Earlier this spring I created "Summer Bucket List." Since yesterday marked the first official day of Summer I thought I better get going on posting a couple things we have checked off already. First written on the list, "Camping on the sandbar." I hand't found out until Doug and I were sitting around the campfire after the kids fallen asleep that he had never camped on a sandbar before. (See? Even after 14 years we have been together I am still learning new things about this guy). I know my own family camped on the sandbar several times when I was a child, but I was young and I can only remember one time. It was when I was between the ages of 4 and 6. And the funny thing I remember the most about it, is that my oldest brother maybe 14/15 at the time forgot to put sugar in the kool-aid and we had drink colored water. Apparently it was detrimental enough to be one of the only camping memories I had from the trip. I do also remember we had bacon and eggs in the morning too, but who can really forget bacon? Mom for the win on that one.
We wake up a few hours later to a tap, tap of sprinkles falling on us. Doug climbed out and put the rain proof cover on. I commented something like, "it must have been a pop up cloud because I can still see the stars." Following began the largest thunder and lightening show that I have ever seen. Soon after it was raining, a lot. Next thing I knew Miles tapped me and said, "my blanket is wet." Crap, that is one of the worst things you want to hear while camp tenting with a 3 year old. When we determined the source wasn't pee, we realized we had a much bigger problem. The water pooled on all sides of the tent was was coming in at every direction. All 6 beach towels were rolled up and shoved against the sides as barriers. Miles pillow was used at the front of the tent to keep the water from pooling there and holding up Violet's tent kennel (yes she has her own tent). Next we rolled up Miles beloved Buzz Light Year sleeping bag against the back wall. I sightly woke up Harrison to move him to create a dam on his side. Don't worry, he fell right back to sleep :). Next Miles climbed in my sleeping bag and tried to sleep through the rumbles of thunder and the jolts of lightening. At about 3:30 am or so we decided to fire up our phones again to check the weather. The radar the was most ridiculous shades of orange and red mixed with green that I have ever seen. So we all moved a little closer the the middle of the tent and managed to fall back asleep. At 6 am on the dot Doug wakes me up and says, "there is a break in the storm about 8 am, lets get ready to go." He left to go put the boat cover on in our water filled boat. Upon his return the weather already changed and showed a better clearing around 9:30 am. We climbed back into our soaked sleeping bags and waited and waited for the rain to stop. Finally the storm let up just in time for the wind to to pick up... It was cold. Really cold. Going from mid 90s to low 50s was shock to the system. Thankfully the kids and Doug's sweatshirts were a few of the items that stayed dry. I brought two sweatshirts and both of mine warranted wringing out.
Ok, back to our first ever family camping trip... The day was hot, really hot, middle 90s at least. I know we debated before we left if we should do the trip as we know in hot and humid Minnesota it almost always rains when we reach the 90s. However, nothing in the forecast, not even a drop, so we decided to continue to go with the plan, plus that was my birthday wish. I mean you only turn 29 so many times.
It turned out that we ended up finding the perfect sandbar. It huge (one of the largest sandbar I'd ever been to, had a nicely constructed fire pit with extra wood and not to deep swimming water. We set up camp and spent a few hours just splashing in the water. We grilled some hot dogs, marshmallows and the boys spent probably an hour straight lighting twigs on fire and blowing them out. Soon after that was followed by sunset swimming. After dark it was more marshmallows followed by some more marshmallows and then bed for the kids. We ended up going to bed not long after this too, we were EXHAUSTED too. Prior to going to bed... I did ask Doug to fire up his phone and check the weather "just in case." Nothing in the forecast, nothing on the radar, so we decided not to put the rain cover on the tent and to climb into our sleeping bags and watch the stars as we drift off to sleep.
We wake up a few hours later to a tap, tap of sprinkles falling on us. Doug climbed out and put the rain proof cover on. I commented something like, "it must have been a pop up cloud because I can still see the stars." Following began the largest thunder and lightening show that I have ever seen. Soon after it was raining, a lot. Next thing I knew Miles tapped me and said, "my blanket is wet." Crap, that is one of the worst things you want to hear while camp tenting with a 3 year old. When we determined the source wasn't pee, we realized we had a much bigger problem. The water pooled on all sides of the tent was was coming in at every direction. All 6 beach towels were rolled up and shoved against the sides as barriers. Miles pillow was used at the front of the tent to keep the water from pooling there and holding up Violet's tent kennel (yes she has her own tent). Next we rolled up Miles beloved Buzz Light Year sleeping bag against the back wall. I sightly woke up Harrison to move him to create a dam on his side. Don't worry, he fell right back to sleep :). Next Miles climbed in my sleeping bag and tried to sleep through the rumbles of thunder and the jolts of lightening. At about 3:30 am or so we decided to fire up our phones again to check the weather. The radar the was most ridiculous shades of orange and red mixed with green that I have ever seen. So we all moved a little closer the the middle of the tent and managed to fall back asleep. At 6 am on the dot Doug wakes me up and says, "there is a break in the storm about 8 am, lets get ready to go." He left to go put the boat cover on in our water filled boat. Upon his return the weather already changed and showed a better clearing around 9:30 am. We climbed back into our soaked sleeping bags and waited and waited for the rain to stop. Finally the storm let up just in time for the wind to to pick up... It was cold. Really cold. Going from mid 90s to low 50s was shock to the system. Thankfully the kids and Doug's sweatshirts were a few of the items that stayed dry. I brought two sweatshirts and both of mine warranted wringing out.
Somehow in the midst of me hanging up towels and sleeping gear on every tree branch Doug was able to get the fire going again, despite the wood being water logged. This helped immensely as I shivered by the fire in my two water logged sweatshirts. We cooked some left over hot dogs and snacked on some powered sugar donuts and pop tarts for breakfast. Next we spent an hour debating if the weather would clear enough for us to enjoy the day or if we should pack up and head home. During this time a barge rolled by so, we knew it would be at least 1-2 hours until we could head out and make it through the lock and dam. We decided to take our time to pack up and though it only nearing 55 degrees the boys begged to go swimming. I guess go... right? You only live once? So they went, for about a whole 2 minutes. Finally we packed up the rest of our stuff up and headed home. Well...we tried. We did make it to the lock and dam to find out another barge was going through. We had no other choice but to wait out the hour and half on nearby sandbar. By this time we were exhausted and even colder. Finally our turn (and about 20 other boats) to go through the gates.
Just as we finally think we are on our home stretch past the lock and damn and I am drifting to sleep up front Doug hits part of rocky wing dam in an area we aren't familiar with. It was scary, the kids remained usually calm (they can't get that from me) as I was freaking out inside and doing we best to keep it together on the outside. Between Doug and I both jumping out of the boat we were able to push the boat off the rocks and let the current take us down stream again. Doug had jumped bare foot into rocks and ended up getting some scraps and piece of metal sliver to his heal and I ended up with some bumps and bruises on my legs. The kids were mostly entertained by this all. As much as I wanted to be a wanted to be angry following this incident I came quickly realize I wasn't angry at all, I was thankful. Accidents happen and there is no way that a parent can ever fully prevent their child from ever getting hurt, but something we did as team, as parents is respond appropriately to what was very scary situation.
And one more thing... We learned something important... We need longer tent stakes for sand. :) I'll make sure I have that written next it on next summer's bucket list.
Onward with the camera roll...
