Camping Adventures

So where did we plant ourselves for our first camping adventure?

 

The Ocean

 Specifically, Hunting Island.

 

And it was incredible! 

 

The big kids LOVED the water!

Peter declared that first day at the beach to be "the best day of my life!!!"

Matthew? Not so much.

He eyed the ocean with suspicion most of the time he was on the beach. He enjoyed his shovels and the sand, IF the water was a good long ways away. He literally cried in fear that the ocean was going to get him the night we went down to the beach at high-tide to see the full moon. However, ever since returning he's been asking when we can go back, so he obviously wasn't too traumatized. ;)

 

 

 

We enjoyed our picnic meals ... 

And we LOVED riding our bikes on the beach!!

 

The bike seat Matthew's in was a huge blessing! I stopped at a thrift store a few days before we left and "just happened" to spot this seat up on a corner shelf. With a coupon I had, it was only $10. We had planned to have Matthew use the seat attached to my bicycle, but he's pretty close to outgrowing it (and he's HEAVY!), so I decided to give this one a try. Well, my hubby had to do a bit of re-engineering, but he was able to make it work on a his bike, and I am so thankful! I wasn't looking for the seat, and didn't know we would need it, but the Lord did--Hunting Island + Matthew would have been a bit much for this biking Mommy. So thankful to see the Lord meet every need!

 

Ahhh! Matthew found his kind of place ... and old train car parked at the lighthouse. :)

The big kids and Daddy enjoyed climbing the lighthouse ... Matthew needs about two more inches. :) (Which of course means we'll have to go back sometime.) ;)

 

What a roller coaster this first biking expedition proved to be ... biking down the deserted beach with the wind at our backs was i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.e. However, we came very close to getting stuck on the beach at high-tide because we couldn't find the trail head for the trail we planned to use to get back to camp! As we turned around and biked against the stiff breeze, Mommy was praying hard! Praise the Lord, Daddy finally spotted the trail head amidst tangled undergrowth and fallen trees. We then followed a lovely, smooth ADA compliant trail to the lighthouse. A very nice ride.

 

However. The trail from the lighthouse back to the campground was definitely not ADA compliant. At. All.

 

Matthew didn't mind. He just kept studying the map to let Daddy know which way to go.

And Peter loved mountain biking.

 

Hannah? Not so much.
(And Mommy isn't real keen on it either, to be honest.)
But, we got back to camp with no major injuries or equipment failures, and more than a few lessons learned. :)

 

It was a very windy night. VERY windy. We ended up stringing up a couple tarps as a wind break.

 

I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise walk the second morning ... my crew was still sleeping when I left, and I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the solitude.

More biking on day #2 :)

 

Not sure why, but the northern beach had some rather quick-sandish sections ...

Peter thoroughly delighted in exploring it. :)

 

And the next day it was time to head home ... wind-blown, a touch sun-burnt, and loaded up with shells. :)

My big kids joined me for a sunrise walk that last morning ... and both walks were special. ♥

 

I captured one of my favorite pictures this morning though. ♥

One last photo-op by the Marsh ♥

 

And the hitch hiker we found when we got home ...

hopefully he's been able to acclimate to our creek ...

 

We're so thankful for the Lord's provision every step of the way ... from the camper to a portable fridge to Matthew's bike seat to safety on the beach and trails. We were also hugely blessed by friends who graciously shared their camping wisdom gleaned from MANY years of experience. As my hubby puts it, we've been bit by the camping bug and are looking forward to many future adventures ...

 

:)