I'll never forget the first time I stepped into a camper!
I was 40.
And it was love at first site.
We made our maiden voyage in 2000.
Kate was 14.
Taylor was 7.
Our camper was a 16' Jayco Kiwi.
A travel trailer with canvas ends that folded out.
We woke up after a great night's sleep by the lake.
I looked up to see tiny bird feet walking across the canvas over my head.
That's when I knew.
I was hooked!
Those were wonderful years for our family.
Weekends in the spring and fall.
Summer vacations at Huntington Beach.
Bacon frying on the griddle outside.
Pancakes and syrup on a paper plate.
A campfire to knock off the chill of the morning.
A hot cup of coffee.
Being outdoors.
It was often.
Sandy feet tracked in and out the door.
Towels hung up outside.
It was.
Steamy bath house showers.
And occasional not so steamy ones.
It was.
Going to bed with the dark.
And often getting up with the light.
It was.
Building campfires.
Poking the burning logs with a stick.
And talking.
Sitting around the fire.
Having conversations we might never have at home.
It was.
Being up close and personal with wildlife.
Nightly racoon visits.
Squirrels, snakes and birds.
The sounds of the ocean or the lake.
It was.
Sliding down inside your sleeping bag.
Laughter.
Giggling.
And talking after the lights went off.
In the early days of camping.
There were no phones.
Not even a TV.
The pace slowed down.
We rode bikes.
We walked the beach or campground.
We read.
One summer at Huntington Beach.
The four of us read thirteen books in a week!
There were.
Alligator sightings.
Bicycle rides.
Trips up to camp store.
And walks out to the marsh.
Pulling our camper across the causeway at Huntington Beach.
Was like coming home.
It was a wonderful way to spend time as a family.
And.
The years passed.
They always do.
But our camping continued.
Through middle school.
High School.
College.
And after.
It become a constant in our family.
A place of good memories.
Things familiar.
Good.
Comforting.
Yep.
All of our favorite things about camping.
Stay with us today.
We didn't have a lot of money back then for vacations.
But we never felt cheated in anyway.
We raised our family on camping.
Looking back.
I'm so glad we did.
