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One of the definite highs of my summer was getting to go camping. I hadn't been in like nine years, and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I was in the mountains, feeling that surrounded by Mother Goddess feeling, smelling the oh-so-sweet air and oohing and aahing over plants I recognized from my herbal guides. And, I must not forget the joy I felt in hearing the raptured cries of my city-bred children as they discovered both the mundane (high mountain roads are both scary and fun) and the magical (moss surely must serve as faery carpet for the fey). I digress; as usual when I'm wound up about something I start in the middle of the story and have to rein myself in to return to the start.
At the end of July, after much anticipation and, honestly, not too much planning (I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants girl), we embarked on a weekend camping trip. Our group consisted of my entire family (meaning, yes, Lenny actually was able to join in on a family event) and our good friends, Kristy, Jeramiah, Sarah and Em. We headed a couple of hours west and climbed several thousand feet in elevation as we drove. Our destination was a campground that our friends knew about which featured all the perks I love -- a deep canyon, running water, lots of new and wonderful vegatation, and rustic yet clean nearby bathrooms...
I would like to say we spent a fabulous two and half days there as planned but Mother Nature interceded in a big way. Lovely Hurricane Dolly made sure we felt her power, even way out here. A deluge of rain began, just shortly after we'd set up camp. In rapid succession, we discovered that our tent leaked, that we lacked tarps, and that five kids and four adults in one big and yet leaky tent isn't necessarily a barrel of fun. We persevered, despite our air mattresses going mercilessly flat during the night (picture, instant sharp rocks in the back AND sudden immersion in cold rain water that's accummulated in leaky tent).
However, despite ALL of this, we were for the most part chipper, light-hearted and just thrilled to be there the next morning, even with a grey dawn and continuing rain. Our campfire popped and spit merrily in the rain, sheltered somewhat beneath one of the tables we'd brought. We ate our breakfast and went adventuring. A night full of rain didn't deter the kids (and me) from venturing quickly in the creek and climbing here, there and everywhere.
We did break camp later that morning, knowing there was much more rain in our future AND that we had absolutely no dry bedding or clothing. We visited with some friends and family (Kristy's, not mine ;) ), and then headed for home late that afternoon. While a shorter trip than we'd imagined, it was definitely fun. And confirmed for me, that I need to get back to nature more often.
I don't know what it is, the quiet, the expanses of trees and land and space, the variety and wealth of plants and nature, the ancient quality I always appreciate when amidst trees, maybe all of these things but I always feel so alive and vital when I'm in the mountains. It's something I want to do more for myself, and definitely an experience to give to my children.
