The Camping Trip That Wasn't Meant To Be

Just this last week we decided to get in one more camping trip before the kids went back to school. A simple enough venture and one that we have done several times before, but apparently it just wasn't meant to be. We had everyone loaded up and were leaving Eureka when I realized I had forgotten my camera, but we decided we would be okay without it. We went up Fairfield Canyon to Gooseberry campground and had everything set up and were getting ready for a little lunch when I realized I'd forgotten the peanut butter. But we were determined to make the best of it. Ben went fishing in the stream while the kids and I waded and I taught them how to skip rocks. It started to sprinkle a little so we went for a little drive down to the reservoir and saw several interesting birds that later we found out were sandhill cranes. After our drive we had an early dinner of hot dogs roasted over the fire, and we were all pretty happy. Then it started to rain in earnest so we made a quick retreat to the tent. I told stories to the kids for a little while, and then we started to play charades while Ben took a nap. Poor Ben woke up with two wet spots on him from our leaky tent. After finding several other spots that were leaking we had to call a retreat. We loaded the kids in the car and then broke camp in the rain. Poor Andrew was so disappointed, but he came around when we promised them they could roast marshmallows in the backyard and sleep in their bags on the front room floor.

Here they are waiting patiently for their roasting sticks.

And roasting marshmallows over Dad's propane heater.

The next day we decided to take advantage of Ben's other day off to go fishing at Maple Lake. This is me and Becca reeling in a fish together, she wants to do everything the big kids do.



And here is Gordon reeling in a fish all by himself. The kids still had lots of fun.
Hopefully next year we will have much better luck.