Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Great Outdoors Revisited

You may remember from this post that I'm not that big a fan of camping. Well, my avoidance tactics finally ran out and the boys and I went camping and floating with John's family. And how did this trip compare to the last one?

1. There was no rain on this trip. How could it rain when the temperature is 98 degrees? Any brave rain drop that tried to reach the earth would have been rewarded by being vaporized upon exit from its cushy cloud. Instead of rain, we had 99.999% humidity and a mist every morning that dripped onto everything keeping it perpetually wet.

2. The men did not sit around attempting to burn unburnable things in the fire. It was too hot for that. They did burn one thing, however. A large copperhead visited our camp. It was cut in half with a shovel. Apparently, no one ever taught this snake that being cut in half kills you. Because this snake's head-half continued to make its way toward our tents and chairs. How do you vanquish an evil, immortal snake? Burn it of course. Even the fire was unable to consume all of this snake.



3. There was no bug from the underworld in the shower house. There were spiders that were awakened upon hearing the running water of early morning showerers. They used their webs to repel from the ceiling with my head as their targeted landing spot. I had to use my towel like a whip and periodically send spiders flying as I quickly tried to clean myself. There was also a very, very large black spider guarding the door to the shower house. Of course, since I couldn't see this from outside the shower house, I only was alerted to his presence after making it into the shower house. It's amazing I worked up the courage to exit through that door after finding him there.

4. We had no car trouble. In fact, our car was an oasis, offering occasional air-conditioned breaks when needed and phone service through our On-Star system.

All in all, I have to admit it was a great trip. The best part was the float, which offered a crystal clear, very cool and refreshing respite from the heat. We took frequent stops along sand bars and floated down the rapids.



We had no canoe tips, but Jack did tip once when he was riding in the tug boat.



I told Luke that it was o.k. to go Number 1 in the water rather than have to get out, and he said, "Through my swim trunks?" I said, "Yes." He said, "I love these water rules!"

John particularly loved it. It was his first float with his boys, and he was ecstatic that they enjoyed it so much. And what goes good with a hot day and a relaxing float on the river? A cold beer of course. When John informed Jack of this, Jack replied, "Dad, you know everything goes good with a cold beer." To which John cracked up and I cringed.

The nights were wonderful too, with the kids swimming in the river, catching fireflies, playing glow-stick tag, having a home run derby, and playing kick the can.

And our tent was my saving grace.


We borrowed it from my Uncle Kiley, and it was the Taj Mahal of tents. It had three rooms and a screened porch - the perfect place to take off wet and dirty shoes and clothes and to sequester bugs. Even with that much space, I woke up each morning with the boys laying right on top of me. And this from boys who protested when we wouldn't let them sleep alone in their own tent.

And, to ensure that I didn't get too sad about the camping trip being over, this little guy hitchhiked a ride home in some of our gear and surprised me one morning in the bathroom.

Who needs camping with bugs like this in your house?

16 comments:

Grandma T said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip - giant snake and all! And the float looks like a lot of fun!

Texasholly said...

The pictures are great and it does sound like you had a great time.

Kellan said...

Okay - I've got chills running up my spine - snakes, spiders, creepy bugs - eeeek! That water looks wonderful, though! Glad you had a good time! Kellan

Robin said...

"How do you vanquish an evil, immortal snake?"

Is this a Harry Potter trivia question?

Susan said...

You brave, brave woman. I think I would have liked the float. And the peeing through my trunks and the beer. Oh, and the beer. But the spiders and bugs? I itch thinking about it. I'm so pathetic.

Angie @ KEEP BELIEVING said...

Hasn't anyone told you that you camp in early fall? No humidity, cool nights for sleeping and enjoying a fire. Only, then you can't enjoy the water.

KEEP BELIEVING

Anonymous said...

No.Effing.Way. would you get me on this trip. You lost me at humidity. I'm a weather wuss now. ;)

Karla and Ben said...

I'm glad you had a good time. You are a better woman than I... I do not camp. I used to camp. Now my parent's RV is the closest that I like to get to roughing it.

I loved Luke's take on the water rules!

Still Patrice said...

omg! wth kinda bug is THAT?!

LOL @ I love these water rules!

Marshamlow said...

I am glad you had a good camping experience. I was forced to camp a lot as a kid when all the bad camping stuff didn't bother me so much. So I developed my love of camping early. I don't like any of the roughing it type stuff, but there is something about that first thing in the morning peace. And the floating down the river looked like so much fun. I love water.

3boys247 said...

I am glad you had a fun time even with the shower spiders (YUCK) and the big, headless, chargrilled snake.

The water looks beautiful. Nothing liek camping by water to keep the boys busy for hours. And you have fire flys, I am so jealous, our boys have never seen any of those.

Anonymous said...

Water Pee rules are awesome!

Monica said...

We love camping, glad to see others doing it. But July? Wow way too hot, our fav time of year to camp is October. St. Louis stillhas warm days and cool evenings then. We do not float much we hike. Guess that is why we prefer the fall.

Though your pictures of the water looked very inviting!

Unknown said...

Looks like alot of fun!!! Nice tent!! That is how I would camp too :)

PS LOVE the new puppy!!! He is super cute!!!

Sorry I have been gone for awhile. SOme how you were not on my google reader!! I promise you are now!!!

Kling6 said...

I love camping and floating the Missouri rivers. We have a pop-up camper with AC, which makes it a lot more bearable. The first time I told my oldest son he could pee in the river. He walked to the middle of the river, pulled his pants down and went. Of course, right in front of about 10 people. Too funny!

Damama T said...

My kind of camping ivolves indoor plumbing, room service, and nightly chocolates on my pillow. But that peeing in the water sounds like fun. LOL! Glad you had a good time.