Ramblings Only

Just ramblings, only a vent for emotions, feelings and all the good stuff

Camping take 3

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

So we finally did manage to camp in ClearLake State Park this past weekend :--) Initially the site was a bit of a disappointment because although it was a premium site with private view of the lake, it was a cliff like drop to the lake and with two young kids we were a bit scared. But we put the tent in such a way that the drop was covered and then all was well. It was a hot weekend. 102F or so. We pitched the tent in a jiffy, how quick and professional we were getting ;--) and set off to the swim beach. I have to say I was not very impressed with the lake. It looked extremely dirty to me but it was just algae, plant growth, not garbage. Everyone waded in quickly while I slowly made my way in. Time flew by in the lake, as we enjoyed the cool water as against the hot temperatures. BSK and E had a great time, 'swimming' for a while and then just playing on the sand. A and I caught up with our work stories while DH and S played ball. It is amazing how our views change as time progresses and each of us reach different points in our careers. It is almost like we grew up together from inexperienced engineers to experienced family people thinking about finances and career and kids and what not.
Before we realized it it was 6:30. We went in search of the showers which was in a different camp site further up. We got spoilt by the extremely neat showers in Sugarloaf so this was a bit of a disappointment though it was half as cheap. We went back and made veggie patties and buns, cute tomatoes, onions, had burger for dinner. A also marinated paneer/bell pepper/onions for the paneer tikka skewers? But we were so full we decided to save it for the next day. The kiddos had their dinner and were bundled up to be put to sleep. Once they were asleep, A found this extremely awesome spot for us to sit while watching the almost full moon reflect on the lake. It was breathtaking beautiful. We heard animals make sounds. These lizard like creatures were running out and about our site a lot and DH said it was a chameleon. The kids were going around searching for 'chameleons' it was uber cute. E looked a piece of dried grass and went 'oh chameleon!' and BSk would join. We even chased a few to watch them change color as the background changed. We were pretty convinced it changed color too since we saw some in different shades or brown and some even green. ButI came back and googled they turned out to be geckos! Geez, we were teaching wrong stuff to the kids too. :--) We saw two deers. Just walking along like they owned the road. E and BSK were of course psyched to see them as much as we were.

So where were we? Yes. moon lit night. I wished I could snap that moment in time and savor it in posterity. It was peacful, with occasional sounds from animals close by. S is into astrology. Last time we went camping I had told them about the interview and he has my details so immediately after he went home he looked up my chart and said it would be an easy peasy offer. I didnt believe him. After I got the job I knew I should take him seriously ;--) Apparently this year is good for my career, I looked up Cancer Astrology for this year and that seems to say the same. So anyway, chatted some more, about more camping trips, more trips in general. I find that these night chats are the most favorite part of any camping trip. I didnt want to go back to sleep because the next day we were headed back. Such short trips though it does feel hurried does relax you, take you to another world and back. It is awesome that such quaint beautiful places are so close to where we live.

I LOVED sleeping in our open tent with the moon in the sky, is an understatement. I enjoyed it immensely. It was almost a full moon night, so it was pretty bright even in the night. We got a sleeping bag for BSK too this time, although she ended up sleeping outside of it and of course moving aorund so much at one point she was by my legs. DH got me a small air pillow too. These camping items are soo compact. The tent, the sleeping bags, the pillows, so compact.

The next morning we made coffee, usual breakfast of bread and eggs. BSK and E love to get inside the tent and goof around, jump around together. That is their customary ritual when camping. That is how they had breakfast. BSK is such a careful kid, it is nto surprising considering I am in general very careful. For example, when walking on the road, if she hears a car, she would immediately step off the road! I had a hard time taking her to the restroom to brush her teeth because she just wouldnt walk on the road, as long as some vehicle engine was roaring.

We decided to take a short hike around in the park. We had just walked a bit when BSK went poo poo. DH took her back to our tent to change her while the rest of us were waiting playing ball. Just as DH returned, E went poo poo. ;--) So S took her back to the tent to change her while we waited some more. Really that is how it is when you want to hike with toddlers ;--) It will work only when there are kids of the same age. If there are couples with no kids, they surely will be bored to death and we would be left feeling extremely guilty. So we finally went our way on the hike. It was short, led up to the swim beach. We then crossed a few bridges which really looked ghostly with some sort of spidery-webby stuff on plants around. We had strawberries and grapes. We went to another camp site which had private lake access. Noted it down for future camp visits. Actually to be frank I found the water to be dirty with algae. Did not look all the enticing. But I went with the group since they seemed very excited. DH is super enthusiastic about camping. He loves outdoors and mostly goes after trouble outside too. For example if the a sign says watch out of mountain lion, he would keep shouting asking for the mountain lion to come to him!!! He has that insane courage that I have to keep at check some times but I like it too because if not for that we would never have made it to Angel's Landing. Somehow as folks get married, and the two people are different, you settle into an in between routine, where each person comes and meets the other half way. Not sure if I am clear..

So anyway we got to our camp and it was time to pack. Pack, clean, wash the dishes, clean the kids who had become so so so dirty, what do you expect in a camping trip? By 12:15 we were off on our way back home.

Now camping is becoming easier. First time it felt like a huge chore with way too much planning. Now it is becoming easier and easier. It is not too expensive, and the place need not matter at all. The one thing I dont like too much in camping is the cooking and cleaning part. I like the hiking, sleeping under the stars, the moon, the dark nights, the scary nights with animals prowling around, the fire, more. :--)

BSK loves camping, loves spending time with E and her parents, loves getting dirty. Hopefully she will turn out to be the outdoorsy kid that DH wants her to be.

Toodle-doo!

posted by SK @ 7:34 PM

4 Comments:

At 11:56 AM, MK said…

Hi SK

Remember me from Ramya's daughter's birthday party?
I happened to visit your blog from Ramya's and I find ourselves doing a lot of similar things.Duh!!!Mothers are all the same :)
I'd like to add you to my blogroll and invite you to mine.Do you mind?
Good to know you.

Thanks
Meena.
At 12:07 PM, MK said…

Please send me your gmail id,so I can invite you to my blog.?
At 11:53 AM, SK said…

Hi MK
Of course I remember! Sorry for the delayed reply.
Will love to be in touch and follow your blog. :--)
Is there an email I send my gmail id to?
At 3:04 PM, MK said…

thanks..plz send to sehar.meena@gmail.com