a-camping we shall go
We met Mary Jane, Randy, Ruthie, Ryan, Jaclyn, and Toby at Meeman Shelby State Park for an Easter weekend camping trip. It was a pretty centralized location for all of us to meet up. After those of us coming from Tennessee dodged the tornadoes, we finally arrived and set up camp.
we love some s'mores!
we love some s'mores!
Jaclyn and I were in charge of the two breakfasts during the weekend. I brought some pancake mix and Jaclyn brought the electric griddle. Along with some Saucettes and fresh strawberries, it was a great breakfast!
I finished making the pancakes and took the opportunity for some creations. This, theoretically, was Mickey Mouse. I also made a dog and a smiley face.
Ryan got the fire going again on Sabbath morning with the help of some coals and a little "kindling." We got the fire hot enough that night to turn the metal grate bright orange!
MJ giving Toby a little scratch. Toby enjoyed the attention from all of us . . . except maybe Randy. Toby liked having several laps to choose from as we sat around the fire.
Toby the leaf monster
The Ryans enjoyed the road for playing tennis and catch.
After breakfast, we took off in the van and car to see the mighty Mississippi river. It's pretty wide where we were, just north of Memphis. It turned out to be a great place to find driftwood to burn. I contemplated cutting up this log we all sat on, but we couldn't have fit it in the van. Ruthie didn't like the idea that there might be snakes on the bank when I brought it up.
Jaclyn, Ryan, and Toby on the big log. Toby loved all the smells down by the water.
Ryan and I with the river behind. It looked very muddy and even though it was really wide, it was very fast-moving.
After breakfast, we took off in the van and car to see the mighty Mississippi river. It's pretty wide where we were, just north of Memphis. It turned out to be a great place to find driftwood to burn. I contemplated cutting up this log we all sat on, but we couldn't have fit it in the van. Ruthie didn't like the idea that there might be snakes on the bank when I brought it up.
Jaclyn, Ryan, and Toby on the big log. Toby loved all the smells down by the water.
Ryan and I with the river behind. It looked very muddy and even though it was really wide, it was very fast-moving.
While we were there, this huge barge started past. The boat said it was from St. Louis. It was 4 barges wide.
a little bridge on our short hike
plants from our hike
Jaclyn spotted this cool beech tree with its exposed roots next to a stream.
Ryan K. getting in a short nap after our haystack lunch. They just got this tent before this camping trip. I hope they get lots of use out of it meeting us to go camping!
a new thing: self-portrait with a dog!
sitting around the fire Sabbath afternoon
Randy reading up on his new camper
Toby loved it when we jumped in the cars again to head over to Poplar Tree Lake to check out the nature center and cabins. This was all well and good until Toby sneezed into the wind while sitting on my lap . . .
a timer shot of the whole group near the lake
Jaclyn took some shots of Ryan and I by the lake. The trees on this peninsula were really pretty. The guys played frisbee for a while and MJ walked Toby around to all the popcorn balls left by an earlier group. I can't believe he didn't throw up!The guys also thoroughly enjoyed terrorizing the resident great-horned owl that lives in a cage outside of the nature center. Any time any of them approached the cage, it hissed at them. I need to upload the video so you can see.
Jaclyn & Toby
Ryan brings out Toby's best, as you can tell
Sunday morning self-portraitsI'm smiling despite the worst migraine of my life . . .
Sunday morning, Mary Jane and Jaclyn both planned for Easter egg hunts . . . so we had TWO!
3rd slide picture
6 comments:
What fun the weekend was with you guys. You got some great pictures as usual. I'll refer everybody to your blog since I haven't gotten around to it yet! Have fun at Pisgah this weekend.
I'm not familiar with the concept of tent camping with an electric griddle. Where we used to camp there weren't even outhouses.
so many so I shall list them... If I remember them all
~How do you manage to have the exact same face for every smore picture?
~ Apparently this wasn't an extremely cold trip as you are all way away from the fire, but then that may be because the inferno from a whole TREE can be a bit daunting.
~ in general i feel like I was almost there because it looks so similar to the last one. :) football on the walk, sitting on the log pictures, ryan sleeping after lunch, smores, randy skipping rocks, and that lovely slide picture.
Ok I'm done. :) Looks like a lot of fun. Wish I really had been there.
Well, the electric griddle wasn't the worst travesty of the weekend. But we won't go there. Lets just say - Ryan and I were the only people that really experienced TENT camping, eh? ;-)
I want to go next time. Looks like so much fun. I miss all of you! Feel like I haven't seen Ryan and Carrie in forever. Maybe Ken and I will make it next year. We will kick Randy and MJ out of the trailer.
Renee
ooh looks like fun! wish i was closer so i could come with ya. miss you!
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