Our Family Site: Hiking and Camping- Fall Favorites!

Fall weather came for a brief moment this weekend and we took advantage of it. We had planned on going camping at Bankhead, but due to the overabundance of rain, we opted to postpone that idea. Also, Kalie's friend Eloise has claimed to not be much of a camper but was willing to try it with Kalie. Well, she injured her knee this past week, so hiking was not going to be a possibility for her. So, we ended up camping right on our back deck. This was Kate's first time to ever camp, so it was a great place for a dry run. Now, you have to truly appreciate this adventure. Because this is typical in the life of Drew and Lori. We have a 4 man tent but needed a bigger one, so we borrowed one. When we got it home, we had a twelve-man tent but the poles that went to a 9 man tent. Where were the 12 man tent poles? No one knows even today. Where was the 9 man tent? That too remains a mystery. So, back out with the 4 man tent and we borrowed my brother in law's two man tent. Somehow, Drew, Kate and I ended up in the two man tent but it was fine- Kate truly does not take up much room. Then we roasted hotdogs and marshmallows using the grill! ha! It worked and we didn't have to fight wet firewood. Kate did end up falling asleep before midnight which was good. Keep reading for more of our weekend saga....eating hotdogs...roasting marshmallows for S'moresYes, we enjoy them too.So, do you think she liked camping??? YEP! She is keeping up with Jamieson girl tradition!
Now, these next few photos tell of our next adventure. On Saturday, we went out for a day of hiking at the Dismals. The rocks and waterfalls are AWESOME. Everyone made the hike quite well, of course, please take in account Kate stumbling over all the roots that she views as huge, us going off every normal trail and all the other happenings....Getting started.... The water was 58* and the girls walked all in it. It took Karlee and Kate a while to realize that they really could get in the water and climb on the rocks, etc.I am so glad I caught Kalie's initial reaction to the water- her face says it all. Notice, there are no pictures of Drew and me in that water! And the picture of the memory of the day. NO WHERE does it say in the rules they gave us that you can't climb on the rocks- who in their right mind would go on a trail with tons of huge boulders and not climb on them anyway.... Well, Drew found this rock with these divets in it- and we were all climbing around on it but Drew went on up. This worker man came up and said, "Now you know if you fall, we aren't responsible." We assured him we knew that. Well, he kept on. He proceeded to hatefully tell Drew that if he fell, he would surely kill himself and how could he leave his three daughters without a daddy or imagine his wife with another man? And then went on to say how dangerous Drew was... blah blah blah..... Well, the look in our 9 year old's eyes was definitely concern. Great opportunity to discuss the importance of LIVING this life and not just sitting around waiting for something to happen. We still had a good time in spite of that man.