Family Camping

Last weekend Trent took his scouts on an overnight camp and did some canoeing down the James River. Jon, as usual, got really bummed that his Dad was going camping without him. So, with a four day weekend, we packed up and left after the kids got home from school for an overnight camp trip to Shenandoah National Park. We made sure we had everything on Jon's camping list which isn't much (tent, sleeping bags, sticks and marshmallows) and the rest of the stuff we needed and had a short but really fun trip.

Unbelievable as it sounds, we did not, until Friday, own an axe. We stopped and bought one on our way, because Trent knew he would need to split the firewood we picked up in order to get the fire going initially. The kids enjoyed watching Trent split wood. The clapped and cheered, and Jon called out score every time the wood split.

After convincing Jon that there is more to eat when one camps than marshmallows, we had dinner and just played for a while. After we put the kids in the tent with books, Trent and I were sitting around and thought it was getting awfully smoky. Trent then realized it was fog rolling in. It got foggy enough that in the early morning, the trees would "rain" on everything every time the wind blew. The fog lifted sometime during the night for a while though, because I got up to go to the bathroom, and could see so many stars. It was like looking at the stars at night at Camp Loll, so beautiful. So many stars were visible that in places it looked like clouds of them shining. It was worth getting up and out of the tent just for that.

Roasting marshmallows and Sami with one crammed in her mouth

In the morning, it was misty again. The kids and I headed out on a short walk. Jon decided to stay behind with his Dad. So, while the boys cleaned up all the sleeping bags, we girls went on a nice little walk. Ashley found the short trail that led out to this great view. She also spotted the deer we saw on our return trip.

After getting back and making some breakfast (Trent cooked bacon, and Jon literally cheered bacon!), we cleaned up camp and took the boys back on the same walk. There was no mist the second time, but the view was still really pretty. We are getting excited to come and see it when the leaves are in full color this fall.

Jon and Ashley next to one of the Appalachian Trail markers. Since the Appalachian Trail was part of our short hike, we wanted to include it.