Happy Campers for a Year

This blog post has nothing to do with our Airstream and everything to do with camping. Last summer we did quite a bit of camping. In November we realized that we had been camping every month since May 2009. We thought "Hey! Why not go a whole year of camping at least once a month?" Our camping trip this weekend completed our "Every month for a year" goal. We did it! Here's a few pictures from our adventures:

May 2009 at Red Top Mountain State Park, GA (Memorial Day Weekend):

 

Memorial Day camping with friends... it rained a little but it didn't spoil any of the fun.  The 4 smallest kids in our group had a blast playing in the mud.

June 2009 Sweetwater Creek Campground, GA (Army Corps of Engineer):

This was our first time camping in our new "mammoth tent."  Our Greatland tent did a good job for 8 years but we were starting to feel a little cramped for space.  Not sure if camping in June in Georgia is such a good idea.  It was unbelievably hot and we didn't have a single tree on our campsite.  We went for a car ride in town where the bank clock said the temperature was 103 degrees!  Wow.  Thankfully, it was nice and cool at the movie theater.  We went to see "Up!"

July 2009 Cloudland Canyon State Park, GA:

There are two campgrounds at Cloudland Canyon State Park.  We stayed at the West Rim campground.  The park was beautiful, we really enjoyed hiking in the canyon with our friends.  We were serenaded by very loud bugs at night.  (Cicadas?)  We had to talk loud to hear each other over the bugs.

jump start... with smoke?  Humm...

August 2009 Plum Nelly Campground Ellijay, GA:

We didn't camp here.  We were driving through Ellijay, GA and decided to check out this campground.   We got stuck in the mud.  Really stuck.  A guy named "Bulldog" had to put a chain around our van and pull us out with this truck.  Hahah.  Does it get any better than that?

August 2009 Desoto State Park, AL (primitive camping):

Desoto State Park had great rocks and  hiking.  We also enjoyed seeing the results of the CCC efforts (Thanks, FDR!)  The park is supposed to have some good waterfalls but they were all dry when we were there.  We'll have to go back some time when there's water.

September 2009 at Red Top Mountain State Park, GA (Labor Day Weekend):

This is the embarrassment we pay for the must-get-it-all-in-one-car syndrome! Wow!  What a jalopy!  (As if driving a white mini-van wasn't bad enough.)

...but it's worth it to see the kids and all their friends ride their bikes together.  Fun times!!!

September 2009 at Shady Grove Campground, GA (Forsyth County Campground):

It rained....and rained...and rained...

We still managed to have a great time in tent city with our friends...the guys kept a fire going right at the edge of our dining tents so we managed to stay toasty and dry.

October 2009 at Grayton Beach State Park, Florida:

Four days of camping at the beach...and three days of rain.  We survived by hitting the Toy Story double feature in 3-D and the always spectacular National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, FL.  Our tent, however, did not survive.  It did a terrible job of keeping us (and our stuff) dry.  Cupcakes from "Queen Bee" in Seaside, Fl helped keep the whole trip in perspective.  Cupcakes can fix anything...especially if the cupcakes are from a vintage Airstream.

November 2009 at Florence Marina State Park, GA (hiking at Providence Canyon):

We bought our "mammoth tent" in June.  In October, we took it back to the retailer because it had a "10 year warranty."  This was our first time camping in our new North Face tent.

December 2009 at Vogel State Park, GA:

Coldest camping so far....mid twenties.  We celebrated by eating a pint of ice cream in our tent.  (By the light of our Mr. Heater.)

We got a light dusting of snow overnight.  We had hoped for more snow but we'll take what we can get.  We decorated a small holly with colored lights for a Christmas tree.  

January 2010 in the Sanders's Backyard, GA:

It rained.  We watched a movie on the laptop.  (This is REALLY roughing it!)  The next day we drove to Jefferson, GA and bought our Airstream.

February 2010 at Red Top Mountain State Park, GA:

We pitched tent by headlights (of our new tow vehicle)... until we ran the battery down.  Whoops.  Thankfully the campground host was willing to give us a jump at 8:00 pm so we could put the windows up on our truck.

Everyone's favorite breakfast... warm banana bread.

March 2010 at Red Top Mountain State Park, GA:

Two "firsts" at Red Top Mountain.  Sabrina and Annabelle's first time fishing ... and our first time to camp at a primitive site (no water/no electric) at Red Top.

We were glad it was warm enough to leave the heavy coats at home and break out the hoodies.  Annabelle's a happy camper.

April 2010 at High Falls State Park, GA (Easter Weekend):

Three screen tents put together for a giant dining area... 

the eggs Annabelle colored

Duct tape to hang our classy signs... camping with silly friends is so fun!  We also enjoyed getting to meet and talk shop with some other Airstream people.  (See the 1968 Airstream Sovereign in the background?)

Camping every month for a year (in a tent....or rather, three tents) was an adventure, indeed!