Our summer has been a bust, but there are two weeks before school starts so we have decided to smoosh as much summer into these final weeks as we possibly can. Since our first camping experience went surprisingly well I thought we better hurry and have another one before I chicken out again. After extensive research we decided to give Anderson Cove a try.
Overall we had a really good time, but we did have some learning opportunities:
1) Always look at an aerial map of the campground to see if there are any major highways 200 feet from where you are sleeping. It is difficult to connect with nature when the ambient noise are diesel trucks thundering through at all hours of the day and night.
2) If the campground is listed as a "park like atmosphere" know that takes a lot of work to maintain such as watering, mowing, and tree felling and chipping.
3) Just because a place has vault toilets does not mean they are maintained. Enter at your own risk and try not be overcome by the overwhelming, gag inducing stench of ammonia.
4) A formal campground puts you right next to people. Lots and lots and lots of people. Like a million people. The first night was calm, but the second night a large group of young men who are tomorrow's leaders (but today's hooligans) ran through camp at midnight and hollered for an hour. Then someone slashed the propane tank next to our campsite. Turns out those are loud. Then about 2:30 a.m. two gentlemen named Mark and Dillon got in an altercation involving a knife and had to be separated. FYI: tents are thin so we heard everything.
More life camping lessons learned.
So on to the happy, joyful parts of our camping experience.
Our takeaway: Anderson Cove is not for us. Pineview Reservoir and the beach are awesome. Loved, loved, loved. Would definitely want to spend the day again. And we are feeling pretty dang good about ourselves with two successful camping trips under our belts.
Overall we had a really good time, but we did have some learning opportunities:
1) Always look at an aerial map of the campground to see if there are any major highways 200 feet from where you are sleeping. It is difficult to connect with nature when the ambient noise are diesel trucks thundering through at all hours of the day and night.
2) If the campground is listed as a "park like atmosphere" know that takes a lot of work to maintain such as watering, mowing, and tree felling and chipping.
3) Just because a place has vault toilets does not mean they are maintained. Enter at your own risk and try not be overcome by the overwhelming, gag inducing stench of ammonia.
4) A formal campground puts you right next to people. Lots and lots and lots of people. Like a million people. The first night was calm, but the second night a large group of young men who are tomorrow's leaders (but today's hooligans) ran through camp at midnight and hollered for an hour. Then someone slashed the propane tank next to our campsite. Turns out those are loud. Then about 2:30 a.m. two gentlemen named Mark and Dillon got in an altercation involving a knife and had to be separated. FYI: tents are thin so we heard everything.
More life camping lessons learned.
So on to the happy, joyful parts of our camping experience.
Setting up the tent.
Waiting for Dad to set up the tent.
Eating treats around the campfire.
Excited to be camping.
Learned from last time how to get breakfast done in minutes. This was done in seven minutes.
Went kayaking for the first time and LOVED it. A definite must-do again
Walking from camp to Pineview Reservoir to spend the day in the water.
Best find ever! A gigantic log offered hours of creative play.
Finally brave enough to put his legs in the water.
Back to camp to eat grapes. Or stuff them in his cheeks for later.
Resting when the day was done.
Football with the kids.
Marshmallows for dessert.
Early morning. Trying to stay warm in the sun while waiting for breakfast.
Back to the beach.
Playing in the sand.
Trying to keep C out of the sun.
We do a lot of these.
Sadly leaving the beach.
Last meal before breaking camp.
Our takeaway: Anderson Cove is not for us. Pineview Reservoir and the beach are awesome. Loved, loved, loved. Would definitely want to spend the day again. And we are feeling pretty dang good about ourselves with two successful camping trips under our belts.
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