Camping, backpacking, hiking, et al

[Freed Roger]

Freedette was tired and done after hiking -but was disappointed to find out we only went about 3 miles - she said "Oh man, now I'm not going to be in the paper like that one girl." who hiked the grand canyon.

Tell her it's about who you know, life lesson blah blah blah.
Maybe some day soon she and that girl can go hiking together.

that girl in the paper may have a leg up for a while -Freedette is still a little squirt and is almost, but not quite completely weened off shoulder rides -though yesterday she walked it all. Next week Freedette will be the youngest of 5 girl cousins (range 6-11) in the Rockies - lots of scrambling and goofing off expected -and trips to closest ice cream and junk stores.

Its cool that she seems to be growing into a outdoorsy person, while maintaining her girly diva-ness. I suspect one day that girl in the paper and freedette will break their fathers hearts and decide to go hiking with guys other than them.

[Radbird]

Its cool that she seems to be growing into a outdoorsy person, while maintaining her girly diva-ness. I suspect one day that girl in the paper and freedette will break their fathers hearts and decide to go hiking with guys other than them.

I'm glad you've braced yourselves for this eventuality, because that day is coming faster than you expect.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Its cool that she seems to be growing into a outdoorsy person, while maintaining her girly diva-ness. I suspect one day that girl in the paper and freedette will break their fathers hearts and decide to go hiking with guys other than them.

I'm glad you've braced yourselves for this eventuality, because that day is coming faster than you expect.

Rad,
Take it back. My little girl is never going to grow up.

[lukethedrifter]

Its cool that she seems to be growing into a outdoorsy person, while maintaining her girly diva-ness. I suspect one day that girl in the paper and freedette will break their fathers hearts and decide to go hiking with guys other than them.

I'm glad you've braced yourselves for this eventuality, because that day is coming faster than you expect.

We talked about this stuff on our hike. As a teen she probably won't be hiking with me but with her cool boyfriend says lucythedrifter. I'm okay with that, mostly because I think he will still hike with me as a teen.

[Freed Roger]

Its cool that she seems to be growing into a outdoorsy person, while maintaining her girly diva-ness. I suspect one day that girl in the paper and freedette will break their fathers hearts and decide to go hiking with guys other than them.

I'm glad you've braced yourselves for this eventuality, because that day is coming faster than you expect.

We talked about this stuff on our hike. As a teen she probably won't be hiking with me but with her cool boyfriend says lucythedrifter. I'm okay with that, mostly because I think he will still hike with me as a teen.

thats exactly what's good about doing the road trip/hiking camping thing - some cool conversations and BSing to pass the miles.

[Jocephus]

going back to my 1 on 1 training with bear grylls, you can eat a lot of bugs and meat raw

[Radbird]

Its cool that she seems to be growing into a outdoorsy person, while maintaining her girly diva-ness. I suspect one day that girl in the paper and freedette will break their fathers hearts and decide to go hiking with guys other than them.

I'm glad you've braced yourselves for this eventuality, because that day is coming faster than you expect.

Rad,
Take it back. My little girl is never going to grow up.

Wish I could, Fat. I used to say the same thing, and I'm going to watch mine get her college diploma on Sunday.

[Freed Roger]

A funeral forced cancellation of our big Rocky Mountain excursion - So we re-directed for a shorter camping trip at Harmonie State Park in southwest Indiana -with a day at the Holiday World/Splashin Safari.
(Apologies for forcing this show and tell on you. I always appreciate random campground/travel reviews so maybe someone else does too.)

Really a good time and nice place to camp. Top-notch facilities, nice campsites, biking and hiking trails, and decent people in the CG. Kids enjoyed the freedom of camping, and being outside day&night, and just horsing around. Hot as hades, but the park has an excellent pool with waterslide. We'll go back again sometime.

Note on camping in the heat - You really do adapt to the heat when your in it all day. I hardly noticed how hot it was until we hit AC back home again. What I did notice was that the energy level was down and natural desire to go on hike etc was diminished. When camping in Northern MI you always felt refreshed -ready to go.

I know a lot of Cardinal fans reside in this region. What goes better with a campfire than listening to a Cardinal game? So when I couldn't find the Cardinals on the AM dial, I was about to go into my patented rant about the demise of the Cardinal grass roots network under Dewitt. But soon found the Cardinals all over the FM dial. Nevermind.

Local color:
We were not too far from Evansville, but we didn't make it this time.

We did make it to nearby historic town New Harmony IN - one of the failed utopian communities of the 1800s. Well-preserved and like a step back in time with the buildings and pace. I didn't notice remnants of odd pushy religous fundamentalists around-but wasn't there long. Very quiet - most people use golf carts for transportation here. Had a cool-looking saloon we didn't get chance to frequent. Looked like a good place for a couples B&B-ish getaway.

Anyhows, here's a few pics
Caught them too late to stop, but soon enough to take a pic


hiking to Wabash Rvr.


friendly lizard on the tent



banks of the Wabash

[Bo Hart]

Those are some awesome pictures -- the environment around there is gorgeous.

[stlouie_lipp]

My buddy and his wife were just there...maybe two weeks ago. They had nothing but good things to say about their trip.