Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business

So, I finally convinced my blushing bride to go camping with me at Moose Crossing (the family lot). She was cool about sleeping in a tent (the queen-size AeroBed ® probably helped). She was cool about not having a flush toilet onsite (offering to drive her to the community picnic area every time she had to pee probably helped). She was even cool as it rained all the way up there (setting up camp while she hid in the car probably helped). Little did we know, nature had more in store for us...


The famous (or is it infamous?) George Carlin once said: "Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong."

I can honestly say, I have never in my life had such a hard time getting a fire started. Contributing factors: days of rain and mostly green wood. The "forest fire" last year left it impossible to tell which fallen trees are truly dead and which are only "mostly dead" (There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do).

Eventually, we conquered. Once we actually got the fire going and set up camp, the rain stopped and gave us a blessed reprieve for the rest of the evening. We had a several-course meal (because I couldn't get all the food to finish at the same time). First course: Dutch Oven Dr. Pepper/pineapple/salsa pork ribs (not nearly as good as they sound). Second course: roasted marshmallows. Third course: Dutch Oven cinnamon doughnut holes. Fourth course (dessert???): Dutch Oven cheddar cheese/mushroom/bacon potatoes.

And bless my cousin, who never met a piece of bacon he didn't like (and never lets one go to waste).

As we crawled into our sleeping bags, the rain started again and we fell asleep feeling grateful for the few hours of dry weather while we ate and chatted (and, for some of us, covered ourselves in mud from head to foot). Boy, what a surprise we had when we woke up Saturday morning! Oops, old Mother Nature forgot to warn us about that little trick!



Insult to injury: by 10:00 it looked like a perfect quaint little camping trip to the mountains. It's hard to believe there was ever snow in these magnificent hills, isn't it?







Aawww, there's my happy little camper. What a trooper! Thanks for being so patient, Shem. Adore you!