Last weekend was our second annual church camping trip. One last stop to borrow a kayak and we were off. This was after a morning including me acting like the bossy lunatic I normally am when getting ready for a trip and organizing the lifeguard pizza party for about 40 people. I wish John could do these things with us once in a while, but he works all weekend and we have several fall weekend committments he has taken off for. Guess I won't complain about the three week days he has off, though.
O gift of God! O perfect day:
Whereon shall no man work, but play;
Whereon it is enough for me,
Not to be doing, but to be!
(From "A Day of Sunshine" by Longfellow)
We returned to the same spot as last year, Longfellow's Glimmerglass, with a beautiful drive through the leatherstocking region. I could have appreciated the scenery on the drive more if the rachet straps on the kayak weren't making that horrible high pitched vibrating noise.
A little dry land practice.
Let the set up begin!
The best thing for me about group camping, besides the company, is the potlucking! I find camp food to be one of the most time consuming (not to mention expensive) aspects of camping but if I only have to add one dish to the table it is so much easier plus yummier. I also love that when in group people have handy things like those pop up white canopies.
That is our new, huge tent in the background. I researched about a zillion tents before I bought this one only to find out that my sister has the same one. If I had known I would have just bought this one straightaway. It is easy to put up, great in blowing rain, has a swinging door and did I mention, is huge. It feels so nice not to be crammed into a tent with no open floor space.
It rained right as we arrived and these lovely orange salamanders were every where. Each kid had one to play with.
Lucy and I did a two mile hike that was a mile up and a mile down. She does much better hiking with more than just Jack and I. I need to remember that for future hikes.
Lucy had her first solo go in the the kayak and love it. I asked if she wanted me to take her around for a bit first and she said, "Mom, I know the motion" and she did. She is so little, but so strong.
Jack is a seasoned pro. I didn't do any kayaking this time. I was too interested in chatting and knitting.
I really love events like this that help us intentionally build our church community outside of our actual church building. Jack and Lucy will grow up with most of these kids and it is fun to imagine what they will be like when they are teenagers. I also love that Jack and Lu get to form relationships with adults who aren't related to us and aren't necessarily close friends of mine but who share similar values. And the grown up conversation around the campfire after the kids have gone to tent isn't too bad either.
