2013 - Trip 4 - Ringing Rocks Campground

 Weather threatened the area all week with scattered heavy thunderstorms popping up each afternoon due to the high humidity and temperatures.  On Wednesday, we debated about the trip or not and decided later that evening to still give it a go, as Thursday rain and Friday rain in the forecast gave a little hope that we might see better weather for the weekend.  Ringing Rocks Family Campground is owned by the brother of the Colonial Woods owners, so we were pleased to find out it has many similar rules and features for our camping with the kids.

Friday arrived with good weather in the morning with the afternoon threat of a shower or local thunderstorm.  Doylestown Airport weather indicated "KDYL 281402Z AUTO 24006KT 10SM FEW015 SCT023 24/20 A2954"  So, some low clouds, light winds, about 75* this morning.

Setup went well and we ended up getting a bigger site than we originally booked.  The rain and weather caused a group of people to cancel as they had planned on tubing down the Delaware river on Saturday.  So, the campground offered to space people out a little and we made out rather well.  If we were on site 7, while on the edge of the playground area, we would have had neighbors tight on each side of us.  Instead, we ended up with a larger site and no direct neighbors!  That gave the kids a little more space to play and some more 'buffer' space from any noise.

All setup on our Site, ready for the chance of rain.

Evening came quickly and we went for a walk around the campground before coming back for some light dinner.  The kids played a bit and then they were getting tired and wanting to go to bed.  It is easier to get them to bed in the camper than it is at home!  The whole evening we made it thru with out rain,... Then around 10pm we could hear some rumbles in the distance.  We had a steady rain and mild thunder for about 45 minutes and the kids slept thru it!  Must have been the fact that rain hitting the roof of the camper is loud! But, it does drown out the rumbles of thunder which they don't care for.

Saturday morning promised better weather and it looked like the entire day should be rain free.  The humidity was down and the sky was clear, perfect day to fly, or go hiking!  We made omelets with the kids and then got everyone ready with shoes and hammers to head over to Ringing Rocks Park.

Ringing Rocks Park is located right around the corner from the campground and features a small parking area with some picnic tables, hiking trails, waterfalls, and the more famous boulder field where you can strike rocks with a hammer or other hard object and get some of them to ring.  They have different tones, but many sound like a bell when struck.  A good wooden handle hammer is recommended, so we had a mix of three composite and two wooden hammers with us.  I didn't particularly take note of any sound difference, but the kids were ecstatic when they struck one with a "BBBOOONNNGGG" sound rather than a Bink, or Tink Tink.

One interesting insect we saw crawling over a rock!

Down at the waterfall

 The kids at Ringing Rocks....... ok,... I'm a kid too.

Caught in the act!

Madie rockin with her "Whammer Hammer"

While at Ringing Rocks, there were some warbirds that flew over and some other planes in formation,... possibly the warbirds, as I only caught the edge of them passing over the treeline.  I found out later, that Sky Manor was having a fly in and these were some of the planes flying nearby.

After lunch at the camper we decided to go to the pool and relax for a while.  The pool is very nice and was redone completely in the past year.  The girls had a lot of fun jumping in and out of the water and swimming all around.  I took some good GoPro video and photos that I still have to download and edit.

Becky and our Tadpole Madie

Bella jumping in

Madie in the air!

Ally Jumping in

The kids were having a good time playing around the campsite and then it came time for the afternoon hayride.  There were so many kids that flocked to the pavilion next to the tractor that we had to wait and get on the second trip!  I don't know where they all came from!

Ally, Madie, and Bella

Ally with the Tractor

Becky and I

Sunday morning we managed to get up early and Becky went out for a run.  Soon the kids were up and getting their breakfast while I packed up things around the outside of the camper.  The plan was to pack up everything and close up the camper, then go hit the pool!  Since we didn't have to be off the site till noon, we thought we could all cool off in the pool after packing everything up.  About 10am or so, we were ready to lower down the camper and pack the van.  Bella needed some time to "chill out", so she stayed with me to pack the van while Becky and the other two girls went to the pool.  By 10:45, the puzzle of stuff was packed in the car and  we all were relaxing in the nice temp of the pool.

So, all in all, the trip was a great trip and we are glad that we didn't cancel due to the threat of weather.  From now on, if it's booked, we are going!

We have a few busy weeks ahead but then we will be off to Frontier Town in Maryland!

Stay tuned!

2013 - Trip 3 - Little Red Barn Campground - Father's Day Weekend

Friday:

After a long week of traveling and meetings at the office, it was nice to pack up the van and head out to the campground for a relaxing weekend away for Father's Day Weekend.  This year we decided to head out to Little Red Barn Campground which is only about a 25 minute ride from where we park the camper.  Luckily, traffic was also light and we got there smoothly.

Our site was new to us, and reported to have some damp spots from all the heavy rain we have had earlier in the week and we were told of some other sites we could use if we wanted.  Once we scoped out the site, we decided to keep it and I was able to get the camper all the way in the back along the tree line, leaving a lot of space out front for us to use.

Checking the shore power for voltage and polarity,... Good to Go.

All set up for the weekend of R&R.

Madie and Ally around the campfire on Friday night

Nothing special tonight, just get everything setup and organized.  Before long, Bella was wanting to go to bed and soon Madie and Ally followed.  We didn't have anyone in the sites immediately to our sides or across the driveway from us, so that made it pretty nice too.

Saturday:

The morning started off with me getting up early and relaxing outside for a bit while the rest of the gang rested a little longer.  Soon, coffee was being made for Becky and the kids were stirring.  Today was the campgrounds Father's Day Breakfast and crafts for the kids, followed in the evening by a hayride around the grounds.

Kids giving me some home-made Father's Day Gifts

Group Hug!

My Dad was able to stop on over for breakfast and some time at the campground as well, which made the weekend even more special.  After the nickle tour of the camper, we headed over to the pavilion for breakfast.  Pancakes, French Toast, Sausage, Pork Roll, Eggs, Fruit, etc,... the campground put on quite a spread.  Following, Dad and Nana visited for a while and relaxed a bit till the kids went off to do crafts.  Dad beat Bella in Checkers,... so I rematched him and the game was getting close to a point where something was going to break,... and it did, Dad made a move and I jumped him for the last few times.

About to take my Dad in Checkers

Two of a Kind..... My Dad and I.

Our Redneck Clothesline,... needed that broom for support!  Ha!

In the afternoon, we headed up to the swimming pool.  I decided to just go for it, and jump off the diving board,.... WOW! IT WAS COLD!  Everyone went in for a few minutes, but soon Ally was out and laying in the sun, Becky was sitting in a chair, and Madie was shivering.  Bella and I stayed in the water the longest, but there was no prize for that.  So, to warm up we spent some time on the playground and the swings, which was all in the sun.  The weather was great this weekend and the sunny day temps were in the upper 70s.

Trying to keep all three going on the swings!

We decided to push back dinner till after the hayride, so we could have a nice relaxing evening at the site.  The kids had a good time on the hayride as we slowly cruised through the campground and around the outer loop of the tenting area.  Following the hayride, we had a nice meal and then a nice long evening around the fire, roasting marshmallows and making smores.

Ally with some hay

Madie on the Hayride

Bella having a good time too!

 Sunday:

We awoke to some morning overcast and the threat of rain.  Normally we like to hang out for a bit, but today we just packed up slowly and got things in order, taking inventory of some items for the next few trips.  It was warm enough this weekend that we didn't run the furnace, so I weighed the propane tank and found I was down about 9 lbs.  So, while we had the chance, I took it upfront and had it topped off.  This should hold us over now till the end of the year as we'll just be cooking on the grill and cook top with it.

Madie blowing bubbles

So, that concludes another trip.  We'll be back in October to Little Red Barn to defend our Halloween Title for our costumes.... Next up, Ringing Rocks Campground.

2013 - Trip 2 - Memorial Weekend at Colonial Woods

(Caution, Long Post, Lots of Photos)

Friday
Wahoo! Memorial weekend is here and we are off and running, looking forward to a nice long weekend camping trip.  We dropped off Ally and Bella at school for the day and headed over to Colonial Woods in the drizzly, overcast, and cold day.  The forecast looked like this rain system would stick around thru Saturday mid-day, and that the rest of the weekend would be much better.

All by herself in the back seat, she was ready to go camping!

The beginnings of our campsite, setup on Friday

Raining outside, we went to the arcade to play some skeeball!

Revised sleeping arrangement for the kids, works great!

After a while, I left to go and pickup wood for the campfires and get the kids as they finished school.  Becky and Madie hung out at the campground and took a nap while we were gone.  Next time, it's my turn for a nap!

Saturday:
Saturday morning, we awoke to find the kids in various positions.....   :-)

Ally after a good night's sleep.....

Madie,.... still out cold.

Bella,... out of her sleeping bag, but sleeping good

We tried something new for breakfast,.. omelets in a bag!  We took shredded cheese, ham cubes, and eggs and placed them into a ziplock bag.  Mixed up well, and the placed each of the bags into a pot of boiling water for about 13 minutes.  Wow!  Worked great and we had good hot omelets for breakfast!

Making our omelets

Cooking away!

YUM YUM!

Saturday was packed with stuff to do for the kids and it felt like we would get back from one activity, have an hour or so, and then back across the campground for something else.  Of course, having kids means we do have to keep them busy or they will pester us when we try to rest in the hammock,.... so off we go!  Craft time, Marshmallow Relay Races, Bingo, Fishing, Riding Bikes,... Go Go Go!

Kids being silly at craft time

Scooter and Bike time!

Pause for a quick family photo on our boulder

Marshmallow Races

Rocket Ball,.... well,..  you can caption this one!  Leave a Comment!

Fishing!

B4,... Before What?..... G 56,... BINGO!

Wow,.. bet you are tired just from reading this and seeing the fun photos we had,... and you are only at Saturday!  Back to the camper, sleep time!.... ZZZzzzzzzz.......

Sunday:
Finally some nice holiday weekend weather.  Temperatures were getting warmer, sun was out and the kids were refreshed.  10am began the days events with a Chalk Contest at the Pavillion.  Each participant had a square and had to draw something about Summer.  Bella Won 2nd!!  Here she is with her goodie bucket of stuff and her creation.  Bottom half shows her school with a sign that says "No School", and the top is the Beach with lots of sand and water, sun, and people playing on the beach!  She's going to have a great time in July when we go to the beach!

Bella's Prize winning drawing!

Spider Dogs for lunch over the fire!

Hanging out around the campfire

The afternoon was filled with lots of things to do.  We did a Family Flag hunt in the campground, and rode the bikes.  By evening, the kids were getting pretty tired so they chilled out around the campfire for quite a while before wondering off to their beds.

Monday:
Some quick facts about Memorial Day for reference on why we have this day set aside to remember our veterans, past and present, and those that have given their lives for our freedom we enjoy every day and every camping trip.

Our Campsite Flag, flying above our canopy on this sunny Memorial Day

Shortly after breakfast, the campsites all around us were packing up and getting ready to spend their Memorial Day on the road.  We on the other hand, had reserved the extra day so we could relax and enjoy the holiday rather than spend it packing up.  This was a great move, and we will be doing it again next year too! 

We enjoyed the empty mini-golf course and having it all to ourselves, then walking around the campground and going fishing.  Here are some photos from fishing over the weekend.

Ally's Bass

Becky's Trout

Daddy's Trout

Daddy's Bass

The evening was relaxing.  We had the campground basically to ourselves from 3pm on.  I believe there were only 3 other campers in the place that had people staying overnight into Tuesday.  The kids could ride their bikes all around without the buzz of the golf carts, other bikes, or cars coming down the road.  One thing that was really weird is how pitch DARK the middle of the woods is without any light pollution from other campers lights or campfires.  It was REALLY DARK.
Tuesday:
We awoke early to cloudy skies, and the packing up chores had to get underway.  I emptied the porta-potti and disconnected the exterior tanks and hoses while the kids still slept inside.  Soon, they were up and getting breakfast while Becky and I started breaking down the inside and cleaning things up.  It was nice to stay the extra day, as we were nearly the only ones in the campground, but it would have been much nicer if we didn't have to fight the rain.  There were a few squirrels running around and some rabbits, which we hadn't seen all weekend.

After the drive home, had to unpack things and get the wet carpet, awning, and tarps out of the car and onto the patio.  Over the next few days, rinsing and washing them will be needed.

So,,... another trip in the books.  Getting a few weeks off as we have lots of other plans with family and friends, but we'll be back camping again on Father's Day weekend in mid-June.

Popup Gizmo Solar Covers and MODS update

1.  Popup Gizmo Solar Covers
As summer heat approaches, we decided  to look at ways to keep the camper cooler and more efficient for the AC unit.  One way is to have solar covers over the bunk ends which reduce the heat produced at the bunks and keep the camper cooler inside.  These are the Super High Wind covers from popupgizmos.com.  The elastic bungies strap around the sides of the bunk for a secure fit.  This first fitting, in the drizzly rain on Friday, was a little challenging, but we have some idea of how things work now and how to fit things up easier in the future.  Summer sun in Ocean City Maryland and at Knoebels later this August will really tell us if these make the big difference everyone says they do.

2.  iBall Backup Camera & Gray Tank Hitch Bracket
As previously posted, the iBall hitch camera was a cool new gadget.  Hitching up the camper was simpler, and I nearly got it the first time if the trailer was raised enough.  Next time I'll get it.

Another handy task is using it at the campground.  I used it on the roof of the van to be able to see over and around the camper while backing in.  It would be nicer if it did have a wider field of view, but it works well.  Toting the gray water tank behind the camper can be a bit noisy, and you wonder if it is leaking or fell off sometimes.  Now I can keep an eye on it while towing up to the dump station.

Tow bracket for the Tote-n-Store gray water tank, camera on the tailgate

View from the monitor of the tank during tow to the dump station

3.  Flower Pot Awning Weights
The flower pot project was a fun and cool one for Bella.  Once we got to the campsite, I realised I need to enlarge the awning pole hole slightly and also provide a bump out to allow for the press button to pass thru.  Here is the final product,.. doing exactly what it was intended to!