Showing posts with label canoeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canoeing. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Things Happen For A Reason


What is the saying " There is a reason for everything" ?  As you all know we were actually pretty excited about this past weekends camping trip to the New River in North Carolina. The boys had never gone canoeing before and were "over the moon" about it.
We drove 500 miles, to get to the campground " New River Campground" to meet up with my Brother in Law and his Girlfriend Moo-Moo and kids.
Well, "No Pets over 15 #s" was posted...and as you can guess, people were there with dogs over that weight.
"No Alcohol" signs also posted...and as you can guess, yes there was indeed alcohol being consumed.
"No Firearms" Sign posted as well...  and as you can guess... 
Basically none of the policies were enforced.
I don't mind alcohol as long as you can drink responsibly and have respect for other campers around you.

We set up camp, the extended family came in later, we cooked out hamburgs, hung around a campfire, and had a couple of drinks ourselves.
Senior, the kids and I retired all around 11pm.  That is when the campers on the other side of us, began their party. Until 345am !  Senior got up and did ask them to keep it down, they didn't.
We only got about an hours worth of sleep.
 It was then we realized, as nice as the river is, and the mountains are, this campground is nothing more then a place for the locals to hangout and party. Saturday morning I complained to management and they refunded us one nights stay.
 Senior was upset and tired, all he wanted to do was to pack up and leave, not so much because of us, but for the safety of the disruptive campers, another sleepless night and no telling what Senior would do. He knew that being in a small mountain town , and campground that caters to the local- If there was an incident, it would not bode well for him being from out of state.

That also meant no canoe trip for the boys, they were heartbroken. But, it was the fact of the matter that we did not drive 500 miles to put up with a bunch of drunks.  Then, as we are heading down the mountain, the rain started. I looked at the radar on my phone...
Dark, Dark greens and yellow blobs were moving in to the mountains.
I told Senior, "you know things happen for a reason, No way did I want to be out on that river, in a canoe, in a monsoon, with two small children".  He shook his head, weary from lack of sleep and agreed.

It was not until Yesterday, that Seniors brother called to check on us, that he told us "Be glad you left, the rain was horrible and we were miserable the rest of the day, and for those campers, they went on the 10 mile canoe trip, and was double miserable, because they were in that mess longer"  Karma!

See, if it hadn't of been for  those obnoxious drunk people, playing poker and partying until 345am, we probably would have stayed, and got soaked. And our boys could have gotten colds from canoeing out in the rain-- or worse!
 Instead, we left Saturday morning ahead of the weather. Went back to the Estate in South Carolina, and spent the night  in a nice warm dry house, and yes got a good nights sleep.

So here are some pictures I snapped :



Brother in Laws and Moo-Moos Campsite
It started raining on Friday night, so they tried to erect a tarp for cover
That is all the kids they brought.
At least we were surrounded by the Beautiful Mountains
 
The New River

 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Wednesday.....

Guess what day it is?   lol   The boys absolutely love that commercial..  Ours started off rainy, now its windy. The weather is cooling down here/ It is a welcomed event.

We are in packing mode, this upcoming weekend is our  1 1/2 day camping trip with my Brother in Law and Moo-Moo, his daughter and two of her daughters, and a grand daughter--teenagers.  hmmmmm (sigh). I keep hoping for typhoid fever to strike or some sort of plague, but as of yet..no such luck. Senior and Moo-Moo were argue texting yesterday over meals and cooking. Senior suggested we just take our Mountain Houses, or some MREs and see what they do. HA!

 Really, I am actually anxious to go on this venture. We will be in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Virgina border, canoeing on a river and camping near its banks. All of Gods beauty will certainly give me a reason to smile.

Since I will be relaxing I am bringing along some reading material:


I have all three books, and have completed reading them. I love all three, but back for a second round of Book 3--it is the best!.
Has any one out there read these? If not then you should. But it is a trilogy, and you can't just jump in there..you got to start with Book 1.
 You know the Washington Navy Yard Shooter? Really kind of relates in Book 1.  If you read it then you know what I mean.

I am sure while sitting around the campsite with it open and my nose stuck in it, that I will get some questions..  Oh didn't I mention?-- My Brother in Law is a Liberal. I know he voted BO the first time, and I am pretty sure he went back for a second dose of the kool-aid. 

Well Senior just walked in the door, so I need to go and get back to packing.. 

-JUGM