On heading there we knew we may run into some thunder storms, but we didn't have a choice on when this vacation time had to be used, so we decided it was a chance worth taking!
On the drive there, we got a preview of the storm awaiting us...
To the West of us(and in the direction of our camp area)
To the East of usWe got there well afternoon and, after scoping out the area a minute, started unloading. I was just getting set to put up the tent when it started to rain... then pour, and thunder and lightening! "Just do the next thing." The kids hid in the van while Hubby and I managed to set up the tent with minimal water inside. Then I went to work getting it wiped out and beds set up while he went back and forth hauling what could be brought out in the rain.
It was chilly! We were soaked!!!
Once we were set up enough we got everyone into the tent and into dry clothes.
I kept thinking how hard it can sometimes be to make lemonade with the lemons life gives you, but we kept trying.
We managed to get a tarp set up (mostly) over the table area and as the storm subsided also managed an easy, hot dinner. It was late, we were cold, damp and tired. Some of our clothing in our bags got damp, so we had to choose wisely what could be worn. Thankfully I always pack extra! We all went to bed early (for us)
Sometime in the night Pumpkin woke up feeling ill. She threw up a few times all over herself and Hubby and I were scrambling to get to her and help! After doing what we could to clean her and change her we all settled back in and hardly slept.
We generally wake earlier while camping, and this trip was no exception. Happy groggy people, we were up and 2 hours earlier than at home! The sun was Shining! :)
Sadly, this is where Brianna starts complaining about her tummy; thankfully, this is where she pukes *in* the bucket thing.
We set out a bunch of wet stuff to sun dry, made food, then improvised a way to wash Pumpkin's hair that got icky in the night time sickness mess.
Did I mention that some lemons are hard and dry? ;)
But it wasn't all rain storms and vomit!
We had visitors at our camp!
A couple of little birds that beg better than our dogs! came around and fairly close to us.
We set out some crumbs and waited a bit to see if they would come closer.
We went for a little walk around the campsites near the creek that feeds the lake.
Looking to one side of the bridge crossing.
and to the other side.
(Notice those trees *in* the water? they aren't normally in the lake!)We got a little sprinkled on and the sky looked like:
So we headed back to camp early.
So we headed back to camp early.Hubby and I had spent the morning tarping half the camp so we would have extra shelter over the tent and an area to sit in if the rain started back up again. Though we got to hear more thunder and get a little sprinkled on, we did not have another downpour. That almost seemed sad after all the preps we'd made to get ready for it! ;)
We did a nice camp fire and dinner that night. We always bring stuff for S'mores, but find this neat dessert more to our family's tastes.
It is Apple Pie filling (though we have used Peach too) and Pop-can Cinnamon Rolls. This year we made it Apple Cranberry by adding in 1/2 a can of Whole Cranberry Sauce to 1 can of Apple. (For the size of the rolls though it would've been better to do 2 Apple and 1 Cranberry! but we were trying to avoid leftovers... which also didn't work! lol) It bakes in our Dutch oven with coals on top and underneath. (even if you don't camp, it is an excellent dessert or brunch addition and very easy!)
Night 2 it was Neno's turn to be pukey (also thankful he made it with the bucket) and I did not feel so well, so once again we all went to bed early. We did sleep much better than the night before and when that earlier-than-normal morning came we all felt fine. Which was nice since it was our last day there!
We decided to pack up slowly through out the day and leave pretty late. It was nice and finally warm there, but we knew the minute we left the mountain we'd be back in the hot of the desert!
After lunch we went up to Mosquito Flat Trail Head for a small hike. Living up to it's name well, the mosquitoes were there en mass and some seemed starved!
The area we had been through when there a couple of years ago was all marshy now and the river in places was frightening to a mom with an overly confident 2 and 3/4 year old! More than once I caught my breath and grasped her hand again... that is when Mo or Neno weren't scaring me!
After getting some pictures in places that we have pictures of our kiddos from previous years, which is fun for "mile markers." :) we headed back to camp and packing up. The kids continued to play and help as they could. Everyone's favorite way to help was to play with Karissa in the tent so she could crawl around a bit. :) (and not eat too many icky things she'd find!)
We left late in the evening and I joked about getting to see the sunset twice that day since it would be up still outside of our mountain area. The first 2 hours were uneventful and easy traveling, but Karissa woke up and was not happy! We had to make it to the nearest town to pull over and check on her as there really isn't much off the side of the highway! Making it to a park 20 minutes later, she was fed and checked all over... just fine. So back in the seat she went and back on the road she was quite vocal about her disdain for that carseat! Finally we made it home, washed everyone and Hubby and I got in bed at 3am!
We were tired, but happy and very glad to have our own beds! :)
In the end, I think we did squeeze some lemonade out of those lemons! We persevered, had some good times and probably made memories for our kids to enjoy later in their lives. Talking with them after we got back, we've emphasized that life isn't always easy, but work with whatever you've got. Maybe instead of lemons, you got rocks... but maybe you need those rocks to beat your wheat into fine flour! :) Not the trip we expected, but certainly glad we got the opportunity and the lessons and memories to share!
Happy Trails!
1 comment:
glad to hear it was a nice trip despite the pukeys.
Post a Comment