Camping Season Is Here!
Ok...for many of you camping season started weeks ago, but as a fairly cold-blooded person I must have the average temperature to be over 70 (preferably over 80). My husband and son braved the elements a few weeks ago when the overnight low was 33 degrees. No, thank you!
Last weekend, though, was absolutely gorgeous. Other than a few rain showers on Saturday, it was picture-perfect. I really can’t even complain about the rain. The resort we were staying had an awesome tiki bar with overhangs long enough to keep everyone dry.
I lied about staying at a resort… It actually was a field. With cows surrounding us. Seriously, it was better than a resort. Friends of ours have sectioned off a flat part of their field and everyone brings out their campers and ATVs to the country for a peaceful retreat from normal life. (Don’t forget your generator!)
Near the campsite, there was a beautiful little creek - just shallow enough for the kids to play in safely. Late Saturday afternoon I watched as all the kids headed over to splash around a bit. Following them was our 7 year old French Bulldog/Boston Terrier mix dog, Steve. Steve is sweet, but maybe not the brightest dog in the litter. I almost stopped him, but what could happen to him with 10 kids watching him?
Cut to 5 minutes later when my son frantically is running to me, motioning for me and his father to follow. I was sure there was a kid with a broken bone, or worse. We all run through the field’s long grass and stop at a group of kids looking over a cliff. Part of the field gave way into the creek this spring, and even though the kids were smart enough to stay far enough away from the edge, Steve had walked right over. Remember I said he wasn’t that bright?
Luckily with the rain, the slope that he landed on was soft. While my son was getting our help, one of the kids courageously made his way to Steve to try to help him get out of his predicament. Going up the cliff wasn’t an option, so after much coaxing and pleading for Steve to “Come here, boy!”, we finally asked the brave rescuer to toss Steve in the creek. Then we all watched and waited for Steve to float over to the bank. As Steve, my husband and I were walking back to the campsite, I was thinking, “I am so glad that adventure is over!” Nope, not yet. There, in front of me, was Steve headed straight for the same cliff. Fortunately, my motherly reflexes kicked in just in time to grab him before we started the whole process over again. Remember I said he wasn’t that bright?
Despite this little “incident”, the weekend was a great start to the camping season. Peaceful, beautiful, with great company and lots of laughs. Just as it should be.
