A Wet Weekend at Big Lake

My view upon waking and emerging from our tent

My next view 

A couple weeks ago, our family loaded up the truck for another camping adventure. This time we wanted to camp near water. Dave received a kayak as a gift a few years ago and had not put it in water for far too long. He decided that Big Lake would be a good spot to camp and kayak. The drive to Big Lake took us about four hours. The route wound through the mountains showcasing gorgeous views of our state. Although a few of our passengers deal with motion sickness, the ride was uneventful and everyone felt good when we arrived at our campground. We quickly put up our tent as it was getting late in the day. The kids and I had to set up the screen tent in the dark while Dave finished staking our sleeping tent. We ate a quick dinner shuttling supplies back and forth between the campsite and car. The area campgrounds have had a few bear encounters in the past month, so we were encouraged to leave any food in the vehicle!

The night was dry and we awoke to a gorgeous day. Breakfast was slow as the kiddos explored the area and Dave and I chatted. The kiddos would occasionally interrupt begging to go out on the water. They were so excited to go kayaking with their dad! With full bellies we finally carried the kayak across the street to the lake. I setup my spot on the pier as Dave loaded his gear. Aine was his first passenger, and they soon set off for a tour of the lake. The boys explored the shore, collecting crawfish claws, while their sister paddled. With a huge grin on her face, Aine returned and switched spots with one of the boys. Paddling and exploring continued while the pile of crawfish claws on the pier grew. Quickly the sky took on a stormy hue, and we headed back to camp.

Just after lunch, the skies opened up, and it rained. Initially the kiddos ran around in the rain, but we eventually decided to retire to the tent and read for a bit. Fortunately our new tent doesn't leak. A few of us napped while I read The Twenty-One Balloons to those too excited to sleep. The storm abated bringing cooler temperatures. We ate dinner and tried to light a fire. The wood was way too wet for a campfire, so we retired without any s'mores filling our bellies. The next morning was clear and the kiddos ran around again playing with our neighbor campsite. They collected sticks, played poker and had a rousing game of hide and seek. As we began to break camp the skies became dark yet again. Dave and I scrambled up and down the hill loading the car with our gear. Soon rain turned to hail and we were completely soaked. The kiddos piled into the car with a few tears due to cold. Dave pulled out an emergency blanket for them to try. He figured it would keep them busy and teach them how to use one if a true emergency occurred. We continued to pack our tent and other camping accoutrements. I glanced at Dave at one point. He seemed perturbed, so I asked what was wrong. He pointed to the sky and asked if I was kidding. We both started laughing so hard.  We made quite a picture standing in the pouring rain. Donned in raincoats and wet to the bone, we cleared up the last of our campsite and slammed the doors on the truck. Phew! It had been a wet yet fun weekend.

The Summer of Camping

At the beginning of summer, I had one intention - camp more. Last year our family didn't take any camping trips. I was busy most Sundays helping my mom clean out her home after the death of my dad. This year I am still helping my mom, but my help is not as vital. I am able to carve out time for our family to hike, camp and explore our state. This summer, I knew we needed to get outside more, both for our sanity and as a summer survival tactic! I declared this summer, "The Summer of Camping!"

I mentioned my plan to a friend, who immediately pulled out her calendar and pushed me to pick weekends for camping. We settled on one weekend each month to camp together. I penciled in a few other times to camp as a family. Our first trip was to Lockett Meadow near Flagstaff, Arizona. The weather was beautiful for June. We left a bit later than usual due to an issue with our vehicle. When we arrived the campground was full, fortunately our friends had already found a campsite with room to share. We quickly settled into the space erecting our tent and pulling out our gear. Aine brought her small tent (a gift for her fourth birthday!) and promptly set it up with her friends. She decided she wanted to sleep for the first time in her tent with her friend.

Lockett Meadow is a gorgeous field surrounded by cinder cones. We set up chairs and a blanket in the meadow while the kiddos and dogs ran around the grass. Flowers, scattered throughout the meadow, caught their attention. The kids collected handfuls and quickly covered the blanket. With a little help, they crafted daisy chains - elaborate necklaces and crowns - for each other and the moms. A nearby tree swayed and bent under their weight as they climbed, looking like a group of orangutans. It was a fantastic moment.

After a bit of relaxation, our group set off for a hike along the Inner Basin Trail. The other dad had hiked it the previous day and promised snow at the top. The kids were ecstatic to see snow. They ran ahead and took mind pictures of the scenery. We wove our way to the top through tall stands of aspen. Their majestic canopies seemed to touch the sky. When we reached the snow, the kiddos were tired and done. After a bit of running in search of snow, they quickly regained their energy as they slid down the small patches of snow and built a snow mouse complete with baby carrot nose! When they had tired of the snow play, our friends suggested we hike a bit further. With promise of a view over the treeline only a few yards ahead, they persevered. The view was reward enough for all of us. We could see for miles. A few photos were snapped of our group and then we began the trek downward. Everyone did really well on the hike which ended up being a bit over six miles!

The kiddos continued to explore the campground throughout our stay. Eamon and Benton attempted to climb one of the nearby cones by themselves (under the watchful eye of mama and daddy on the ground). They made it partway up before turning back after concerns over possible poison ivy. Aine played with her friends and everyone hiked through the wooded areas. They found fallen logs and practiced their balancing. A hammock also occupied a lot of their time.

It was really a great camping spot, and we plan to return soon. We left renewed and eagerly planning our next camping outing.

By the River

A few weeks ago, our family went camping with nine other families. Surrounded by friends, we spent four days in the sunshine and water. The kiddos scootered, roasted marshmallows and Peeps (who knew!), built debris huts, floated logs down the river and explored to their hearts' content.

Most of the hours were spent along the Verde River. The adults placed camp chairs along the waters' edge, dipping their feet into the cool water. Aine busied herself making structures out of branches and grass. She showed everyone how to whittle and carve branches into useful tools. Eamon spent time trying to configure a fishing pole and trap. He found a crawfish and educated his peers about the merits of catching the creatures with bacon. A more shallow area had been carved out last year along the bank. Benton spent a lot of time in this area building more walls and creating dams. A few determined children can alter the path of a river quite easily with rocks and boulders, however the river reclaims its path, eventually spilling those rocks and walls over.

We celebrated Eamon's 10th birthday while camping. He had a great day surrounded by people he loves. We ate cupcakes and sang around the first campfire. Nightly campfires rotated among campsites and eventually broke into two when the size of the group became a bit too big. Aine learned a new song and became a big fan of one of the dads. We played telephone and a few other games. There was star gazing and a brief talk about Mars and Venus in the night sky.

It was so much fun. Our group had been back only a few days when plans and reservations were made for next time. I cannot wait.

Ready to Head Out

As the month of April comes to a close, my time at Rhythm of the Home too is ending. Today as we pack up the car to head north for a bit of camping, I share our camping enthusiasm. Although I didn't grow up camping, I treasure this activity that we share. This first trip of the year will include close friends. There will be a birthday celebration and much laughter too. The kiddos have already planned trips to the river and lake. We have binoculars for bird watching and way more supplies than any family needs. I plan on finishing a bit of knitting, running in the mornings and taking long walks with the family. Dave wanted to bring his kayak, but his pfd is in storage somewhere. That trip will have to wait until we move into the new house and our next trip out into nature.

Day-Tripping: Alamo Lake

 

 I admit that when Dave suggested a day trip, I inwardly cringed. I had wanted to go hiking, escaping the confines of the indoors for the gorgeous weather we experience this time of year in Arizona. I wanted to stretch my legs and just get out. Car rides can be long and my belly does not always like the twists and turns of Arizona driving. However, Dave really wanted to scout out a location for future camping. He convinced me that it would be fun. The clincher was that it would include a bit of hiking.

We set out on our day-trip rather late in the day. Fortunately Alamo Lake is not too far away. The drive took us through a few small towns full off abandoned storefronts and run-down homes. We turned off the main road toward the lake with full bladders and excitement. After finding a restroom, we scouted out the camping. There is a campground, but Dave wanted to see what the National Forest camping was like (and we didn't want to pay the $7 campground fee). We followed a circuitous dirt road with the laughter over the dips and bouncy terrain drowning out the complaints from Aine and me about our touchy tummies. The camping appeared to be pretty good, although different from our typical forest locales. There was plenty of space and a few scattered campers. As the road progressed we found ourselves closer to the lake and our goal.

It was a cold day by Arizona standards, and the lake was mostly deserted. It was gorgeous in the late afternoon sun. We gathered rocks and made a cairn to mark the path back to our vehicle. The kiddos ran ahead and picked up rocks and sticks. We spotted animal tracks and scat. We even discovered a bird carcass which appeared to have been a meal for a coyote or bobcat. We tried identifying the animals and decided many used the lakeshore as a watering hole and hunting ground.

As we walked we stopped often to look at the lake. The colors were fantastic. We continued along the beach ending at a boat ramp. The kiddos ran up and down the bank reinforcements as we progressed toward the boat launch and ramp. It was unused, so we walked to the end to throw a few rocks into the lake and watch the sunset. Our walk back was a bit quicker as we were losing daylight. There was some concern expressed by the younger set, but we assured them that we still had plenty of light and flashlights if necessary. We found our cairn and the path back to the car easily.

With a bit of fresh air in our lungs, we started back toward home. As we drove, Dave remarked on the lack of light and the encompassing darkness. He thought it would be a great place for stargazing. With decisiveness, he pulled over on a dirt road, and we all climbed out to see the stars. Once our eyes adjusted to the dark, we were treated to an amazing night sky. The kiddos went crazy over all the stars they could see. Dave pointed out the Milky Way to them as well as a passing satellite. I saw a shooting star, but the others missed it. The kiddos laid on the hood and watched the night sky for a bit of time. We would have stayed longer if it wasn't getting a bit too cold for us.

When we arrived home, my intuitive husband asked if I hated our day trip. With all honesty I told him I had a great time. It was a beautiful area of our state that I look forward to visiting again. I will remember though to wear my motion sickness bands!