I thought about what we bring and don’t really know how to cut it down.
Tent
Sleeping bags
Cots
Pillows
Clothes
Stove
Coolers
Pot/Pans Box
Plates, etc.
Weiner Sticks
Ax
And so on and so on…
Not to mention the challenge of keeping all of that shtuff organized! Sigh. It seems to be getting harder and harder to go camping.
And it’s hard finding a decent place to go, too. We don’t like going to crowded camp grounds. When we do we have more neighbours there then we have in our back yard! In the pre-children days we used to just drive until we found a nice spot by a creek and set up there. I feel uneasy now about driving around aimlessly without a specific destination in mind.
What has having kids done to me?! Taken my sense of adventure? Also, I didn’t used to be so obsessed with bringing all the right stuff. It must come from packing those darn diaper bags. When you’re in a mile long line up in Superstore with a screaming kid just one time you’re not likely to forget the animal crackers or sippy cup twice. I find it difficult to relax and just go with the flow like I was capable of doing before kids came into the picture. Now, I need a plan! And lists. Not one list – many lists. Must-not-forget-the-sand toys!! What will we do if we’re on a beach and my kids don’t have a shovel and pail??? I don’t want to be that mom that has to borrow from the other moms! Eeek. Tragedy! Sigh. I just thought of something else to put on a list. Learn-to-relax….yeah like that’s gonna happen. ;)
7 comments:
So luv your humour throughout your wonderful post. I even started to tick off the list myself too.
I cannot recall how long it is since I have heard someone say the word "pail" - does bring back memories!!
Back pack camping I have done with mainly Jeremy and he's just starting to do it with the boys...But for our float trips we can bring a ton if we wanted...I just learned to keep it simple and we pack most of our stuff in packs that go in waterproof bags and rubbermaids...
I just found small camping pillows but before we would use our sleeping bag sacks and stuff with our polar fleeces and soft clothes. We make our own roasting sticks and don't bring them. The boys love using their pocket knives to sharpen sticks for us...it is one less thing to bring and one more thing for the kids to do...
Keeping it simple is just my mantra...We use big rubbermaids on float trips/car camping. One has our cooking stuff, utensils. One has our dry food. Each kid has his own pack/clothes. we do have a lot of chaos with extra stuff like waders, boots, rain gear that I haven't figured out to simplify...but the trick is just going on the adventures, over and over and you will get a system down.
Food...you can cut up and chop stuff ahead of time before you go and put in ziplocs...also precook a few things makes it easier...use tin foil to cook with or freezer bags for less clean up...Dutch Oven cooking is pretty fun to do...
Man I am rambling...Your post had me cracking up though...on our first few trips Jeremy couldn't believe all the stuff I brought with the kids. I couldn't find any of it half of the time...Now that I finally figured out a few things my kids are getting big enough they can pack their own stuff and fend for themselves...not fair. But it is SO nice!!!!!
Your tent looks awesome! I hope you get out on more adventures this summer!!
Heather - I'm having a hard time picturing rubbermaid containers on a float trip. So, it's not a raft thing? I need a picture I think!
I have learned over the years to pre-cut everything. Veggies, cheese, sausage, etc. This time I made some chili at home and heated it up on the stove. That was nice to not have to make a meal one night. I really despise doing dishes while we're out there.
And your comment reminded me of clothes to fit different weather conditions. I don't what it's like in Alaska, but we have a joke here about the weather: Blink and it changes. So when we go, I bring lots of clothes. Shorts and bathing suits for the day, sweaters and sweat pants for night, raincoats, sun hats, warm hats, lots of socks. And then there are the shoes! Rubber boots, runners, and sandles! For four people that's a heck of a lot!
Sheesh. I'm exhausted just writing it all out! :)
Deb...I'll see if I can find a picture of our Kataraft and post it for you...We use these Action Packers they are by Rubber Maid...Black with a gray lid I think. They clamp down tight. So far we only have 3 or 4 but they work great. For car camping just stick them in the trunk or back of a truck and way easy.
For clothing...same way...although I usually forgo swim suits just because on our trips it rarely ever has been swim weather and if it is the kids can get shorts wet I figure. I bring rain gear, some winter gear depending on the year, cool stuff, warm stuff...and we have 5 of us so I KNOW what you are saying it does add up...I'm exhausted too...That's why I Really want a camper!!! :)
We used to do a lot more camping but the campgrounds we were going to started to be places for kids to party. Now don't get me wrong...I was a teenager too once. But it was hard to have a good time relaxing with friends. So we started going to our friends place at Alberta Beach. We set up the tent and camp there. We might do a bit more camping this year now that we bought a new tent last year. We have that Geology Camp at Frank Slide this summer. But, I would still like to go to Jasper a couple of times.
I was just listening to 630 CHED this morning about the destruction of crown land by partying "kids". They destroy the land with quads and dirt bikes, and leave their trash behind. Not just a few beer cans either. Wading pools! They bring them and then just leave there! What pigs! It's so angering that people can be so disrepectful and they put in down to people just having fun. Yes we were all teenagers once, and maybe someone will say I'm being prudish or boring, but I don't think that behaviour is exceptable!! Why do we think that the only way to cut loose as a teenager is to go and get drunk and vandalize things?! And by the way. I was not innocent as a teenager (I was't a total moron either), but I'm also not saying that I should've gotten away with it.
Whew! Eh hem. Got a little carried away there!
Ummm. There ARE some really nice secluded spots about a half hour past Jasper, Sirdar. :)
Yes,everybody need always a big back pack when you go camping!But it´s a beautiful time together!
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