Camping with the family, Twin Lakes #3975

I’m pretty sure every state has a Twin Lakes. I know my state has at least 3. However, none are so remote that you have to past through the Deadly Desert to get there. Yes, you heard it…be passed through OZ, and probably Naria too.

One van, 2 parents, 3 kids, 2 dogs and a shit load of camping equipment caravaning through the second most remote part of our state. We drove places that no van should go…except with my mother at the helm. Through farming land, where the only people that actually use those roads are combines and big Ford F350s Supercab with duel exhaust and those extended side mirrors. There were many times when I thought the van just wasn’t going to take it any more. But my mother willed it on over the cattle guards while our golden retriever barked his lungs out at the numerous cows that got the horn treatment because they had their big lazy asses in the road. 5 hours later, we were finally at this campground. Surprisingly, it was a gorgeous location. The lake was crystal clear because no one in their right mind had been up there it was a calm, undisturbed part of America and the mountains rose directly off of the shore.

The day was great…August, wearing jeans and a coat, running around the lake was great. At the night was the stormy weather blew in. This was about the time we had 2 adults, 3 kids and 2 dogs in a 4 person tent to ride out the storm. It was Cozy, in a I’m sleeping with my brother’s hair up my nose and my dog breathing into my ear kind of way.

The next morning we woke up, watched a beaver work on his dam near by. We packed up some of the stuff, and enjoyed the day. I decided to have some Ramen noodles for lunch. I used to love dried Ramen noodles. USED TO. This was the trip where I found a meal worm in my Ramen noodles. I cried. And almost vomited. It completely ruined Ramen noodles for the rest of my life, and let me tell you, I wasn’t even in COLLEGE yet when this happened. College was a rough time with out Ramen noodles. Anyway…

As another storm rolled in, we packed up our stuff and got ready to head back the long road home. But we wanted to drive around to the other side of the twin lakes before we left. So we packed the car, piled in a drove the roughly .3 miles around to the other side. The rain started to fall. And as it did, our little 15 year old Scottie dog, Maggie, got spooked. The car door was wide open. She ran the other way. Into the lake. Now, this is a dog that doesn’t swim. At all. As the thunder and rain pounded down, our voices calling to her were drown out. Until my mother suggested that I go and rescue her. This little dog that was so daintily stretching between rocks (did I mention, she didn’t swim?). Yeah. And the closer I got, the farther out onto the rocks she got. Finally, she stopped, at the point I was really worried she would jump into the water and follow where I shouldn’t. Soaking wet, I grabbed her, and the two of us waded back to shore. My family, though relieved, was laughing their asses off. Excellent.

So, in 1 van, with a crap load of camping equipment, 2 adults, 2 brothers, 1 dry dog, 1 wet dog and a soaking wet, sour sister piled into the car and drove the 5 hours home. I never did like that dog.

(which is a total lie, I loved that dog. Clearly more than anyone else)

Nature! It’s all around me!

My camping experience this weekend left me with some stories, some memories, and some black holes. I want to write about it, even if I can’t “thank my mother” for this experience. Oh no, she’s off on a holiday in Italy with the rest of my family.

However, it does relate to a camping story and my love for the wilderness, for which I can thank my mother. In fact, she realized she was pregnant with me while hiking the Grand Canyon. More on that later.

I must divulge into this camping trip. The purpose was Hubby Bee’s birthday. The site was amazing (pictures coming soon)! We were stationed right off the bank of the river. This river is only 2 feet deep-perfect for wading, but also for floating. If you haven’t done this, it’s amazing! You get a tube/ raft/tire and jump in at the put-in and float down the river for as long as your heart desires. It’s very fun. Until you hit your ass on the sand bar. This is how I ended up with the gigantic green track across my shorts by the end of the float. From the seaweed on the sand bar. And my HUGE ass scraping across the bottom. Quite excellent in front of my husband’s friends.

When we arrived, it was sprinkling rain. Hubby Bee and I climbed out of our car with all of our necessities that had been jam-packed, along with MBee, into our car tumbling out around us. Setting up the tent was interesting as the rain began to fall harder, followed by hail and us running to our car while the rain fly wasn’t on the tent, and watching our tent getting drenched. Sweet. Who knew that setting up our bohemith tent would be such a project. MBee of course had a quaint little two-man tent that was up in 45 seconds. 20 minutes later, Hubby Bee and I were finally blowing up our pads inside the tent.

As the other friends arrived, the bar was set up in the back of LBee’s car. Que the black out part. Drinking, fire and friends…what a great combo. Add a little 80’s music and you’ve got yourself a PAR-TAY in the woods. All I can say is whoever made those camping chairs is KICK-ASS in my book. Hopefully that guy is sitting in his mansion somewhere with a dining room surrounded by camping chairs. A shrine for himself.

After some amount of drinks (was it the banana martini that did it?), I ended up running around the campfire to “Walk Like an Egyptian,” signing at the top of my lungs…and walking like an egyptian. This is about the time I blacked out. No recollection of this at all, until someone reminded me the next morning. Also a mystery is my marshmallow episode. All I remember about this is having a gigantic roasting stick, putting marshmallows on and waiting until someone yelled, “FIRE! FIRE!” to realize that they were done. I’d blow them out, eat them, and repeat.

What was that? Of course I was drunk! I know, but there are spiders, and you have to crap in the woods. Nevermind HOVERING! You have to take your mind of the feeling that little black things are crawling up your legs.

Anyway…the evening and the trip worked out to be a fabulous weekend of soaking up sun, cooling off in the river, avoiding giardia, and spending some quality time out in wilderness. It does the body good to spend time sitting around, reading a good book and swatting big horse flies off of your newly sunscreened legs.

Camping with the guys…boys?

So, as much as I want to stay and play by the pool with the lovely ladies of BlogHerNot 2008, I am forced to go spend the evening under the stars with a snoring Hubby Bee next to me, and two of his closest male friends in a fabric dome in close proximity to us. In the woods. With bugs.

Yes, I know…you will miss my awesomeness lack of posting, now that some of you know who I am! Which, I adore, but I assure you, finishing out the weekend with the Girls of BHN ‘08 will be much more fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love camping. Alone. With my husband. And lots of bug spray.

But this weekend is gearing up to be one hell of a time with me as the sole double-Xer, along with 4 boys. Not to mention it’s railing, they’re bringing PBR AND I have to don a swimsuit tomorrow night at the near-by Hot Springs. Excellent. Thank god one-piece suits are finally back in style.

Someone save me from my lot in life! I shall return, if the bugs don’t eat me alive, on Monday to catch up on the Clooney-sleeping-around, and the rest of Mommypie’s most excellent conference.

Update: While I’ve spent 10 minutes writing this, the rain has gone from “really raining” to “torrential downpour.” My cup floweth over.

Bon Voyage!