Camping

This past weekend we made it to Lake Wenatchee State Park and despite the challenge of setting the tent up in the rain on Friday evening we had a lovely time.  The boys especially enjoyed themselves.  It seemed like even when mom and dad were the most stressed like trying to get the tent up properly and the sleeping bags in while staying dry; the boys were just excited.   When us parents would worry that bouncing against the side of the tent would let in water; they were just curious to see how the walls moved and how water would pool up inside with just a touch.   They didn't think about wetness or coldness.  In fact they only thought this was great fun since we all had to cuddle together to stay cozy.

In the end we found the proper balance of play and work and we all survived the first raining night.  When the rain was coming down the next morning the boys just happily donned their rain gear and challenged each other to bike through the puddles.  They also worked diligently on making a dam where there was a clear river heading towards our tent.  Luckily by afternoon the rain cleared and we did not have to test the dam's strength.

We also did a great deal of hiking since it was a good way to keep warm.  First by trail where we ran into the early morning horse back riders.  The boys got to experience stepping through horse poop and also watching the horses as they stood in the rain; flexing and twitching as they shed flies and raindrops.

I feel lucky that the boys are able to have this type of experience: to see horses up close, to see the gear and resources that it takes to maintain them.   Horses are a part of history and story- everything becomes more vivid as the boys experience more and more things first hand.

Later when we discovered that our campsite was on what we would call Chipmunk Mountain the boys got another opportunity to witness animals living in their homes, in the wild.  They got to see the chipmunks dodge in and out of holes.  The boys found the holes and started to understand that their was a whole other world beneath their feet.  The also noticed how the chipmunks and the squirrels would chatter.  We wondered what they were saying.

At the lake we saw a hawk circle and dive for a fish.  It had to try several times but then it flew off right over our heads with a fish dangling in its talons.

Camping at a state park can be whatever you make of it.  Some families chose to stay with many of the comforts of home and ride the paved roads versus going off on the trails or even into the woods.   We choose a rustic comfort and then get off the main pathways to soft dirt trails.  In each case people were able to experience the elements, see and hear something different from their own homes.

 It makes you appreciate the world and the universe as you look up at the stars and wonder how it is that they can glow so hot and for so long...and  you notice how we are just so small.