Justin grew up with a lake and canoes in his yard. I didn't. So when our trip started with him hopping in his canoe and taking off, leaving me to push my own canoe in the lake and board it on my own with my 18-week-pregnant self, I was afraid we were getting off on the wrong foot. But camping is about adventure and making do, so off we went!
Our campsite was about a half mile paddle up the lake to our little peninsula camp site. Silas presented me with a snakeskin as soon as I de-boarded my canoe, and moments later William and Justin excitedly watched the snake slithering away. It was a black racer, so nothing to fear, but still the tall bushes along the edge of the lake and the occasional rustling leaves kept me on alert for venomous belly-crawlers. That was the only snake we saw, but our site had plenty of ticks and ants to divert us. I'm thankful that 3 of our 4 children can correctly identify poison ivy, as there was a plethora adorning our new abode. Camping is about adventure and getting close to nature, so here we were!
Our evening was enjoyable with campfire-cooked burgers, corn on the cob, and potatoes for dinner. We all took a dip in the lake to cool off from the uncomfortably hot day, and once sleeping arrangements had been debated, argued, arranged, and re-arranged, our family settled in for our first night's sleep. Patrick's young brain probably can't remember the last time we went camping, and I am one of the world's lightest packers, so I was a bit unprepared when he wouldn't fall asleep because NOTHING was familiar to him. Note to self (and other parents thinking of camping with young children), bring something comforting from home for bedtime. Finally, exhaustion got the better of him and we all slept (11 pm). Other items to remember next time: a tarp/mat to put at the entrance of our tent (to help cut back on the buckets of dirt brought it by the kids' feet), a small dustpan and hand broom (my mom told me this the last time we camped and I forgot! would have helped with those buckets of dirt), and my chapstick. I can hardly function without chapstick, and when it is left in the car and you have to paddle a canoe a mile to go get it and it is dark out, you have to suffer the consequences and go without. Camping is about adventure and living with the bare bones, so I did it!
Justin built a bench at our campsite... because if you say "I wish we had a place to sit," then he will build you a bench with a log and a hatchet.
Patrick and I took a row around the fog-filled lake when we woke up the next morning.
Our second day was filled with put-put, a swim in the lake (and pulling some tiny leeches off of Justin), and hiking along the falls. Ahem, if it sorta looks like rain, put a rain cover on the tent. If the husband insists that it shouldn't rain, gently suggest that you put the rain cover on anyways. Otherwise, you may paddle .5 miles to go on your hiking excursion, the skies open up, and the husband will have to rush back paddling the .5 miles there and .5 miles back to go cover said tent. Just hypothetically speaking ;). Camping is about adventure and saving the tent from the rain!
Standing in the rain cheering for Daddy to "Go, Daddy, Go!" paddle back and cover our tent.
We enjoyed the steamy hike along the rocky waterfalls. We got an occasional sprinkle in the 100% humidity, which created a sauna-like feel (either that or a sticky, sweaty feel... but let's go with sauna, it sounds better). Our kids are rock-stars. They are used to parents who go on big hikes and push our physical limits, and they hike and press on like pros.
Can't you just SEE the sauna dripping off us in this picture?!
This is how naptime goes on camping trips.
High Falls!
When we returned to the boat dock at 5:05 pm, just 5 minutes after the camp office closed, we discovered our canoes and gear had been kindly put away and locked up. We were stranded! Justin began exploring roads trying to see if we could park and walk to our site (not possible), and I began calling every park number listed. Would we be sleeping in the van? Finding a hotel? Finally, I got ahold of a friend of the camp manager, who contacted the manager, who contacted the evening ranger, who came and unlocked two canoes and the gear for us. Oh, and it was raining all the while... and lightening. We made it back to camp and into the tent right before the skies unleashed their fury more intensely, and I must say that our rain cover on the tent did exceptionally well. Oh, the other thing I MUST bring on future trips of any sort is children's Tylenol. Not for the kids, but for me (because I can't swallow pills). I have a tendency to get horrid headaches when we take trips, and no amount of fluids or deep breaths, sleep or massage, good thoughts or good smelling things will make it go away. Would you believe me if I told you that I still enjoyed my day while lying damp on my sleeping bag, pounding headache, listening to the rest of the family laugh and play (mostly laugh... sometimes whine, but mostly laugh)? Well, I did. Because camping is about adventure and making the best of things.
We managed to get packed up and paddle back to the van by 9 am the next morning (afraid more rain would get us). William and Vera paddled my canoe all the way back from our site by themselves! Camping is about adventure and growth!
Indian Springs
We headed over to the nearby Indian Springs to soak up some Georgia history. William had just read a biography on Chief William McIntosh and wrote a paper about him, so he was extremely excited to see the Spring where the Creek Indians would drink for good health and healing, and to see the Inn where McIntosh stayed and signed a controversial treaty in 1825. We filled some bottles with the spring water, which smells exactly of deviled eggs... whew sulfur!
The treaty room, where Chief McIntosh signed a treaty handing Creek land over to the state of Georgia.
Enjoying the breeze on the porch of the Inn where McIntosh often stayed.
The rock where opposing Creeks sat waiting while McIntosh signed the treaty, and three months later they murdered him for it.
Gardens at the Indian Springs Inn/Museum.
There were moments on this trip when William got discouraged. "Everything is going wrong! Everything is a disaster!" he would say. "William," I'd answer, "Camping is about adventure and learning from the difficult moments to be flexible and make the best of things, and I think we are doing that pretty well." The kids' conclusion when we got back home? That was lots of fun!!!
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