Camping Adventures with Jeff & Jericho!
My son has decided he wants to go on a father & son camping trip. Who am I to say no. My youngest son wants to spend time with me ;)
However, the thought of sleeping inside a thin nylon tent on the cold ground with mosquitoes performing Kamakazi runs on my head while listening to the midnight ramblings of nearby drunken campers carrying on into the wee hours of the morning holds no great appeal to me. Being stripped of my creature comforts down to the barest of camping essentials makes me question my sanity. My idea of camping is a 5th wheel camper with satellite TV/DVD & video games, air conditioning & furnace a built-in shower, bathroom, kitchen, slide-out living room, surround sound stereo, and a comfortable plush bed, and WiFi. Yea, right!
It's been many moons since my family and I have slept under a canopy of stars. Years ago we owned a new Jayco PopUp Camper that we towed with my old '91 Ranger. It was good camper with electric and water hookups, air conditioning, a stove, a queen sized bed, a twin sized bed, TV, and a pullout awning. We used it every opportunity we could until our family began to grow, we bought our first home and all the other obligations that came along that took priority over recreational family time. Camping with toddlers too wasn't exactly an ideal scenario for recreational fun. Eventually time & wear took it's toll on the camper and we sold it.
Now years later, my family is of the age where spending time together is even more important as my children are growing into young adults with lives of their own. Summer has arrived and my son Jericho inquired recently if he & I could go camping. Of course what father could deprive his son of this great American past time, so I said "Sure!"
Geesh! I'd forgotten how much preparation it takes to go camping. Compiling a checklist of gear to purchase & what to pack or take. What or where do we eat? Local activities? Which park to camp at? Reservations? Camp site locations? Timing the trip to the weather conditions (avoid rainy days at all costs. Makes for a miserable experience, especially in a tent). Firewood?
It's now Sunday evening and I believe ready to go. I've picked River Run Campground near Mohican State Park in Loudonville, Ohio. If the weather holds out, we'll leave Monday afternoon. Should be fun. I've picked up the tent & tarp, bought new sleeping bags, and gathered most of the gear we'll need to enjoy ourselves comfortably. Fortunately the campground (which is along a river) has its' own canoe livery so we'll be doing some kayaking & fishing. They also have a game room and swimming pool. Nearby is a go-cart track, putt-putt golf, and several good restaurants that should satisfy my son's voracious appetite. There's also the Mohican State Park where we can go hiking and explore. Lastly, it's all within 1 hours drive of home.
Sound like fun? We'll see. Check back for pics and more.
Our camping trip went without a hitch. It was sunny & warm with no rain. We setup camp on a site located riverside where the Clearfork & Blackfork rivers converge to form the Mohican River about 2 miles south of Loudonville, Ohio at River Run Family Campground. The site had electric which allowed for additional creature comforts such as DVD videos & video games (late night). What was even better was how my son helped me in setting up the tent, filling the air mattress & setting out the sleeping bags. In 30 minutes, we had the makings of a camp set up.
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