#GoneCamping

#GoneCamping

• Tuesday, August 12, 2014

 

Hello lovelies!
A couple of days ago, Kirsten and I took an impromptu camping trip. Despite the forecasted rain showers, we determinedly (stupidly?) packed up our gear and hopped in the car. No other days in the month would our work schedules align so perfectly, and we'd been wanting to take a trip to the mountains since the start of this summer. So come rain or shine, we were going camping!
Naturally, I brought my camera along, so you get to tag along.

 Ironically, the day we left, our city received flash flood warnings and we later found out that several streets had been closed down. Um, so yeah, we picked quite a day to go camping. I'm pretty sure my friends thought I was crazy for attempting it. However, they were wrong, because as we drove up the winding road and the city streets and buildings fell away, the rain receded into a fine mist.

 The thick layer of fog clung tightly to the lake's surface. Stumbling over the rocky sand, I scrambled to find a perch upon which to survey the eerie scene before me. The utter silence and peacefulness was disturbing. After so much time spent in a busy and noisy environment, I felt unnerved by this quiet beauty.

 The weather was chilly, but we had planned in advance by setting up the back of the van as our sleeping quarters. It worked out quite comfortably too! With the seats down, a wooden slat laid on top, and foam mattresses bolstered by layers of cushions, we had quite the set up. We cozied up in the back and lounged around reading, napping, and munching on kettle cooked chips.

We awoke the next morning with the rising sun (an hour I'm usually never up at), and set about making breakfast. The most important part being coffee, of course. With the sound of rustling leaves, chirping birds, and running water as my background music, I briefly believed I could become a morning person. Then I dismissed that foolish thought with a shake of my head and a sip of watery coffee. 

 

 

Before we left, we climbed onto a fallen tree to do some balancing. For your amusement, I've included our sad attempts at tree posing.

Haha, our trip was incredibly brief, but I'm grateful for the mini getaway. It was just what I needed to reconnect with some nature and remember what it's like to be completely removed from our busy bee lifestyles. It's easy to get caught up in our social media-driven lives and constantly need to jump from one activity to another, but I believe it's necessary for your health to learn how to just sit and reflect. To be able to spend a whole day not constantly checking your phone or updating your media status. To be able to remain still and soak in your surroundings and what is happening in your life now.

Do I sound like a total hippie or what?