Intro to Camping

Well this weekend was a success. We had about 40 people show up in all. Some of the people that always are there were not there this year. You miss it when they are not but life does go on.

The weather turned out great. Some sunshine, lots of clouds. Temperatures from the 50s to the low 70s. It misted a little bit on Sunday morning but other than that, no rain. The wind kicked up a little on Sunday too but nothing that caused problems.

I had to work on Friday and ended up not getting to the camp ground until about 6:00. I usually like to get there at 11:00 or so. I dumped off the firewood I managed to bring along and unpacked the stuff I just had to bring along. It was a light packing year and things still turned out well.



After eating a quick little meal it was time to go around the campfire. That is always the best part. Pretty much everyone sits around the campfire at least for a little while. Of course the kids split off and just have a ball walking about, playing in the trailers and probably getting into a little trouble that we will never know about. I am sure there are a few beers snuck here and there. For the most part however they are good kids.

There are always the hams. You know people that are usually the life of the party. They get in front of the group and just grab all the attention but you know what, it is fun having them around. Half the camp site was the "Lick" clan. They are always good for a laugh as there is bound to be someone that has had a beer or two or five to many plus they always have something fun to share. By the way, one thing that happens in the group is you pick up nick names. If you are lucky they don't stick. Well in the case of the "Lick" clan, that nick name has banded them for longer than I know them, probably over 20 years.



After many a person stayed up past 2:00 am we were a little slow starting the next day. Saturday is traditionally game day. There was balloon toss, we skipped the egg toss this year. We did a game I brought to the camp years ago that is meant to be a team building exercise. You pass a jelly bean between your spoon in you mouth to the persons spoon next to you. In order for that to happen you both have to work together. Once it make it around you pass two until you only have one person left. There was the marshmallow drive. You place a marshmallow on a make shift tee and see who can drive it the furthest. So I, as your roving reporter decided to go into the danger zone to get the action. I stood in front of the people driving the marshmallows and snapped pictures. For the most part all went well until someone drove a marshmallow whizzing past my ear. Still I managed not to get hit. I will make my way through the pictures and post a few tomorrow. We were suppose to have volleyball playoffs but ran out of time. There were also some games just for the kids but I missed that as I drove home to pick up the rest of the firewood I had to bring. Yea, I know have gotten rid of all that firewood. It was blocking my window and well it just needed to go. Oh, each step of the way there were prizes for the winners.



Saturday night was the dance which the teens attend and there was a euchre tournament. We played 8 hands with a partner and then moved on to the next game with a new partner. Because there was so many people we did not play with everyone. I could not stop getting 9s and 10s. One hand was three 9s, a 10 and probably a queen and I was 4 suited. I lost one game 8 to 2 and the I was very lucky to get the two. I did managed to have a lone hand and actually get 4 points but the other team answered that by a lone hand of their own. On our group of 24 people, one person had 46 points and won. I cam in with 35 points and thought I did OK considering. Besides, I play very conservative and always get my butt beat by someone that plays more risky.

This night was also hobo pie night. "Lick" was not there, just the rest of the clan and they did their best to get the hobo pie thing going but they really never did get it. It is not as easy as Lick makes it look. The other cookers has a problem with her arms and was not able to participate either.



Besides people we were also missing some things. There were NO jell-O shots in the camp. We went from having between 80 and 100 dozen (yes we are talking about well over 1000 jell-O shots) to nada, not one jell-O shot and that was without people talking about it. It just was not a priority this year. There also were no evil spirits where we place some ice, fruit and alcohol into a jug, wrap it in a towel tightly and pass it around to rock for a while before we partake in the evil spirits. Our typical resident pyros where missing. We still managed to go through a lot of wood but it just was not the same. By the way, the position of resident pyro is open if we have any takers. WMY comes to mind I believe. Well not her but the SO.



Sunday was dish to pass night and that went well. We had plenty to eat. I made 3 dozen corn and that went over well. There was main dishes, salads, deserts... basically we were all able to eat and not have to make anything other than that dish to pass. This is something that grew out of the milk can stew I used to make and the meat the Lick clan used to smoke and share. I like were it has headed.


We had a side event this year. One of the campers, who has always seemed fairly short by the way, said she was 5'6". Now I found that a little hard to believe but I let it go. But then it kept being brought up. Since no one was producing a tape measure I decided to go into town on Sunday and get a few supplies. I put together a make shift measure kind of like what you fill out as your kids grow inches every year. Well surprise, surprise she was indeed 5'6". She claims she is going to grow to be 6'2" or 3" but I don't think so. She is 22. I think she is done with growth spurts. It is funny, we have many others lining up and measuring themselfs. Maybe this needs to be turned into an event.



We had our drama as Mr Ranger was not happy with us on Saturday. We were to loud. What a shook. I think he was just a little more strict then usual as he was with the new owner of the camp ground. So we needed to be a little more in control than usual. Or at least try to be more in control. I pity the people that camp around us. The fun thing is the camp owner snuck up on us the last night by himself on a golf cart and said he really enjoyed having us there. That was nice and I here thought we were about to get in trouble again.

Here is a picture of Mr Ranger (Joe) from several years ago since I did not get any of him this year. Not that since that time he has a much nicer and quieter golf cart now but he still has that hat. It is his trademark.


Well I have made this post way to long. Just know that if you ever find yourself in Michigan over the Labor Day weekend you will always be welcome to come join us at Camp Walnut Hills in Durand Michigan. There will be a spot for you and I just know you will fit right in... well that is unless you expect to get some sleep.

Here is a picture of the gang. All but the day campers I believe.

I could not resist the following two for Crabby.

I will post some more pictures tomorrow morning or tonight on a seperate post. Don't look for me however. The only picture I am in is the top picture above.



When a black person has no electricity, no water, they call it the ghetto. When white people have no electricity and no water, they call it camping. --Mind of Mencia