Camping

HAPPY CAMPERS

Camping to me is with a tent and without your satellite dish, T.V, and computer. Just one with your fellow campers and mother nature. We experienced it for sure Labor day weekend. We had to deal with lots of little critters but that is all part of the experience.



What made it even funner is that we were able to get a crew together. My kids had plenty of friends to play with. There were times when I almost forgot they were there, if only for a moment. The adults were able to have conversations without winy kids. We all quickly came together as we huddled under our canopy when a light rain fell, then later falling asleep under the stars to the sound of crickets strumming a tune. Then waking to the call of a hawk just above our tent in a towering pine tree just as the sun was peeking out to say good morning. We all shared our stories of how we slept or didn't sleep. Some were wet from leaky tents and then the story of a bear tearing into a cooler....yikes. The RV sleepers forgot all about camping as they slept peacefully in their comfy beds. Cheaters!!

Wekiva Springs is so beautiful. How often do you get the chance to climb a humongous tree or take a walk down a stream. Sometimes I forget how easy it is to just hop into the car and take a drive to the many cool places that Florida has to offer us. It's all here just waiting to be explored.

Canoeing is such a cool experience. There were times when we didn't speak at all and just listened. We could hear hawks and wood peckers. The turtles would make a small splash as they slid from their comfy warm spot on the log in the sun as we passed too closely. It's so peaceful. All you hear is nature. Aaaaaaaa.

Trey and I worked together to keep the rhythm as we canoed. It was challenging at times, but we learned a lesson in team work.

Look at the reflection of the paddle in the water, too cool. It looks like the paddle was freshly painted and it's paint is leaching into the cool spring water. Or it's the paddle leaving its foot print.

My brother Henry with his girlfriend Marilynn and her granddaughter Mackenzie.

Donna, Danielle, and Tyler made for a very silly and adventurous ride. Never a dull moment. Danielle sang a Pocahontas song then we all sang row row row your boat. What a nice memory.

This was our daily trek to the watering hole. How often do you get out and walk? We walked everywhere we went. The walk to the bathroom was pretty long but it was a great opportunity to check out all of the different ways that people camp. We curiously looked at the stuff they brought and learned about the different ways that people camp. Some had huge T.V.'s with satelite dishes and some sat and played cards. Kids brought their bikes, scooters and skateboards, and most played in the water all day. There was a D.J. at the fall that kept us all entertained. We watched the beer gut contest, people dancing to the electric slide, hula hoop contest, and D.J. says. At night we enjoyed the fire work show.

The water was cold but not too cold to get in and have fun.

I think we all bonded a bit.

The fall was like a huge pool to explore. There were even people snorkeling and telling of the fish below.

We all played spoons. This was the first time my kids played and they couldn't get enough. They would laugh everytime the spoons went flying.

Smores, need I say more? It rained the first night so we weren't able to do the smores thing but the next night we made up for it. Trey, Alexis, and Mackenzie were happy to have the job of finding small sticks to throw into the fire ring to keep it a blaze.

Have you ever tried mini reece's instead of hershey's in your smores? Try it you just might like it.
I can't wait to go camping again, my kids are already asking when we can do it again.