Camping

Over July 4th weekend we went camping. While planning our trip, we checked out several different camp sites on line, and realized we should have booked our site much earlier (duh). We did find some first come first serve sites near General Grant in the Kings Canyon section of Sequoia National Park. This seemed ideal, since we haven't ever ventured into that part of the park. We had hoped to stay at a campsite located right next to the General Grant tree, but when we arrived it had just filled. We drove on and lucked out, scoring the last available camp site at Hume Lake. It turned out to be perfect. The kids were all eager to help Daddy set up the camp. They all took a turn hammering the tent stakes into the ground. After setting up camp and having lunch, we took a little hike down to the lake to check out the scenery. We were not disappointed. It was beautiful! At the edge of the lake we saw some tadpoles. It didn't take long before everyone had their shoes off and pants rolled up to catch tadpoles and play in the water. On our next visit we will rent canoes for sure. The water was very inviting, and there were many people taking advantage of it from our camp, as well as the Christian camp across the lake.

While we were playing at the edge of the lake there were a few ducks that were swimming near us. After a while a mama duck and six little ducklings came swimming by. It was so neat to see.

When we were done playing in the water, we took the trail up farther, and saw what looked to be the general store. Jarod decided to check it out with Josh. Jack, Carly, and I headed back to camp, knowing that Jarod would be able to catch up to us in no time, due to the speed at which I walk these days. Unfortunately, I missed the turn off on the trail back to camp, and we walked much farther and longer than necessary, getting lost in the process. Our campsite was number seventy four. We came out in the twenties. Carly expressed her regret in choosing to come with me instead of Daddy. She said she wished she'd gone with him, because then she wouldn't be lost. Nice. Finally a couple park rangers went by in a go cart and they took pity on me and my pathetic state. We got a ride back to camp, and Jarod was embarrassed that he'd let his wife who was very great with child wander off with two small children and no water...that's right, I let him hold the water. When he and Josh got back to camp and found us absent, he went to look for us, and had come back to camp twice before our return. Yeah, I felt pretty awesome. Leave it to me to get lost on a trail that was less than a mile long. That night we had fun reading books, cooking over the fire, and playing UNO with the kids. They are a hoot.

The next day we broke camp, and went down to the lake again. I decided to take Jarod to a little spot we had discovered on our extended adventure the evening before. It was a little fishing pier, and it had a great view. On our way back, we found a little chair that had been carved out of a tree. The kids all took a turn sitting in it, and getting their picture taken. By this point Josh had traveled the trail several times, and new exactly where to turn to go back up to our camp. Next time I'm taking him when we get separated.We're glad the kids love camping. They are such good little adventurers.