Camping Story #3 - Where, Oh Where, Are All the Campers?

Good Tuesday morning!

Sorry about the long, long post yesterday. That will probably be the longest of the five (I hope), but going camping is not a spontaneous act. Preparation is key.

I've posted the bowling pictures from Katie's 15th Cousin Birthday Party. We are not great bowlers, but the Faulkner/Martin clan are definitely passionate bowlers. Of all six of the kids, Katie is the most fun to play any game with... she smiles if she loses, she squeals if she wins... she enjoys the game -- not the outcome. She makes any game (even bowling) so much fun... and I keep hoping that GOOD attitude will rub off on my three. Not yet... but still hoping!

I have a little commercial/announcement for Friday morning for all the women out there, so if you read nothing else this week, come back Friday for a little peek.

Now, on with Camping Story #3!

Camping Story #3 - Where, Oh Where, Are All the Campers?

A year or two AFTER the Georgia fiasco, we did indeed decide to try another out-of-state camping trip with the family we usually camped with. Roxie was three or four, so she was along for this one. We went to a campground in the beautiful state of Tennessee known for it's hiking trails, waterfalls and beautiful foliage. The pictures on the brochure were lovely, picturesque even, and we looked forward to spending a fall weekend in the great state of Tennessee.

When we arrived, we were surprised to see the "set-up" of the campground. There was a huge circle and campers set up tents and pop-ups under trees as you went around the circle. In the middle of the huge circle, across a grassy field, was the BATHHOUSE. There were no trees in between the tent and the BATHHOUSE, but it was still quite a little hike. However, the campsites were great. Picnic tables intact, fire pits ready to go, level spots to pitch the tents. We were excited.

As the guys got busy with unloading, Roxie, the other mom and I made our way to the BATHHOUSE to check it out. Oh, my! "Rustic" is a kind word to describe the facilities. Very kind.

"Well, maybe there's another bathhouse we can drive to and use," we reasoned. There was... and in comparison, it was a twin. Hmmm!

"Did you bring flip flops?" we both asked. We had, so once again, we decided to trade in the beautiful scenery and great weather for a less than perfect bathhouse. (MUCH less than perfect!)

The first night of our trip was peaceful and relaxing. The weather was great and after our trek to the Bathhouse in the Middle of Nowhere, we bedded down. We had planned on hiking to a waterfall the next day, so we knew we needed our rest.

The following day was gorgeous, and after breakfast we set out on our hike to the famous waterfall. On this hike, we had to go across a swinging bridge (always interesting), through creeks, and up the famous Tennessee mountains. When I say up, I mean up the entire way. We hiked forever... and then we hiked some more. Roxie and Grant (both three or four at the time) were troopers and thankfully, did not ask us to carry them. That would have been very difficult. Several hours later (or maybe just 90 minutes), we came upon the waterfall. Yes, it was beautiful. We looked at it for about five minutes.

Then we noticed how many people were with us looking at the waterfall. We hadn't hiked up the mountain with all these people. They weren't hot and sweaty. Some of the women even had on make-up and their hair was done. Some of them had the nerve to be wearing cute shoes, too! Who were these people? Where had they come from? Why were they looking at OUR waterfall?

So I asked, "Did you hike up here?"

"Uh, no. We drove," was the smug reply.

"What do you mean you drove?" I asked.

"There's a main road right over there." I turned around and there it was. A perfectly good paved road.

"Where did you come from?" I inquired.

"Oh, we're staying in a RV down at the campground," Miss Priss answered before she walked back to her BMW!

Before she could get back into her car, I yelled, "How long a drive is it from the campground?"

"About five minutes give or take a minute," she called over her shoulder, and then she was gone.

"I think I hate her," I mumbled to Mikie.

He assured me that 90 minutes up a mountain would translate into 30 minutes going down the mountain. That made sense. And at this point, hot, sticky and more than a little grumpy, what was 30 more minutes.

Down we went, and 60 minutes later (NOT 30), we were back at our campsite. We stayed in our little cluster of tents for the rest of the day hydrating ourselves.

On Sunday, we decided to just hang around our campsites and play which was fine with the six kids. But we started noticing something strange around the noon hour. It was like an exodus of some kind. Everyone was leaving.

"Well, just because Alabama has a three-day weekend doesn't mean Tennessee has a three-day weekend. Everyone has to go back to school and work tomorrow," Mikie reasoned.

That was fine, except by 2:00 p.m. we were IT. I mean NO ONE was left in the huge circular campsite. It was like we had been dropped off by a helicopter in the wilderness.

"Do we have a gun or a knife or a big stick or something in case there's a wild bear attack or a bunch of hillbillies descend upon us," I asked Mike.

"I have my pocket knife, and we have those plastic knives you bring to spread peanut butter," was my husband's reassuring answer.

"This could be a very long night."

And it was. Just the last walk to the bathhouse alone was unnerving because someone (one of the people leaving... probably Miss Priss) had turned all the bathhouse lights off before heading out, and we walked across a field in pitch blackness looking for the building. And, of course, when we found it, it hadn't changed a bit... still very gross.

We went to bed a little early, and I think the four adults slept with one eye open. (I was, again, unable to pass out and painfully aware of how vulnerable we were in the middle of nowhere with no communication or weaponry of any kind... unless you count throwing screaming children at whatever is attacking you as "weaponry.")

I have never been so happy to see the sun in all my life. We ate breakfast and packed up our campsite in record time to head home. Think, think, think of the Good Things from this trip.

Good Thing #1 - Roxie and Grant were WONDERFUL hikers. If they had been even a little less sturdy, it would have been the end of the adults as we took turns carrying them up to the top of the mountain.

Good Thing #2 - The waterfall was pretty... not Niagara, but pretty, just the same.

Good Thing #3 - We weren't bitten by any of the spiders in the bathhouse... and there were a lot of spiders in the bathhouse.

Good Thing #4 - We weren't attacked by any bears or hillbillies. I think this is huge.

Good Thing #5 - That's it. Once again, I did the best I could to come up with Good Things #1 through #4.

And for some reason or another, we have never even discussed camping in Tennessee again. I'm not sure, but I think it was the bathhouse. I may forget dates and events, but a bad bathhouse... that's burned on a woman's brain forever!

DISCLAIMER: If you are a hillbilly (or are related to a hillbilly), I meant no offense by the reference above. I'm just saying if a hillbilly had happened to come out of the woods in the dead of night in Tennessee in an abandoned campground, it would have been very, very frightening. (In all fairness, it would be frightening in Alabama and Georgia, too.) Again, no offense.

Are these stories hurting or helping? Are they strengthening your resolve to never camp, or are they getting you excited about this spring when you can begin camping? I can tell you one thing... good or bad, our family has always come away from these trips closer and with a bond that has lasted over the years. Every camping experience is different, but one thing remains the same... you're in it together and that makes you a stronger "family unit."

Tomorrow I'll share Camping Story #4 - Our First Trip Ever.

Part 2 - How To Camp With Your Family and Survive

Where do we need to camp for the first time?

Some people will tell you to set up camp in your own backyard. We had done this before, but to really get the total camping experience, you need to be AWAY from your home and the conveniences there. Anyone can survive a backyard camp out. If things get rough, unless you lock yourself outside, you can open the door and you have your bathroom, clean clothes, and your refrigerator. (And a TV and movies and all the other trappings of home.) In the woods, it's you vs. the elements. Will you survive? Will you come across wildlife (and I don't mean a teenage boy Sunday School Class outing)? Will you run out of food and have to eat bark and berries? Not if you're in your backyard!

Since we live in Alabama, we can call 1-800-ALA-PARK and get a recording of all the State Parks. We are fortunate we have one only 35 minutes away, as well as several others two hours away and under. As I mentioned previously, our first camp out was the closest state park we could find. Also, it was just one night. We have plenty of memories from this camping trip, but we found for the work involved in packing up and then setting up a campsite, we wanted to stay a minimum of two nights/maximum of three nights to really enjoy the experience.

In Alabama, we have camped at Oak Mountain (1 time), Guntersville (too many times to count), Wind Creek (4 or 5 times), Rickwood Caverns (1 time), and Tannehill (2 or 3 times). Guntersville is the one we go back to time and again. We love the campsite, the lake, the deer at night, the roads which are great for bike riding, the hiking trails, the tennis courts, basketball courts, etc., etc. It is where we are most comfortable, but everyone has different criteria for what makes a campground their favorite.

Again, I would suggest that closest is best, and one night is plenty to get a taste of what camping is all about.

NOTE: Some of the best pictures you will ever take will be in the morning when the sun is coming up before the kids are awake. The light is perfect in the tent to get pictures of the kids sleeping. Get as close to their faces as you can. Great pictures!

Tomorrow we will be answering the question, "When is the best time to tent-camp?"

I hope you have a great Tuesday. Talk to you soon.