The First Excursion

This last weekend, Baby Dinosaur and I, along with an actual Baby Dinosaur (stuffed animal ;p) packed our bags and headed out to Walnut Point State Park. It was only a 45 minute drive directly south-east, and just when it seemed like it may just be a bunch of corn fields dubbed Walnut Point, some closely packed trees revealed themselves on the horizon along with a sign in huge white letters that declared we had arrived.

We had planned the actual locale in the UGL a few days prior to the trip, and luckily google maps gave every single detail like 'turn right after 222 feet, turn left after 135 feet, careen at a 63 degree angle for exactly four seconds' so we managed. A good deal of time was also spent at Panera going over a grocery list and a packing list, as well as the highly coveted 'Eric's Fire-Side Notes,' a detailed account with diagrams and all on how to build and manage a fire.

After driving around for a short while, scouting out the various campsites, we decided we were probably the only campers there, parked, and began investigating some Class C campsites on foot. The sky was slowly approaching sunset and our breath became gradually clearer in front of our faces as time progressed. We chose campsite #7, the furthest campsite from the parking lot, which had a dock just over the downward sloping bank at its rear. Unfortunately the lake was frozen over, but it still made for a purty view.

After hauling a trunk full of firewood (thanks GP!) and all of our equipment to the site, we set up the tent, and then admired our surroundings. It wasn't wilderness by any means, but the calls of different birds could be heard resounding across the meandering lake, and the honks of coupled geese echoed through the unbudded trees. It was fantastic to be away from the noise and electric fodder of city living.

We set out to make a fire, and by the time darkness had blanketed us, the flames were roaring with excitement. We had some hot dogs (Claire prefers her wieners charred!), a bottle of wine (supposed to be pomegranate but I am a blind person), and some laughter, along with a few s'mores! mmmmdelimmmciommmmusmmm After gazing and wondering at the stars' gorgeous glow, it was time for sleep.

It was pretty damn cold throughout the night, but certainly bearable. We arose just after sunrise, and got a fire going immediately! As the sun rose it brought with it perfectly clear blue skies and increasing warmth. The daytime was perfect! Much obliged Sr. Sun! Most of the day was spent eating fruit, pine nut hummus (AMAZING!) and more and more s'mores! We exlpored our surroundings for a while, walking around the lake. I very much wanted to test the strength of the ice with my body, especially after seeing some crafty geese and ice fishers on it, but decided against it as we had heard an animal fall through the night before. (likely a cougar or some type of ferocious man eating lion!!!!!!)

We returned to camp and while I chopped up vegetable and hot dogs for dinner, Claire practiced her fire making skills, using only flint and steal to light it. She had some trouble initially, but after a few attempts, she was a fire making machine! This girl readily translates a bit of lint and tiny twigs into lapping flames now with just a couple flicks from her antler handled flint and steel! Though she wasn't able to give birth to a roaring campfire through this method, neither was I! (I cheated and used a sheet of paper :p) It's likely the wood was a bit too damp, or maybe some other overlooked variable. Who gives a flying squirrel though! This Baby Dinosaur tamed flames!

For dinner, we wrapped up some chopped onion, zucchini, carrot, wiener, tomato, sweet potato (and possibly something else?) in tinfoil and let it cook over some low flames and hearty embers. It was superb! We even had desert, compliments to Claire! She stuffed chocolate chips and mallows inside of bananas and cooked them over the fire wrapped in tinfoil. Drooltastic...

Overall, the trip was wonderful and smile-worthy. More adventures await Baby Dinosaur and Dragon; more stars to sleep under, more fires to foster, more woods to wonder inside of! You should come along!

;)