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When we said good-bye to our much loved Coosa River just before swimming season, I was filled with tremendous guilt. Sweetums enjoys swimming so much, and we all know that swimming is not the premier attraction around here. So, when our old neighbors told us about a nearby swimming hole that wouldn’t freezer burn the children on contact, we were very happy.
Back at Quartz Lake
First we had a nice picnic.
And then we went swimming! Well, some of us went swimming.
It was cold, but she was not deterred.
Before long Sweetums was playing happily with the other kids and we were off the hook.
I discovered something while I sat back on the grassy bank watching Sweetums play in the water. Taking your child to do something specifically for them, doesn’t seem near as self-sacrificing when the weather is good.
It is sometimes difficult to escort your child from one child-centered activity to another, especially when the weather is above 90 degrees. Now, I’ve sat, stood, heck, I’ve even jogged alongside Sweetums, all for her benefit. Through it all, I stood to gain nothing but the happiness that comes with knowing your kids are happy. That is usually enough too. After all, that is what mothers do. But sometimes when the heat index is above 100 degrees, it is hard to be selfless.
If the weather is nice, you get a little back too. Suddenly you’ve got more time than you thought to sit and watch your child play. Suddenly sitting and doing nothing but watching your child play, seems pretty nice. You almost forget that you forgot to bring a chair or a book and you just lean back and like my Alaskan neighbor once said, “soak up the sunshine like a battery.”
As we were leaving Quartz Lake, we explored the surrounding area and found “Lost Lake". Because of that discovery, we were lured into the idea of camping again. We decided right then and there that we would come back the following day (Sunday) to campout.
Chuck had to go to work the next day. Do you think that deterred us? No! We drove two vehicles and decided he could leave from there bright and early Monday morning.
We had two dogs that we didn’t believe should be left at home alone. Do you think that deterred us? No! We loaded the canoe in one truck, and squeezed My Friend into a narrow space in the bed of the other truck between the logs, camping gear, and Russell’s kennel.
It was incredibly windy that day. Do you think that deterred us? No! Well it deterred us a little actually. Especially when we realized there was a burn ban because of it, and the pond would likely not be calm enough for fishing float ride. But we had already promised Sweetums and she had her hopes up, so we trudged forth, planning and packing and cramming.
After a days worth of camping preparation, we arrived too early and with the wrong attitude.
Yes this is a photo of her on the actual camping trip. She brought a tiger hat. I mean, you never know when you might need the tiger hat portion of your costume, right?
I don't know WHAT her problem was.
That's better.
We tried to get into the camping spirit by taking a short hike but Russell and My Friend immediately took off into the woods like, well, dogs. After we rounded them back up, we were hot and annoyed so we went straight back to the campsite. There, Sweetums wandered around acting like a wild jungle girl and Chuck and I sat at the picnic table. Then, we walked to the lake and admired the view.
We ate, sat around some more, and then talked Sweetums into setting up her tent in her bedroom. Yeah. That’s right. We abandoned the camping trip. We just could not get in the mood to sleep on the hard ground and shiver ourselves to sleep. We gave it, well, a pretty good shot.
Now, I am going to ask you something. Why is it that Chuck and I forget everything we’ve experienced on past camping trips and decide to go again? And again? Do you think there is something wrong with us? I do.
Yesterday, we joined Jeff and Courtney and 6 kids (their kids and friends of their kids) on yet another camping trip. Since Sweetums is only 4, and we wanted the rest of the kids to feel free to enjoy things like ghost stories and “stab” fishing, we gave them their space by setting up a few campsites down. Then we headed down Coal Mine Road with the canoe for some lake exploring and fishing.
Coal Mine Road is rough, winding, and worth the trip.
Photo Credit: Chuck Burns
There were many lakes along the road and most were stocked with fish. We didn’t find any fish big enough to grab ahold of the lure, but we had a good time watching Chuck try to find the big ones for an hour or so.
The water was clear enough to watch the little fish peck at his lure and the view was nice.
Afterwards, we headed back to camp for hot dogs and pie. Yes, I made a pie especially for our camping trip.
We hung out with the Durham’s for a while, walked to see the sunset just on the other side of this levy that ran alongside the Delta River, and threw rocks in the direction of the Durham children and their friends and hollered “GRENADE!” while doing so. (Chuck’s idea…not mine.)
We stowed the food products about 30 yards from the tent and I said a silent prayer for protection from bears during the dark night ahead of us. Then we curled up, all together, for what we hoped would be a warm night.
Chuck slept great. Despite not having a sleeping bag with a working zipper, he was warm.
Sweetums didn’t sleep so good. She woke up several times too cold because either she worked herself out of her sleeping back too far or because her toboggan fell off. Once she woke up whimpering, because she didn’t want me to sell her teddy bear. I don’t know why she has reoccurring nightmares that the Mama that painstakingly packed up WAY too many of her toys and shipped them to ALASKA, will sell her teddy bear, but oh well. What can I do? I assured her would that I would be selling none of her toys and before long she was back to sleep and I laid there and suffered.
I was cold. I have a great sleeping bag but because Sweetums woke up so frequently, I often fell asleep with my arm around her, so the sleeping bag hung loosely around me. The few times I did tighten the string, I ended up twisting my face around into the warmth so deeply while I was asleep, that I woke up gasping for air, 2 seconds from shier panic. I also had to go to the bathroom. And everybody knows that it is better to lie there and suffer through the night, than to climb over two human beings, hunch out the zippered doorway, work your boots onto your fragile, cold feet, zip the tent back up, and squat in the moonlight. Right? Doesn’t everybody know that?
When the sun rises, people don’t crawl out of tents whistling “Good Morning America, How are ya.” folks. That is a lie that tent makers advertise. People crawl out of tents, with their backs hunched and their bones aching. If that is not your experience then you must be 20 years old or younger, so just shutup.
The only saving grace after a sleepless night in a tent, is sausage and eggs sizzling over a campfire. After a good breakfast thanks to the campfire king, we had a few more minutes of peace by the fire before our last bit of wood sizzled out. Then we said good-bye to the Durham’s, packed it up, and headed home.
Once home, Chuck took charge of unloading and I took charge of the child who was dirty, tired, and emotional. The pitiful thing had a headache too. Despite it all, she was happy that we went. She had a good time. And really and truly we all did. Having said that, l am perfectly ok with not going back again until next year. Oh, and not without an air mattress. That or a big fine R.V.
How about a pop up. I got one for sale. :)
ReplyDeleteHey that would work! If it were somewhere between a couple of dollars and free I would SO buy it.
ReplyDeleteGrayson just joined boy scouts...Now I'm really pumped about all the sleepless nights on the ground! At least I won't get my hopes up about having fun! ;)
ReplyDeleteThere were some good parts too! Was that not clear? Yeah, I guess I was a little negative. I love that he joined the boy scouts. That will be fun and very good for him I am sure.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to see that Charley (and Chuck) got to go swimming. Oh & good job on the pie - looks like Charley is really enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteHayley,
ReplyDeleteI posted a little tutorial for the sleeves from the shirts I made my daughters. I hope it will help you. Thanks for stopping by and reading At Second Street.
Kalleen
I read this post a long time ago, but didn't have time to comment at the time. Those tiger hat pics and the ones of Chuck and Sweetums and you and Sweetums are some of my fave pics of ya'll ever. The one of Chuck and her looks so 70's, and the lighting on all of them is really great. They are definitely "framers".
ReplyDeleteAlso, we're gettin' too old to go campin'. My back hurts waking up to memory foam, much less packed frozen dirt. Guess I'm spoiled like that, though.
You like those pictures sister? I did not like the one of me and Sweetums but I like that you liked it. That helps me like it more. Oh and THANK YOU for confirming that the cold hard ground HURTS. I was starting to believe that I was the only one who felt that way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phyllis and we ALL enjoyed the pie. I elected NOT to include the photo of me with the pie in my lap.
ReplyDelete