So much fun, so little time
SORRY — THE PHOTOS MENTIONED IN SUNDAY’S PAPER CANNOT BE UPLOADED DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH BLOGGER.COM.
When I suggested the camping trip to my husband, he immediately quoted one of his friends. “If the great outdoors was so great, why was indoors invented?”
“It’ll be fun,” I persisted.
“It’ll be in the 90s,” said Geoff.
“It’s right by the river,” I said. “And there are plenty of trees, so we can be in the shade.”
“I bet it’ll rain,” he said. “Haven’t you ever heard that rainstorms will travel thousands of miles just for the chance to rain on a tent?”
“I checked the weather. There’s only a slight chance,” I said. “Besides, the tent is waterproof.”
Geoff emitted a somewhat sarcastic sputtering sound. “How’s that Dave Barry saying go? ‘Camping is nature’s way of promoting the hotel business?’ Sounds like the words of a man whose been rained on.”
I shrugged. “So long as you don’t mind us going without you.”
“So long as you don’t mind me not going,” said Geoff.
I assured him I didn’t . . . since I also felt assured that once he saw the growing pile of camping gear at the top of the stairs, he’d get the itch, too. I was right. The night before we left, he added his sleeping bag to the pile. (So contagious was the camping bug that our 10-year-old neighbor, Jordan Holmes, soon added his, too.)
So with two adults, two kids, two dogs, four sleeping bags, one tent and enough gear to last a week all crammed into our little Toyota Matrix, we headed out for our one-night camping trip. Our destination was a camp near Buckhannon where our friends, the Harmans, host a big Fourth of July party and pig roast each year. Relatives and friends come from near and far to set up tents and campers in the field below the old house, then spend their days riding dirt bikes and ATVs, fishing and swimming (and bathing) in the river, cooking out, and sitting around the fire to talk. There are kids of all ages and dogs of all sizes and they all get along.
We arrived early enough to nab a heavily shaded spot by the creek to set up our new tent, which went up easier than any I’d ever dealt with before. After, we helped the kids build a dam in the creek, then spread our sleeping bags on the ground and laid there talking while Celeste, Jordan and the dogs continued to splash in the water.
We packed so much into our short time in the country that it seems hard to believe we weren’t there much longer. The kids spent ages swinging way out over the path on an old tire swing. We swam several times in the river. Biked to the Boy Scout camp and walked across the old swinging bridge. Went on a four-wheeler ride. Stayed up late into the night feeding the pig-roasting fire. And we were only there one day.
Jordan blew us all away by accepting a dare to eat one of the eyes from the cooked pig. (Impressive, too, was the distance that eye covered when he spat it out.) My nephew Zach ate the tongue, prompting someone near him to quip, “Just think–it’s tasting you back.”
Then, after one last swim in the cold river, it was time to go home.
“This was so much better than I was expecting,” Geoff said. “When we do it next year, let’s plan to stay several days.”
“Do we have to wait until next year?” Celeste asked. “I want to go camping again.”
I looked to Geoff for his reaction. He smiled and shrugged. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind going again either. Especially if we can find another place that’s something like this.”
So can you recommend a WV campground (or camping spot) you can recommend for us? We’re especially looking for those that are dog friendly and have some place to swim, like a river or lake. Please post your recommendations here or email them to karinfuller@cnpapers.com.
