Preparations began early in the week for another fun weekend of camping. The girls did not yet know that we had worked it out for their friend Zoe and her mom to come up and meet us on Saturday to join us camping for the weekend. Weather was looking to be great for another weekend in the woods, with some fall chill starting to set in as the week progressed.
Friday came around, and we already had the van packed and the hitch in place. As soon as I could, I hurried home from work to help load the final items as Becky picked the girls up from school. Being a Friday, there is always more traffic than normal and we were sure to hit it. So as soon as everyone was home, we rushed back out the door and over to pick up our camper.
The snapshots above make it look easy, but it took me a few frustrating tries to get the camper in the position that I wanted due to the shape of our site being a 'kidney bean' shape. Finally, I had it close enough and we leveled it,... or tried to. The door side took two shim boards but the tongue jack was near full extension,.. which I did not like. So, we lowered the front back down and I took some remaining shim boards and got them ready. As I lifted the tongue with my huge muscles, Becky slid in the boards under the front jack. That lifted us 3 inches or so, giving me more comfort in the jack. I nailed two cleats to either side of the wheel to secure in place and we were finally ready to open the camper. This added time to our typical setup time of 1 1/2 -2 hrs. Generally, our setup includes making the beds, installing everything inside and setting up everything outside, once and done. No getting a box out later to unpack or a camp chair to setup around the fire, it's all done when we arrive.
After some dinner, we relaxed a bit and then went down to BINGO! The girls had a good time, and although they didn't win this time, I'm sure we will be playing BINGO more often at the campgrounds.
Ally checking her numbers
Becky Won! $2 (I think 4 people won simultaneously, so the pot was split)
So, after a long day at work, traffic, and the evening at the campground we were all ready to turn in and get some rest,... all of us except Madie! She was just a bundle of energy and a wiggle worm for hours in the camper... so much for a good nights rest.
Saturday morning came quick, and so did Zoe and her mom. We no sooner finished breakfast and they called saying they were down at the front entrance. Good timing too, cause after a few minutes of looking around the camper and campsite, we were all off on our way to the Rec Hall to start the scavenger hunt!
Ally, Bella, Zoe, Madie
The campground provided the bags and a scavenger hunt list, so off we went to find at least 15 items on the list. Bottle caps, yellow flower, oak leaf, clover, candy wrapper, etc, we were searching and picking up our items.
Craft time after scavenger hunting!
Madie's squirrel craft and her scavenger hunt paper.
One time when Becky and I started camping many moons ago, we were near a Girl Scout Troop who were making Spider Dogs?? Curiosity got the best of Becky and soon she was over there. Now we make them with the girls. Cut a "+" into each end of a hot dog and leave about a 1 inch length in the middle uncut. As you cook the hot dog over the fire these ends curl back and make the hot dog look like a spider with 8 legs! Zoe and her mom had a good time making them. Note, fishing rod holders also make good snack holders at the fire!
Spider Dogs over the Fire!
Now that everyone had some lunch, we decided to go fishing in the early afternoon since their was a good chance of rain moving in later in the evening. Girls went and played for a few minutes at the playground while I got the gear ready. Then, down to the fishing pond we went. All the girls caught a bluegill and were having a good time, and I was trying to get a catfish. The website shows some photos of some big ones, so I had chicken liver and pantyhose to keep the bait together, and the patience to catch one.
Everyone fishing for a big catch!
Video says it all,... and I did too apparently at the end,... Ooops!
Disappointed, everyone headed back to the site while I continued to try for another hour. No Luck. One thing to make it all better, a good dinner and smores over the fire!
Smores!
Sunday is always tricky, as you know you have to pack up but you really don't want to. What is nice about Warwick Woods is that checkout isn't till 2pm! So, we relaxed in the Hammock, took a walk to check out the other campsites while many packed up, played in the arcade, and even had some lunch!
Madie and Daddy in the Hammock
Down the tube slide! Wwwweeeee!
Ok,.. back at the homestead, time to pack up.
So, another great weekend camping and a really good time at Warwick Woods. Definitely a place to return to and visit next year. Any other families out there that want to go, let us know, and we have a few good sites near one another we can try to book. Check out our video below too!
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