Camping in a Forest by the Sea

Summer is all too short in Canada, and most Canadians try to make the most of it. This past weekend, we, along with our three children and their children packed up tents (one tent trailer), coolers filled with delicious food, folding chairs, and all the paraphernalia that goes along with camping and drove out to French Beach Provincial Campground, about an hour away. 

The eleven of us (8 adults and 3 children) had two sites and we set up our homes away from home, in the forest, before trekking down to the beach. The waves break upon the shore in constant rhythm, rushing forward to tumble stones upon the sand before falling back to build again. Mesmerizing. 

I snapped mostly beach treasures, with a few forest finds from our hike through trails overgrown with salal trails where it seems few others ventured.

We walked or sat on the beach, with piles of smooth stones that begged to be held and caressed, or built up into stone towers. A few made their way into pockets and carried home where they will be tossed into a pretty dish as a memento of a lovely time together. 

The beach is endlessly entertaining for the children. They climbed huge, uprooted logs that had been weathered by the sea before being tossed up onto shore. They imagined shelters, ships, and animals. 

It was much cooler there than in town and we could have done with a few more jackets. Fortunately, we all had enough blankets and bedding so we were warm at night. There were no mosquitoes or bugs to bother us, either. 

We spent two nights camping and enjoyed lots of laughter, good food, and some serious chats together. 

One very unexpected thing happened - I woke up very early on Saturday morning in agony. I'm fairly stoic, but this pain on my right side and back was worse than anything I can remember. After walking around the campsite for about 45 minutes (sitting or lying down was impossible), I finally woke Tim and asked him to drive me to the hospital, an hour away. It was a dreadful drive. Fortunately, the emergency department wasn't busy and I had a CT scan almost immediately - a kidney stone. It passed about 3 hours after the pain began, and I felt absolutely fine, so we went back to the campsite. 

Interestingly, the physician who attended me said that there were 3 other women in the ER at the same time, all of us with kidney stones on the right side. Weird! Have you ever had a kidney stone? 

Last night Tim and I went down to the beach to watch the sun set. Such loveliness. 

We came back into town around noon. The temperature difference is remarkable and a cool shower and loose clothing were most welcome. 

Do you like camping? What was your last camping trip like? 

Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Maggie of Normandy Life. 

Camping in the Rain

How many of you grew up going on camping trips for vacations? I did. Tim and I still enjoy camping and like to plan a yearly camping trip with our children. This past weekend we packed up tents, air mattresses, coolers, chairs, Coleman stoves and more. Much more. French Beach, a provincial park about 80 minutes from home, was our destination. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and we dodged drizzle and showers most of the weekend. I love sleeping snuggled into my bed while rain drips on the tent roof. Such a cozy sound.    

How to entertain a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old? They didn't seem to mind the rain at all. One mother sent the girls on a little scavenger hunt, asking them to find forest treasures, one at a time: a pinecone, a dry leaf, some moss. All the treasures were placed into empty egg cartons.

And when all else fails a little theatre was set up. The Little Misses had matching camp chairs, one red, one green, each printed with crabs and fishes, and purchased without consulting each other.
 

There was plenty of poking the fire, drinking hot chocolate, and rigging up tarps. Snacks and the sharing of meal preparation. Cuddling Mister F. A respite from everyday life. No technology. One morning I awoke early and walked the length of the beach, accompanied only by crows. Mist rose from the waves.

Home again, now, to a hot shower and piles of laundry. It's good to get away and it's good to return home.

Linking to Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary of the Little Red House.  

The Last Bit of Vacation

We returned from our trip to Alberta Wednesday evening. Thursday I did laundry and tended to the urgent in the garden. Friday we packed up and went camping with Little Miss A and her parents. Two nights in a forest campground just steps from the beach. 

The rest of the family came out on Saturday for the day. One of them brought a most welcome accessory. On Friday night our air mattress leaked. Tim pumped it up before we went to bed and it slowly, slowly leaked air until it was almost flat by 1 AM, at which time the sweet man pumped it up again, with a foot pump. In the dark. In the cold. I just lay there feeling the mattress inflate. Our Saturday night sleep was much improved by the mattress borrowed from Little Miss S's parents. 

Our camping set up is simple. A tent, an air mattress (with sheets and blankets, not sleeping bags, which I detest.) A campfire to sit around and use to heat water and cook bannock on a stick and smores. A camp stove for pancakes and bacon. 

We don't do much on our camping trips. Books are packed and hardly read. We saunter to the beach and stroll along the sand, looking at the scenery. We talk. Or not.

 We take turns supervising and amusing Little Miss A. I forgot what camping with a toddler is like. No toys needed. There is the forest for playing "me hide, Nana hide - Boo," the sand for "dig, dig," a playground with a slide, logs on the beach to pretend walking on a balance beam, and rocks to place in holes in the driftwood scattered along the shore. I thought she was adorable in this hat - reminds me of Paddington Bear. 

For a weekend of doing very little, we came home tired. But tired in a good way - the tired that come from being in the outdoors, from relaxing and laughing. Today, it's back to normal. Tim's gone to work, I'm tidying up the house, hoping to get to the garden. Plans for fall have made their way into my mind - scrubbing cupboard doors, painting projects, garden clean up. 

I'm not quite ready to let go of summer, are you?

Linking late to Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary at the Little Red House.