I have been in vacation mode for the last week and it has been WONDERFUL. I started my break with a four day retreat camping at Bear Creek Lake State Park. Roger and I hadn't been camping in almost a decade and we had definitely missed it. It takes only a few days in the wilderness to remind you of a few important life lessons.
Plan ahead. Everything takes longer when you're camping. To get from our campsite to the bathroom, it was a 200 foot walk, uphill. It was definitely not wise to wait until the last minute. Also, cooking over an open fire takes a while. Don't wait till the last minute to decide that you're ready for some dinner. There are no microwaves in the great outdoors.
Learn to make do. When you try to pack light, reduce, reuse, and recycle is the name of the game. Our fast-drying camping towels worked to dry our pots and pans after eating and our bodies after showers. We only needed one spatula, 2 forks, 2 spoons, and a pocketknife to do most of our cooking. Of course, our cuisine wasn't five-star but we certainly didn't starve.
It doesn't matter what you look like. Camping is the last place to put on a fashion show. Every day is casual Friday. Sure, my hair was a little frizzy and I wore more bug spray and sunscreen than makeup (actually, that's kind of an everyday thing for me) but I don't think anybody else cared.
Getting back to nature isn't always about peace and quiet. At night, our campsite was actually noisier than our home. Around sunset, the frogs and crickets started chirping and squawking. I couldn't believe how loud some of those animals could be!
There's always plenty to do...or NOT. My favorite thing to do when I go camping is sit with a book and read. We also did a little hiking, went on two interpretive walks with a park ranger, and took a quick dip in the chilly lake but I read three novels during those four days at the campground. While I read, Roger fished. We were both happy.
We returned from our adventure relaxed and refreshed. I'm still getting a few days away from work which is perfect for house projects, playing catch up, and (hey!) an opportunity to work up a blog or two. Hopefully we won't have to wait another 10 years before we do it again.
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| Home Sweet Home for just a few days |
Learn to make do. When you try to pack light, reduce, reuse, and recycle is the name of the game. Our fast-drying camping towels worked to dry our pots and pans after eating and our bodies after showers. We only needed one spatula, 2 forks, 2 spoons, and a pocketknife to do most of our cooking. Of course, our cuisine wasn't five-star but we certainly didn't starve.
It doesn't matter what you look like. Camping is the last place to put on a fashion show. Every day is casual Friday. Sure, my hair was a little frizzy and I wore more bug spray and sunscreen than makeup (actually, that's kind of an everyday thing for me) but I don't think anybody else cared.
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| The view from our "hotel" was exceptional |
There's always plenty to do...or NOT. My favorite thing to do when I go camping is sit with a book and read. We also did a little hiking, went on two interpretive walks with a park ranger, and took a quick dip in the chilly lake but I read three novels during those four days at the campground. While I read, Roger fished. We were both happy.
We returned from our adventure relaxed and refreshed. I'm still getting a few days away from work which is perfect for house projects, playing catch up, and (hey!) an opportunity to work up a blog or two. Hopefully we won't have to wait another 10 years before we do it again.