has a church event, and The Big Boy is assigned the task of retrieving the Thing after the event. However TBB didn't make it. He met up with a sign on the highway & after the fight, I think the sign won. Thus, Mom became dispatcher, sending Dad to the scene and The Big Girl to retrieve the Thing.

After everyone returned home & we rehashed the events of the day while eating some rather scrumptious sandwiches (made from the 10.7 lbs of lunchmeat left from the trip), we settled down for a movie. I'm told I didn't last through the opening credits....since I don't remember a solitary thing about the movie, I'm sure they are right.

About 1 am, hubby woke me to....oh, YOU thought I was going to say to go to bed. WRONG! No, it was time to watch the rest of "24"...the rest of the season.

Yes, we watched Jack fight the good fight until about 4:30 am. (Much better ending than Lost, in my opinion) So, today is a day of laundry, paperwork, cleaning, and general zoning out. In four days we have managed to knock three vehicles out of capacity with dead batteries, flat tires, and a battle with a sign. The poor dog is still staggering around in a daze. I'm not sure how long it will take to recuperate from this weekend, but I'm fairly sure there is potential for another "National Lampoon's Vacation" movie in the mix.

Ah, now I believe I have had enough writing therapy to face the monsters in the laundry room once again. Tomorrow is a new day. The diet/exercise starts anew. Normal sleep patterns shall emerge. And this weekend shall be a fond memory...

Please don't let this weekend pass without remembering the men & women who serve our country in armed services. They & their families deserve our support and prayers. Especially lift up in prayer & support the families of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We are eternally grateful for their sacrifice.