Tony's Grove 2011

Over the years, camping has evolved into a very different sport for us. As newly weds we were able to quickly pack up a few things that we would need into my "Old Subie" and head out camping on a spur of the moment camping trip.

With Hannalee we soon found that quick spur of the moment camping trips don't always work out very well. (See Tony's Grove last year.) Camping with a child took more planning, more work, but it was still fun.

Now that we have baby and a very active 3 year old, camping needed to evolve into a planned multi-day event. Going on an single overnight trip was just too much work.

Since we found out that Tony's Grove was full last year, we decide to make reservations (clear back in January!). We logged on the morning that reserving campsites open. Even then we couldn't reserve two consecutive days on a weekend. They were already taken! We decided to book a Thursday night and try and get one of the walk-in sites for Friday night. We invited all of Bob's family, but due to lots of different circumstances only Bob's mom, Jim, and Ruth and Jeff were able to make it and only on Friday.

We were able to borrow our old landlords tent trailer again. We got it set up pretty quickly, then went for a short walk. We went back to camp to cook hot dogs and enjoy the fire. Tayo went to sleep easily in the trailer. Hannalee sat on Bob's lap enjoying the fire and fell asleep. It was so enjoyable just holding her that we stayed up till 11:00 just talking by the fire.

That night we were so grateful for the tent trailer. A storm rolled in and the lightening and thunder was so close I could her the electricity moving in the clouds above us. It also down poured huge drops of rain. We stayed nice and dry, but all the noise kept Hannalee up so she ended up sleeping with us. Tayo slept though it for the most part, just a few whimpers.

The next day we had to pack up camp and were fortunate enough to find a great walk-in site available a few camp sites over. We took our blow up kayak down to the lake and did a bit of floating and swimming. The water was surprisingly warm.

Bob's family showed up later that night. We again enjoyed a wonderful campfire. Hannalee fell asleep on my lap this time. My arms were so tired from holding her, but I didn't want to put her down. I has been a LONG time since I've really got to cuddle this little girl.

The next day we headed to the lake again. What a beautiful place this is.

We ended our trip with a nice hike around the lake.