This weekend we went on a "practice" camping trip with our friends the L's--only one night, to work out the kinks, since it's been almost 4 years since we actually camped. We planned to go to Shenandoah National Park and camp at the Mathews Arms campground. Since it doesn't require reservations, and doesn't have showers, we figured it was more like our kind of camping and it wouldn't fill up as fast. Imagine our surprise as we drove up to the park entrance gate and read the sign which said "Mathew's Arms closed", and the other 2 campgrounds were listed as "Full"! So it turns out that the campground wasn't going to open until May 29, a fact which is listed nowhere on the park website (the site says in several places that the campground opens "mid-May", and since the other campgrounds are already open and taking reservations, and they also were also supposed to open in mid-May, we figured that this one would be open now too). We forgot we were dealing with government beaurocracy, however, and they probably determined different campground opening days by throwing darts at the calender. We paid our entrance fee anyway, and went to the Visitors Center to ask more questions and regroup. The rangers there were apologetic, and they tried to direct us to some commercial campgrounds in Front Royal; you know, the types that have miniture golf, etc., "and a few sites that are in the shade", as the ranger said. No thanks! I knew there was a national forest nearby, so I asked if there were any campgrounds there, and if they would be open. The rangers were surprised but went to call. It turned out they were open, so we ate a picnic in the park, then drove on to seek a good campsite elsewhere. You can't say we aren't flexible! As we drove out, we noticed dark threatening skies ahead, and sure enough, the heavens opened as we drove back through Front Royal and headed west. After some very heavy rain, the sky grew lighter and clearer, and it stopped raining. We found the NFS campground, and we even found 2 good sites next to each other. Our trip was looking up! We started to set up the tents when again the skies grew dark, and another downpour ensued. Bob struggled manfully with the tent, getting it up and covered with the fly so it didn't get drenched inside during all the rain. Of course, HE got soaked! Then the rain lessened, the sky lightened, and behold, a sunny day again! This process repeated itself actually 5 times during the course of the evening. We would finally decided that the sky looked good, we would get the camping chairs back out of the car or tent, or start fixing something like dinner, and then the sky would suddenly darken and the floodgates would open. After several minutes of drenching rain, it would all stop, and we would slowly emerge from wherever we had taken shelter to find the fire sputtering and smoking. Eventually we all just wore ponchos and left the chairs inside the tent (to appease the rain god--"You must stand in my presence"--LOL!). Our master firekeeper, Ed L., certainly had his work cut out for him, espcially since one of the items we forgot was those firestarter sticks. Let's just say our fire was smoky from damp sticks much of the time! Fortunately we had brought firewood, and our first priority when evacuating for these downpours was to save it, so it remained fairly dry.
We were supposed to camp with another set of friends, the B's. They are preparing to move, so it would be one last time to visit. Well, Jeff decided they really didn't want to camp, since they never really had done it before, but they would just meet us at our campsite, eat dinner with us, then drive back that night. Their daughter had a soccer game Saturday afternoon, so they couldn't leave when we did. Elizabeth L. called them while we were still in Shenandoah and told them we were heading to "Elizabeth Furnace", but then they got cut off, and she couldn't get a signal again. We figured the B's would never be able to find us in this remote little NFS campground, so after we got the tents up, Elizabeth and I were planning to drive back into Front Royal until we could get a cell phone signal to call. As we were getting ready to leave, who should drive up but the B's! We were mightily impressed, not only with their navigational skills, but also with their determination, since they were driving through these terrible deluges to find an unknown remote spot in the middle of a forest with no one to guide them! As it turned out, they were the perfect addition to our camping trip. Due to some foresightful procrastination (or the leading of the Holy Spirit!), Dawn B. had 3 garbage bags of clothes destined for Goodwill in the back of their van. Since we were all getting soaked, the extra clothes came in very handy. At one point Jeff emerged from the back wearing a classy tweed suit jacket, which really set the mood for the evening. The rest of us bemoaned the fact that we had forgotten our dressy camping dinner attire. There were also some sheets in there, which we used to mop up all the water and gravel that puddled in our tents after we kept running in and out of them several times. I doubt even Goodwill really wants those anymore! I think the B's were secretly glad to leave after s'mores and go home where it was dry. We had a great time visiting with them though. We told them they had dropped in on the "Advanced Family Camping" course--it had never been like this before for us!
While all the rain excitement was going on, another drama was also playing out. Caleb ate part of a cookie that turned out to have some peanut pieces in it. He gave it to me and told me he didn't like it, and that's when I realized what was in it. After beating myself up for not being more observant, I gave him some benedryl. He never got hives or anything, so that is a praise. His stomach hurt though, and he did throw up one time. He just sat around for a little while, but then he was fine, praise the Lord. I was scared though.
The kids all had a great time. It's hard to believe this is the first time for both Caleb and Jonathan to go. They dug in the gravel with our construction toys and buckets. The sites were nice, but the nicest part was that the campground had flush toilets! I was shocked! All the NFS campgrounds in CO only had pit toilets. There was also hot water here, and you could take a shower! All we could figure was that the Forest Service gets more money on the East Coast, or maybe they don't have to pay for all those pesky forest fires or something. Anyway, it was a very pleasant surprise, and certainly made the day more enjoyable. All in all, it was a very fun time, with a lot of memories. We all agreed that this camping trip would always be remembered, and it would never blur into any of the other ones! And we really only forgot a very few things--things went very smoothly, even with 8 kids! The hardest part was coming back here and having to unfurl everything all across the front yard to let it all dry (yard sale, anyone?). Bob and the boys are making good use of that time though--they have opened a lemonade stand and are selling cups to all our curious neighbors. Of course, today is a hot sunny day. Oh well!
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