camping
June 9th, 2008
We had a wonderful weekend in Santa Cruz at New Brighton State Beach with Syvie’s buddies, Stella and Theo. We drove down Friday afternoon at nap time, arriving in time to set up camp before dinner.
The camp is in the woods on a bluff overlooking Monterrey Bay. The camp sites are large, but most are not very private. Ours was large enough that the kids had plenty of ground to cover before they ended up in the street or in another campsite (and we had enough warning!). The downside was the unobstructed view of our middle-aged neighbor sunbathing in his speedo.
This was true urban camping with Friday night dinner catered by a local pizzeria and our fires stoked by duraflame. Despite the requisite S’mores, everyone was in bed by 8:30.
Saturday was a beach day. After a more legitimate camp breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and veggie sausage, we headed down to the beach. The dads dug sand structures that the kids quickly destroyed. There were a few crab sightings. (non human kind) And we buried 3 of the 4 kids alive. One of them over and over and over.
The highlight was glo-sticks. No fights over color. The low point was the water balloons that the kids loved, but quickly became controversial.
We packed up Sunday and then headed home after a sentimental drive past dad’s college (for Will) and lattes and steamers at Coffeetopia.
The bummer about camping is all the work that goes into packing and unpacking. Thankfully we had a great day, Sunday, and the kids were occupied lounging about the kiddie pool eating popsicles and drinking homemade lemonade long enough for us to wash 5 loads of laundry and all the camp dishes.
On the sewing front, I knit a sweater for Sylvie and finished half of the nap room curtains for KNS. The waxed paper pattern is working out well.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Speaking of camping near (on) a beach and crabs, when you were a little kid your mom and dad took us camping at Galveston. I don’t recall any John or Kelly but it’s possible at least one might have been there, too. But I don’t think so. We had hamburgers and hit the sleeping bags. Early in the morning I felt something crawling on my foot, which along with its companion was sticking out of our tent, and nearly tore the tent down trying to get away from whatever it was. It was a crab. I haven’t camped on a beach since. But the burgers were good.