December camping in LaPine, OR

I apologize for not posting for November, however we ended up "camping" at our friend's house in Bend (roughing it, I know) since we had to drive there anyway to pick up some elk from Seth's hunting trip that had been cut up for us.  We were going to camp over there but our usual spot (Tumalo) is closed for repairs, and LaPine was all booked out.  I would have kept looking but when our friends the Miller's said they were going to be in Sun River and offered to let us house sit, we couldn't pass it up.  It was really nice, but by the time our December trip rolled around I was ready to be camping again. 
      So, the weekend after Christmas we packed up and once again headed over to Central Oregon to stay at LaPine State Park in a rustic cabin.  When we arrived it was cold and clear with just the lightest dusting of snow on the ground, and we found the cabin very cozy with two little heaters (one a faux fireplace, which fake as it may be set a very nice feel in the place.)    That night we went into Bend to go to the Miller's house for their three year olds Birthday party.  The kiddos had a blast and we had fun chatting together as well.  The next day (with 1/4 inch of fresh snow) we had a leisurely morning and then took Mikaiah Ice Skating at the Inn at the Seventh Mountain Resort.  It was her first time and she had a blast, when we were done she announced that she was ready for "her own ice skates and her own ice."  Good luck with that one. 
     If you have never been skating at the Inn at the Seventh Mountain it's worth checking out, with an outdoor rink and Christmas lights all around, plus a big gas fireplace to gather round it makes it an ideal setting to have fun and relax.  We would have stayed even longer  but my youngest daughter who was watching with Seth was not at all happy at being left out.  Maybe next year wee one. 
     After a lovely afternoon we headed back into Bend to spend an evening out with Julie and Erik Miller while Julie's parents, who were in town visiting for the holiday, watched all of our girlies.  What a pleasant evening spent together!  So nice to have some time with just adults, we don't get that much.  The next day we were fortunate enough to get several inches of white fluffy snow (hurray) and spent all of the morning and the early afternoon just enjoying the snow and slowly packing up.  It was a slow ride home with lots of snow on the road, but not too hazardous.  All in all we had a lovely weekend, now we're ready to tent camp once again this coming weekend. Heading back to the coast this time for a (slightly) warmer climate!

    

A lovely rainy weekend at Beverly Beach

   This past weekend we went to Beverly Beach State Park in Newport, OR.  The weather forecast said it was supposed to rain all weekend, and not just a little, and they were (mostly) right.  Although tempted to be disappointed by this news I was determined to have a good attitude about it, and it worked!  I packed a lot of changes of clothes and all the rain gear we had (which turned out to be too little and too small for Sequoia, but nothing a quick trip to the Newport Fred Meyer couldn't fix!)  Armed with new rain boots and coat Sequoia was ready to take on the weekend.  (Actually, she was ready before, having no fear of the rain, but at least I wasn't having to change her clothes every five seconds.)   We also came prepared with our trusty canopy and lots of blankets, towels and dry firewood. 
      When we arrived it was literally a downpour as Seth quickly set up our site.  Sequoia and I went to pay for our spot (a great detour to get kids away while one spouse sets up) and by the time we came back both the tent and canopy were up.  Due to the heavy rains however, even though he did it quickly the floor of the tent got quite wet before he could put the rain fly on.  No need to worry though, that's what the towels I brought were for.  Never underestimate the use of an old dry towel on a wet camping trip (not the towels you plan to use for showers, but a few extra old ones are always a good idea - even on non-rainy trips.)  
         Our friends (and very good sports) Titus and Georgina joined us as well and after Georgina and I made that aforementioned trip to Fred Meyer while the boys cooked up dinner, we had a lovely evening playing cards under the canopy and (near but not quite next to) a very nice fire.  The hardest part was actually not the rain, but rather the wind trying to blow our cards away.
          The next day Seth and Titus spent the morning surfing while Georgina and I held down the fort.  We took the girls on a walk to the near by beach (on a very cloudy and wet, though it was barely sprinkling) morning.  They loved it.  In retrospect I should have brought my picnic mat which folds up easily and hoses off even easier, so that we could sit down and enjoy the morning.  I didn't however, so instead of sitting down we just stood and took it in as the girls loved every minute of it.  (The biggest reason I wish I had brought that mat is really because I would have been much more comfortable and would have let them play much longer, like they wanted to, instead of forcing us to leave early for my own comfort. ) I was also exhausted from chasing Sequoia  as she ran down to the ocean over and over again, and I saved her from running into the waves over and over again (she got quite a kick out of this, but alas, we dragged them back to camp.  That afternoon however, it got much nicer out, warm even.  Titus and Georgina had taken off but Seth and I took the girls once again to the beach (after 45 minutes of jumping/falling down in puddles on the way there, and one change of clothes for Sequoia) and we all had a great time.  What great weather we turned out to have,  with the sun warming us even as we packed up the next day.   After packing up our stuff on Sunday, we headed over to the Oregon Coast Aquarium (which we have a membership to) and enjoyed a few hours wandering around together as a family, and enjoying the wonderful weather we turned out to have.  Having something like an aquarium, children's museum, public pool, or even local library in mind when planning a trip that looks to be a wet or cold one is a really useful idea.  In the winter we often camp closer to towns for this reason (besides the fact that many of the further out campgrounds are closed in the winter anyway.) It never hurts to get away a little from a soggy camp and do something to cheer everyone up and change the attitude around camp, or even just kill a few hours.  Even deciding to head into town for a meal isn't a bad idea, and if you have some money set aside for such an expense then it doesn't have to go beyond what you expected to spend that weekend.  (Seth and I allot $65 a trip (not counting gas and food) to pay for all our other expenses (camp site, wood, etc.) and in the summer when it is often much, much cheaper (going with friends and splitting costs of cheap county sites mostly accounting for this) we put that money aside to help pay for yurts or expenses like these later in the year.  It's worked out quite well for us.
         I am convinced that although we often blame the weather or loud neighbors, or anything else we can think of  for grumpy children (or ourselves) or for bad experiences, I think that very often the secret to the success or failure of a trip, be it camping or other experience , lies more in our attitudes and much less in our circumstances.  Our attitudes as adults are particularly important as they have such a strong influence on our children and how they view the situation we're in.  As Seth and I laughed and smiled that first night as Mikaiah and Sequoia gleefully ran through the rain and puddles, soaking themselves through and through, I believe we set a precedence for the whole trip.   I will try to remind myself of this the next time (most likely next month) that we take a trip in rainy or cold weather.  Be prepared for the weather and then try to enjoy it despite the circumstances and you are most likely to come away with a good experience!

Summer's End

     I don't know how it happened, but an entire summer of camping has come and gone since I last posted on this blog.  We've had some great trips this summer, a few of our old favorite places and one or two new ones as well.  I am actually quite looking forward to this short but wonderful season of Autumn camping.  Some of the best camping happens in the fall, with the last of the warm weather and few campers, plus the crispness of a new and changing season all add up to some really great trips.  Especially if you plan on camping at the coast, in Oregon this is the best time of year to do so, and tomorrow we plan on taking full advantage of it.  With the forecast in the 80's with clear skies, it should be lovely.  Before we go though, I will leave a quick update of our previous summer trips and a few pictures as well.

June found us in Central Oregon camping along the Metolious River, outside Sisters, Oregon (though I can't actually remember the name of the camp ground) it was a small one, but pretty.  There were two prime spots, but we didn't get either (they are kind of connected to each other, so if there are people at one the other becomes not quite so wonderful.) Our spot wasn't too bad, in the shade but not near the river.  Dust everywhere, but we had fun and the rains didn't come until 2 minutes before we pulled out of there, though it was a bit on the chilly side all weekend.
     Since this trip I have started bringing a very small  inflatable pool (36in across) that only takes 8 gallons of water or so, and is great for cleaning dirt covered toddlers.  Though they inevitably get dirty again, it can save your sleeping bags or car just a bit of dirt!  Also, this size is nice because it's not that hard to heat enough water to make even snow melt river water bearable.  Here is a link to the one I purchased. http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Express-IN-49-403-Inflate-Duck/dp/B001JEG2OO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1410467834&sr=8-3&keywords=duck+pond+pool    In the past we have used our totes for this purpose, and that's nice too, but then they're all wet and dirty and sometimes you have a bunch of stuff (that you emptied out of them) floating around camp the rest of the trip.

Hannah and Mikaiah make some "flower soup" near the Metolious River.

Giving Sequoia a much needed bath before heading home.

End of June we made an extra trip to try and catch some nice weather and spend a weekend swimming at Yellow Bottom Campground 24 miles past Foster Lake, as I had done many a time as a teenager, but alas, it was not to be.  It rained Friday and half of Saturday, leaving us only with Sunday to swim in the sun and (colder than I remembered) water before heading home.  It was not a total wash however, with the company of some good friends and a nice canopy it was worth the trip anyway.  If you are wanting to do much camping at all, even just in Summer, I would highly suggest getting a canopy.  You can get cheap ones, but you often get what you pay for.  Here's the one we ended up with, and have really liked so far.  www.rei.com/item/782087/caddis-aluminum-rapid-shelter-8-x-8
   The biggest tip I have for camping in the rain is one you probably already know and happens once you come home, but is so important (and so dreaded it's easy to want to skip it) it is worth mentioning anyway.  Dry out your gear!  Don't take short cuts and assume your gear is "dry enough" and leave it be, no one wants to open up their tent (or air bed/sleeping bags/other gear) and find them mildewy and gross.  I've had this happen in the past and it is truly unpleasant.  Unless you're absolutely sure they are 100% dry (even your totes as well) then do yourself a favor and take it out at home and dry that gear.  I admit that this is the number 1 reason I don't like camping in the rain, but it is absolutely necessary.  If you skip on this, or aren't thorough, you will absolutely regret it later.

Taking Cover from the rain at Yellow Bottom Campground.

For July we spent our trip as we do every year, at Waterloo (near Lebanon) celebrating the Finley family reunion.  With only the first day filled with scattered showers and the rest of the time spent enjoying warm sun, the weather was finally getting on our side.  Days were spent floating the (not so warm, but still fun) river and watching the kids ride bikes and dig in the dirt.  We had a lovely spot under the trees, surrounded by family (and kids around Mikaiah's age, what a special treat!) This is a nice place to visit, especially since it is only 40 minutes away.

Mid August was a planned trip to Cold Water Cove on Clear Lake (along the McKenzie River trail) but a late start messed us up, and since we had no reservations (and 1/2 the sites are non-reservable) they were full when we got there.  This is possibly my very favorite place to camp, I was truly bummed, but never fear, we did find a spot 5.8 miles down the road at Trail Bridge Campground, where we had camped once before while my mom and some others were hiking 50 miles in one day, it was our staging area.  The spot we got this time  was not quite as nice, big, but in full sun.  Still, we were able to take out the canoe a few times on the reservoir as well as on Clear Lake during a day trip.  They actually have some very nice sites here near the river, a few on the lake as well but those are mostly for RV's (very gravelly) and some pretty ones in the trees that you haul your gear down to from the road.  Put next to Cold Water Cove though, it just doesn't compare.  Still, there was plenty of room for our 10 person group and a great view of the stars.

House Rock Campground

It's been a while since I've written on here - my apologies. With the weather getting so nice I'm spending more and more time outside and less inside.  Also, when I'm inside I'm usually cleaning or trying to keep up with my 11 month old and 3 year old girlies!  Exhausting, yet wonderful! 
      The past two camping trips were spent at one of my very favorite campgrounds, House Rock Campground about 30 min past Sweet Home off of Highway 20.  Our first trip of the season out there was spent with a large group of friends celebrating several May Birthdays.  What a great time was had by all, despite the rain the drizzled off and on throughout the weekend.
       Our second trip out there was spent with my parents and was also incredibly enjoyable, though once again it rained throughout our stay.  I've decided that so long as I am warm at night, have warm dry clothes to change into throughout the day and have a toasty fire, I don't really mind camping in the rain.  Especially when it is only in the 60's.   I do still dislike cleaning up from a wet camping trip, but what's to be done?  It's still worth it!

   As I gear up for our next camping trip next weekend (promising to be the first real warm trip we've had this year) I spent a little time restocking on our home made fire starters and I thought I would share them with you.  This is a little trick I learned from my brother and all his years in the boy scouts, and it's a keeper.  For little to no money and very little time you can make some amazing little fire starters which help catch even the wettest of wood on fire.  Gotta love 'em.

What you need:
-1 egg carton
-paper bag
-2 sticks paraffin (sold at any department store) or you can use leftover candle wax - I used to keep all my candles with used up wicks and melt them for purposes such as these.
-enough dryer lint to fill the egg carton (I got enough for this purpose in just one week of doing laundry-we have a lot of people using our dryer and this time it paid off!)
-1 mason jar or large clean tin can
-sauce pan with a few inches of water
















1)  Put the wax into the mason jar or can and place that in the sauce pan with a few inches of water in it and heat it until the wax is completely melted.




2) Fill the egg carton with lint and place on a paper bag.




3) Pour the wax evenly over the egg carton saturating in the dryer lint.  You don't need a lot of wax, but the more you have (and the more lint you have in each) the longer they burn and the better they are at starting wet wood.



4) Let the wax cool completely.  Then using a knife or multi-purpose scissors (personally I prefer using a knife) cut the egg carton into 12 individual fire starters.  Store in a water proof container or ziplock bag.

Sometimes they take a few seconds to cach fire (depending on how thick the wax is over the dryer lint) but once they catch they burn great!

Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial Park

As we get ready for our March trip this weekend, I am finally getting around to posting about our February trip.
     For February we went to one of my very favorite childhood camping spots, Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, in Florence, OR.   As a child I loved camping in the wooded area, walking the short distance to the dunes (in the park) and laying in the sun for hours taking turns playing in the sand and then running down into the warm lake beneath the dunes.  I can't wait to do that again, but that was not this trip.   This trip we stayed a yurt with some friends of ours, Samuel and Kalea  and their daughter Ira May.  The weather was chilly but mostly dry (It rained the day before we came) and sunny.  Something that was not there when I was a child is the addition of a large playground, so nice.  We spent the mornings lazing around with the kiddos (avoiding our very loud neighbors) and playing in the playground.  Yurts are wonderful, but they are also close together (often times - here closer than many I have seen) and there walls are still uninsulated.  So, in a park that was almost completely empty (something that never happens in the summer, when it is almost always booked to capacity) we found ourselves right next to the loudest people in the park, music blaring late into the night, and little children running into our campsite to see if Mikaiah wants to play (of course she wanted to, but was not allowed) early in the morning.  They were kind  though, inviting us to party with them, but I think I would have appreciated a little more solitude. That said, it was still a nice trip and we had a lot of fun spending the day at a near by beach on the Ocean.  Our dear friends are living in Medford and don't get to see the Ocean very often, so we took every advantage. 
     My favorite memory of this trip though happened about 3 am  the second night.  I was feeling super vigalente even in my sleep, trying to keep my children from waking up Ira May when all of the sudden I was woken immediately by a loud wailing.  Mikaiah, who was sleeping above me on the top bunk was just sobbing "I WANT CARROTS!" She cried over and over. "I SO HUNGRY"  It would have been hilarious if she wasn't so upset and wasn't so loud!  I tried cuddling with her, tried rocking her back and forth, even gave her some raisins (we had no carrots.)   Finally Seth gave her a raspberry shaped teething pacifier she has recently latched onto (though she never used one as a baby.)  As soon as she had it she curled up and silently went to sleep.  What a silly girl.  Oh how I love her!
    This weekend we are off to Astoria, Fort Stevens State Park.  Weather Forecast:  Rain, rain, and more rain.  We'll see how it goes! At least we are prepared!

Silver Creek Falls - January

Well it's January again and our first tent camping trip of the winter season.  Although I  enjoy camping year round, I have to admit that this trip is always the hardest for me to get psyched up for.   There is no where in Oregon that is warm on an average January weekend, it's just a fact.  Also, no matter how many blankets you bring I always find myself staring longingly at the cozy motor homes and trailers around us as the cold air gathers around me and the frost creeps up my toes.  I sit closer and closer to the fire, and try as I might as I look on at my tent I can't fool myself into thinking it's going to be "so cozy" when I go in there - before getting settled in my sleeping bag anyway.
      You might be asking yourself why then do we continue to do this,  why not always stay in a yurt or get an RV or better yet, just camp when it's  warm outside but I'll tell you why.  It's because when we camp in difficult circumstances I learn to appreciate things more than I would any other way.  I appreciate the sun coming out and warming my face in the morning, even while frost still covers the ground.   I apreciate the power of a warm fire and the joy of conversation around it.  If I were in a yurt or RV I would spend most of my time inside at night and miss so much that happens only around a campfire, it's just true. This weekend however, while tent camping I spent hours around the campfire laughing and enjoying my family as Mikaiah taught me how to play hide and go seek around the fire, without moving more than 5 or so feet and then "hiding" in the tent awning...with her headlamp on.   She brings me so much joy as she takes in everything around her and enjoys spending time with us around the fire.   In the summer I usually put her to bed before it gets dark, and miss out on this special time spent with her.  When our next trip comes and we're cozy warm in our Yurt I won't take it for granted as I normally might have, I even enjoy my own bed at home more after trips like this.  Seth and I both feel that these experiences are more than just "good" for us and out children, we feel they are essential.  Our reactions to the situations we are in teach our children how they should act, something I have to remember when it's less than comfortable around me.
       When we finally went to bed the tent was relatively warm due to the tent heater we were using, but as the temperature dropped and the heater ran out of propane it got really cold.  Slowly both our children joined us in our bed, pushing Seth and I out onto the edges.  At six AM when I was once again awaken by Sequoia who was hungry and cold, I had had enough.  I picked her up and groggily carried her into the heated bathroom. (When camping in Winter it's a huge plus to find a campground such as Silver Creek Falls or Beverly Beach with a heated bathroom - it's wonderful!) I have to admit, I was not at this moment thinking "I'm so glad I'm teaching my girls to have a good attitude no matter the situation" I was just cold and tired.  As Sequoia ate and we both thawed out in the bathroom I made a plan.  Maybe we both couldn't go to sleep in a nice cozy bed, but we could be warm.  So, while leaving Seth and Mikaiah cozy in our bed I grabbed the keys and got into the car for an early morning trip into Silverton.  Thank you Lord for leather heated seats!  It's amazing how much better you can feel after getting warm and drinking a mocha!  I came back around 8:30 am to find my husband building a fire and energized by warmth and caffeine and the sugar from a fresh baked donut, I had an amazing morning.  Enjoying a lovely walk in a frost covered wonderland with my two little girls as my husband packed up our things.  Perspective is an amazing thing!

December 2013 - Tumalo State Park

 Mikaiah loves her "new home for camping."

 Staying warm with Papa.

Mikaiah had a bun at the top of her head and when I took it out this is what was left. haha.

      On Friday night our good friends the Miller's joined us for the evening.  Here their youngest daughter Tillie (3 months) and Sequoia (6 months) get aquainted.

Our last camping trip of the year was spent at Tumalo State Park staying in a Yurt.  Great choice!  We have stayed at Tumalo State Park several times and always enjoyed it, but this time we stayed in a Yurt.  It was very nice, staying in a cozy warm Yurt while still sitting around a campfire at will.  For less than $40 a night it sure is a nice change.  Even if you're just travelling around and not necessarily looking to camp, it's a lot cheaper than a hotel room and the scenery is much more pleasant.  They offer yurts or rustic cabins in many state parks as well as other random campgrounds.  ReserveAmerica.com is a great way to find them as well as campgrounds in general.

      We spent three nights, with slow relaxing mornings around camp and afternoons/evenings spent in Bend with friends.  A lovely way to end our first complete year of monthly camping.

     I decided that every time I post about our camping trips I will try to include a tip or two that have worked for us.
  
     Like most people I dislike packing and unpacking, but unpacking is truly the worst.  I hate that end-of-trip feeling when you're headed back to life, and work, AND you have a bunch of unpacking and cleaning ahead of you.  However, I have found that taking just a little extra time while packing up can save you a lot of time back home.  When packing up I try to group things not so much according to what they are, but to where they will go in my home.  I put everyone's dirty clothes in a foldable laundry basket (I usually put things like extra shoes in it to begin with, and then put the shoes in our bags in exchange for the dirty clothes.)  Since I have a tote of dry goods which always has some food stored in it, I take all the perishables (half full bag of tortilla chips, oranges, bread, etc) and any food I simply want to eat soon (chocolate covered almonds, for example) and put them in a bag at the top of the tote so that when I get home I simply remove the bag, and store everything else.   This system works really well, getting my laundry started right away and my things back where they belong, allowing me to sit down and enjoy the rest of my weekend much sooner than I would otherwise.
     Something else that is helpful is having set tasks for both Seth and I.  We have these both for packing up to go, and packing up to leave.  I pack all food and clothing for me and the girls along with the sleeping bags and bedding.  Then I have it by the front door.  Seth gets all the camp gear and packs it all up.  Once we get there he unloads and I set up the kitchen area and watch the girls while he gets the tent up.  Then I set up our beds.  For packing up I load up stuff in the tent/yurt while Seth watches the girls and makes breakfast and then I clean dishes and pack up the kitchen stuff with the girls while he does the rest.  Having these things laid out (we just naturally figured this out and then have stuck to it) can relieve a lot of stress, especially by taking turns so that each can do their job without getting in the others way or while watching kiddos.
    Also, no matter how organized you are packing up and trying to get out the door can be stressful (or maybe this is just stressful for us, but I'm guessing not.)  Try to focus on just getting done what needs done and getting in the car.  Once you're in the car, let it go.  Stress can make us all irritable at times but there's no need to let it carry on into the weekend.  As soon as you're in the car, preferably before you pull out look over a list to make sure you have all the essentials (Seth and I do this from a mental list but having one written up ahead of time is a good idea.)  Whatever else you have have forgotten try to pick up at a store on the way out, or do without.  Or if someone is joining you later you can check to see if they can bring your forgotten items.  Remember that things are just things and often not as important as we think.  Blaming someone for forgetting them never bring about anything positive.   Enjoy your travels and one another and if you have any great tips I would love to hear them.  We are constantly evaluating what worked and what didn't work great, what we needed/used and what just took up room. This keeps our trips getting better and easier as we go.