Before Erin and I had children we camped. After children we didn't. Sure we tried, but the five year old refused to stay in her tent because of spiders and the two year old refused to stop crying until the sun came up. We put the camping gear away for another day. This sabbatical brought just such another day.
Due to obvious vocational barriers, Memorial Weekend outings have been untenable for the Sikes family. Every year our friends, the Doty's, load up their camper and head for the mountains. Each year they invite us. Each year we declined until this year. When we told them Erin, Janie and I couldn't join them until Saturday they offered to take the boys on Friday. We wanted to say yes, but memories of that last camping trip stung our frontal cortex. We expressed our doubts, but they assured us the boys would be fine. So, we let'em go and promised to join them on Saturday, hoping to the God above that all would be sane when we arrived.
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| I'm sure this is what the Beatles were going for in their Abbey Road cover art. |
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| "I hate white rabbits." |
On Saturday Erin, Jane and I rolled down 410 across White Pass. Man what a drive, just gorgeous. We arrived at camp and were relieved to discover all the children alive, alert and apparently well rested. They'd made it one night in the woods and seemed to be looking forward to more. Little doubt remains in my mind that their enthusiasm for more outdoors was due to Doty hospitality. Jeremy and Kodi know how to set up a camp for maximal enjoyment. To paraphrase Kodi "when we go camping we bring too much, eat too much, drink too much, stay up too late, sleep too late and have a great time."
On Sunday the kids discovered our plan to head home that night. We knew "Operation Camping 101" was a success when they proceeded to beg us for another shower free, toilet free and boundary free night in the woods. Somewhat off-offhandedly Jeremy said, "write a skit to convince us the reasons you should get to stay." We mostly forgot about this challenge when thirty minutes later the youth troop returned to invite us to the performance. You can view this soon to be Broadway musical below. I'm sure you'll agree with our decision to grant them a stay.
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| Some more S'more's |
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| Flannel Troop prepares to perform "One More Night in the Woods" |
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Who knew five kids and a dog could huff and puff and blow a 150 year old mining house down?
If you want to see their work, head to Copper City an abandoned mining village. |
Despite the collapsed mining house, the decision to remain another night was undoubtedly the right one. In fact, the kids seemed as if they could stay another week. On the way home we stopped for a view of Mt. Rainier's backside. As no children screamed of spiders or wet diapers we will chalk "Operation Camping 101" as a success. Things went so well, I decided to start working on "Operation Backpacking 101", stay tuned.
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| Mt. Rainier's backside and five content campers |
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| Jeremy's co-pilot fails at his job on the ride home |
I love this!! So glad you had a great time, camping with the Doty's is truly the best. Especially the "eat too much, drink too much, stay up too late, and sleep in too late" part! Chris and I can't wait to join you sometime.
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