I'm not a big fan of camping however Kent loves it. Adores it! Complained all last winter that we wasted the summer because we didn't camp.
So he picked this last weekend to go out and camp. He was a bit wishy-washy on how long he wanted to go but I pushed for three days mostly because I did NOT want to go through another winter listening to that man (as much as I love him) express more regrets on lost camping opportunities.
So we were a go. Actually we were planning on this trip with friends but they backed out. So it was us solo and Kent throwing possibilities left and right. I told him, I didn't care, I'd pack food and clothes, just take us somewhere.... ANYWHERE.
Friday Kent got off of work at 1:00 and there was still lots of packing to do. We left around three. Traveling north towards Leadore, sometime after six the children were going crazy. We usually eat dinner by six, so they were starving. We realized to the left of us, there was a campground. Picture basic desolation, sagebrush and dried grass with mountains in the distance. Most of Idaho is composed of the Rockies, with the exception of South Eastern Idaho which lies in the Snake River Plain. That's where we live.
So we were still over an hour from where Kent wanted to go, so we quickly changed our plans and pulled into the campground. We quickly found this ideal spot that Kent was able to just back right into. We had a fast moving stream on one side and an irrigation ditch on the other. We were surrounded by water and the sounds was so soothing and lovely.
We quickly let the children know that swimming was OUT. This water was to deep and to fast for them. Thankfully everyone listened and we didn't have to fish anyone out of the creek.
The biggest accident was me of course. Just call me Grace. *eye roll*
Getting stuff for dinner and stepping quickly out of the camp trailer on the cinder block below, I lost my balance and landed on my back. Several oddball scrapes, some terrific bruises and a few days later, sore ribs but overall I am fine. Kent congratulated me on my ability to land without breaking any bones.
As I was laying on the ground, not moving, trying to figure out if I was hurt or not, a desperate Greg climbed on top of me, extremely upset and worried that I was hurt. He would not move off of me until I kissed him on the lips. He asked over and over if I was "Kay" and pursed his lips. I kissed him and he quickly scrambled off completely reassured that I was fine.
We then had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with roasted hot dogs, smores and a rousing game of Yahtzee with the girls.
The next morning, Greg was up at the crack of dawn. I managed to keep him entertained with a yogurt and a walk. David was soon up and Kent got up to fish with the boys. Both little boys jabbered with excitement at "feeding the fish."
I let Kent know that actually catching a fish, followed by gutting and eating just might be traumatic for those two. Thankfully it wasn't an issue.
Eventually even Jane rolled out of bed and Kent made a hot breakfast with sausage, hashbrowns and eggs. David had a rough morning with stuff blowing away and spills of his hot chocolate. Poor guy.
After breakfast we packed up and went to Lemhi and our next campsite. We parked next to a lovely creek that was wade-a-ble and after our lunch up in the mountains along the Lewis and Clark trail we made it back to camp where the kids relaxed and played in the water. Well except Jane who chose to bury herself in a book in the camp trailer for the afternoon.
Dinner was a fiasco, to say the least! I had planned on pizza pockets and had crescent roll dough to use and all the fixings to go with. However the irons needed to make enough pizza pockets for the whole family were in the garage. So Kent and I let the kids eat hot dogs for the second night in a row (with no objections I might add) while we used the one iron we had to make our own pockets.
Kent's first attempt turned out perfect but most of his dinner flew into a bush when a massive breeze threw our camp into a frenzy. My pocket was burned. I wanted it a little more crispy and got black instead. While making another for Kent, my inner spaz took over and somehow I managed to coat myself in pizza sauce. Thus ensuring I would have no clean shirt Sunday and ended up wearing my pajama top all the way home.
It sure tried to storm but we had decent enough weather for more smores and then bed.
I slept great. My husband gave me the "Princess and the Pea" treatment and piled the foam pads up on my bed. With all my achy joints from falling the day before, I really appreciated the show of love!
Our final day before heading home. Jane showing a great amount of tact and gratitude for having food said "yeah, a cold breakfast on a cold morning" when she learned I had cold cereal for everyone. I almost smacked her on the side of the head. I don't know where she gets that sarcasm from.
*cough*
ANYWAY, we tore up camp, called it all good and went and soaked in some hot pools that were fairly near by. Then it was homeward bound.
WHAT?!
Oh homeward bound. Most of that drive was made without a muffler. Apparently towing the trailer uphill did it in. Talk about noisy. I understood nothing when spoken to from the back seat. It could have been worse though. Noisy as it was, the 'burb still made it home. :)
