Day 11.186: And then there were three

We left this young camper about to go for his waterfront orientation (or - as it is more commonly called - the swim test) at the beginning of his week at theater camp.

With Exile #3 back with her doggy friends, that leaves just three of us in the house. Very strange!

Day 10.224: Nova Scotia trip recap - day 2

Our first full day of our trip saw us make the drive into Nova Scotia and along the coast to our home-for-the-week Amherst Shore Provincial Park not far from the New Brunswick border on the Northumberland Strait which separates Prince Edward Island from the mainland. The journey was rather wet and when we arrived in the early afternoon there was no sign of a significant break in the rain any time soon, so we went ahead and put our tent up in the rain. One of the nice surprises of this trip was just how helpful the kids can be these days - so it went pretty well.

By the time we were done, it seemed too late to bother with lunch, so we went out for an early dinner instead. While we ate, the weather finally broke and when we got back to our campsite, we went to discover the trail to the beach where we marveled at the red sand and rocks, the many, many periwinkles and a pile of rocks with a dead crab (we added a second one):

Day 10.190: Camp sight

The last two years, after dropping a child at Camp Mechuwana (Exile #4 in 2015 and E5N1 last year), we have heard nothing until pick-up time. This year, since one of our pastors is there helping with the camp he is on (and sharing a cabin with him and a group of "energetic" boys), we have had a few glimpses into his week.

This was camp day 2 - after a swim in the pond:

Looks like he's doing OK!

Day 9.203: Exile #2's Sunday Column #116

Exile #2 writes...

People seem to keep disappearing this week. Yesterday, Exile #4 headed to her friend's for a camp out (more of a glamp out actually, as they had a TV in the tent).

 Then today, this happened...

E5N1 has been counting down the days since we booked him on to his first sleep away camp. He was a little, shall we say, unsettled last night, and this morning talked almost without taking a breath. So, I think it's safe to say he's nervous/excited, as were we dropping him off. We hope he'll have a fantastic time.

Not to be left out, Exile #1 is jetting off to California tomorrow for a work trip. That means it'll just be us ladies at home. Who knows what mischief we'll get up to.

Day 8.190: Exile #2's Sunday Column #66

Exile #2 writes...

Well, that was a camping trip we will remember, some of it, for the right reasons! It was hard work for starters, as most of us were nursing colds, but we were undaunted. Not even a last minute change in the weather forecast could put us off.

We brought our beach day forward and later arrived with the lovely people at Chewonki Campground. With all hands on deck, we set up camp pretty quickly and then enjoyed some good fire-cooked food before turning in, as the fireflies began to twinkle.

It rained a little in the night but we woke to a cloudy, dry morning and managed a civilized breakfast before setting off for some wet weather activity at Maine Maritime Museum. By the time we got back to the campground, I was beginning to feel really rough, but everyone rallied round and got dinner together while I crashed out. After dinner, Exile #4 and E5N1 managed a swim in the pool before we safely stowed our belongings (rain was expected again) and all turned in for the night.

At about 2:30, I awoke. A few moments later it became clear why, as there was a rumble of thunder. While Exile #1 scrambled for his keys, I shook the kids awake and while the rain poured torrents through the doorway of the tent, I sent the kids skedaddling barefoot across the grass into the van.

What could have been a low point, actually turned into half an hour of hilarity as a sleepy E5N1 got us all laughing. Finally, as the storm was winding down, we invited iTunes to pick us one last random song. It chose Dido, suitably sleepy-making music. When morning came, we decided to cut our losses and head home. As we sit here listening to thunder, watching rain pour down, I think we made the right call.

Day 8.189: Night under canvas

I love sleeping in a tent, but it definitely works out quite differently than a normal night when we're camping as a family.

Last night we all went to bed once the bugs got too troublesome at about 8:30 pm. Apart from waking when Exile #3 needed some headache medicine and twice when there was a shower of rain, I slept soundly until 5 am when I got up to run - well before my alarm was due to wake me, but after more sleep than I normally get. 

This was the view as I set out:

Day 8.188: Reid waves

We're on a mid coast camping adventure. It started with playing in the waves at Reid State Park.

We're now at the friendliest campsite ever and turning in to avoid the mosquitoes.