Geeks Go Camping aka Things Not To Do the Last Week of October

So, when it was 80 degrees out and sunny at the end of October, I thought, what better idea than to take the family camping. Last time Jai and I went camping it was way too hot out and I got chigger bites all over my feet so we only lasted one day. This time, I was sure I had chosen the perfect time of year.   So we packed up the Honda Fit and drove up to Fort Pillow State Park.  The park doesn't take reservations for camping, so we were a little worried we would drive up Friday night and not be able to get a spot.  

This was not, however, a problem.  When we arrived on Friday night it was 45 degrees and raining, so needless to say, the campground was empty.  We were the only family camping in the 35 site rural camp ground, because we were the only people stupid enough to think we wouldn't freeze to death.  (we are from the north so we like to think we can handle the cold much better than these southerns we will around now).

So we set up our little tent (on a pile of mud) and hunkered down for the night.  I had brought a bunch of blankets and 2 sleeping bags, thinking we would zip the sleeping bags together and snuggle Zuul warmly in between us.  Turns out our sleeping bags don't zip together.  So I thought we would just lay one on the bottom and one on the top.  Turns out sleeping bags don't work so well like that.  So while I was under half and sleeping bag and a pile of blankets with Zuul warmly tucked into me Jai was freezing to death.  Every time I tried to cuddle into him to keep him warm (I could tell he was cold) he thought I was cold and covered me more with what little blanket he had.  Needless to day, when we got up in the morning he was a little ticked I had insisted on doing this whole thing. 

It had rained the night before so Jai had to dry tiny twigs over the propane stove to make a fire so we could be a little warm.  Also, for some reason, our stove takes 45 minutes to heat water so on top of being cold Jai was super cranky because he could not have his coffee. 

 

 While Jai made fry cakes and I stoked the fire, baby Zuul was all bundled up in her carseat staying warm. I made her a terrible hat and despite being horribly made, it was super warm for her so I felt better about dragging her out to the cold. 

We also warmed her by the fire (super good parenting if you ask me).  Don't worry, child sleepwear is flame retardant.

We also let her sit in the car with the heat on for a few minutes while Jai filled out the paperwork for out campsite that should have been filled out the night we arrived.  We ran into a park ranger later that day and he did not say anything so I think we are in the clear.

 

After breakfast we bundled up Zuul and went out in search of more dry wood for the fire so we did not all freeze to death.

 

 

Super Jai held the baby and dragged wood around all at the same time.  Listen as Jai tells you who he really feels about camping in 30 degree weather without a coat.

 

 

Note: this is not a campground I would feel comfortable taking Zuul to when she can move on her own.  Our campsite sat right on the edge of this ravine and there were more straight down drop offs like this all over the place.

 

 

 

So, after breakfast we bundled up for a hike to the camp museum.  We ran into the park ranger on the way and he was surprised we were walking.  After a 2.5 mile hike with the baby we started to understand why most people drive.  However, it was really beautiful and we were glad to get to see the sites.

 

 So, after about 1.5 hours of hiking down a road, we made it to the museum. The sign on the door said it was closed but we went in anyways, because we are rebels

Zuul had been in the ergo carrier for a long time so I let her out to roll around amongst the history. 

So also joined a civil war battalion. 

And fired a really big cannon.

 

So, we decided that it would be faster to go home via the wooded walking trail as oppose to taking the road.  The road curved a lot and the trail was more of a straight line.  We plotted out our course and took off into the woods.

 

 We hiked down mountain sides

 Under trees

 Took a break, because its hard climbing up and down mountains and across steep crevasses with a baby strapped to your chest, fearing the whole time you are both going to fall to your death.

 This scary stairway for particularly scary for everyone

 

 But we made it back down to flat ground.  However, that tree sure looked familiar and we had been hiking through mountains for hours and forgot to pack a lunch.  Turns out we had gone in a big circle and were only about 50 yards closer to our campground than we had been before we left the museum. 

When we finally found the road it was tears of joy.  However, it was still a mile more of a walk home, but at least we did not have to worry about getting turned around in the woods again.  We made it home in time to break down camp (that's right, we only lasted one night) and drive over to the fall festival at the camp ground.

 Zuul took her first hay ride.  Had I known it was going to be a 2.5 mile ride at 30 mph, I might have reconsidered.  Jai also thought we were going around the parking lot and was a little worried when we disappeared down the road.

We entered Zuul into the costume contest.  It was really unfair to enter a baby.  Babies are always cute no matter what they are wearing.  Baby in a mask, who can beat that?


Nobody, so "Baby Zoro" won first place.  I didn't explain to them that she was Super Zuul.  I was in rural Tennessee with a baby dressed in devil horns so baby Zoro was okay.

Second place was the second youngest kid, and they gave her and Zuul a giant pumpkin full of candy.

 

So we took a few minutes to go down the side and take a few pictures before piling in the car and going home.  It was a fun day but everyone was super tired.  We would all like to go back to Fort Pillow again, but maybe when it is a little warmer.