Camping

Well, we took Junior on his first ever camping trip. We left Friday night for a little campground just outside of Red Wing. It was a nice hour and a half drive from home. Allison and I usually camp with friends in Lake City every year so we're quite familiar with the drive. Here's a link you can paste in you browser if you're curious where these cities are.

Where we camped

The campground wasn't exactly what we're used to. When we first drove in it appeared to be an RV park and it looked like most people moved in there for the summer. One of the families there had four little lab puppies they were giving away -- I had to quickly escort Allison away from that campsite. It seemed like everyone had golf carts they used to cruise around the campsite. All in all everyone was nice and were there to have a good time.

There were only 4 spots for tents and the one we got was pretty cool. We were fairly secluded in a treed area right next to a little trout stream.


Before we left, Allison's co-workers had told her about a great bike trail nearby called Cannon Valley Trail that sounded like fun so we decided to bring our bikes. I, in all my infinite wisdom, didn't plan ahead on finding a bike rack for my Explorer until the Thursday before we left. The only one we could find required my vehicle to have a rectangular hitch -- which of course it doesn't have. After consulting Dad I decided to go to Home Depot and buy a hitch kit that I could install to the frame. Unfortunately Home Depot doesn't sell that particular item. I gave up on the project that night and we searched online and found a local store that sells racks that connect to the hatch. It worked just fine.

Boy, I bet you were waiting for some amusing end to the long paragraph about a bike rack. Sorry to disappoint you -- reading back over what I just wrote I'm not sure the whole point of why I thought it would be worth posting. Oh well, if I bored anyone you can leave a derogatory comment. There'll be a joke later to try and make up for it.


It turns out the trail was great. It was heavily treed and right next to a stream the whole way. Allison and I put in 20 miles round trip. Don't worry, it was spread over 3 hours and we took plenty of breaks and drank plenty of water throughout the trip. Allison and Junior didn't strain themselves at all. Here are the three of us on the trail.


Junior liked his first camping trip. We think he must think that the air mattress we slept on is a trampoline because on Saturday morning between 5 and 6 he was kicking like mad. It was the second time I've felt him kick -- he's getting stronger everyday.

Here's Allison and Junior at 21 weeks (just a little over half-way done!).

Here's a joke:

Two guys, Joe & Bill went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, they fell sound asleep.

Some hours later, Joe wakes his faithful friend and says, "Bill, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

Bill replies, "I see millions of stars."

"What does that tell you?" asked Joe.

Bill ponders for a minute, then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies, and potentially billions of planets.

Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the
morning.

Theologically, it's evident the
Lord is all-powerful and we are small, and insignificant.

Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

What does it tell you, Joe?"

Joe is silent for a moment, then says, "Bill, you stupid moron, someone has stolen our tent."

That's all for now.

Later.