This weekend was the perfect weekend for camping. The heat had subsided (which meant most of the bugs were gone by the time the sun was down), the friendships were strong, the hilarity was constant and the alcoholic beverages were numerous!
After everyone got out of work on Friday (I am still unemployed) a couple of us met up at Laura's house to embark on our weekend camping adventure. Some of us packed as if for a night (myself, Krystle and Katie) and some of us (Laura) packed as if for an epic adventure. I think that I probably could have looked out my back window if it wasn't for her "body bag" sized duffel. Haha!
We arrived at Camp Taylor, in Blairstown, NJ, a stone throws away from the Delaware Water Gap just around sun down. We sign in quickly, get some wood for the camp fire and we head to our designated campsites! With excitement in the air I head off to one of the pits to start a fire. The girls began to erect their tent as the blaze of the fire starts and I get a face full of smoke!
Once the fire is blazing Laura and I head over to put up our tent before it gets too dark. With a couple frustrating areas of solid rock, I am finally able to hammer down the stakes to keep the tent in one spot. Finally with everything in the tents and the beds made for later, we all surround the fire and relax. Beers and mixed drinks in hand and stories being recollected I start to make the stereo-typical campfire snack......s'mores! YUMMY! Roasted marshmallows, melted chocolate and graham crackers. I want to kiss who ever invented it.
After everyone got out of work on Friday (I am still unemployed) a couple of us met up at Laura's house to embark on our weekend camping adventure. Some of us packed as if for a night (myself, Krystle and Katie) and some of us (Laura) packed as if for an epic adventure. I think that I probably could have looked out my back window if it wasn't for her "body bag" sized duffel. Haha!
We arrived at Camp Taylor, in Blairstown, NJ, a stone throws away from the Delaware Water Gap just around sun down. We sign in quickly, get some wood for the camp fire and we head to our designated campsites! With excitement in the air I head off to one of the pits to start a fire. The girls began to erect their tent as the blaze of the fire starts and I get a face full of smoke!
Once the fire is blazing Laura and I head over to put up our tent before it gets too dark. With a couple frustrating areas of solid rock, I am finally able to hammer down the stakes to keep the tent in one spot. Finally with everything in the tents and the beds made for later, we all surround the fire and relax. Beers and mixed drinks in hand and stories being recollected I start to make the stereo-typical campfire snack......s'mores! YUMMY! Roasted marshmallows, melted chocolate and graham crackers. I want to kiss who ever invented it.
As the night went on, one of Katie's friends (who was also camping at the same place just by coincidence) decided to come up and join us with her friends. As Laura and I hung out at our campsite we hear screaming and laughter coming from the lake, which is only about 50 yds away from our tents. With flashlights in our hands we head down to see what the commotion is all about. We quickly find our two camping mates soaking wet from the waist down. Apparently they tried to hit 7 people in a 2 person paddle-boat! Last time I checked that does not really work out too well! haha. The next morning, hoping to sleep in somewhat, we are woken bright and early by the "most annoying children in the world" pushing the Tonka Trucks throughout the campsite next to us. I have never not wanted children more than at that moment at 7:30 in the morning. With disgust in our voices, because quiet hours are supposed to be until 9:00, we try to get as much more sleep as we can. We wake up a little later and decide to have some breakfast. Of course, the breakfast of champions!......Pop-tarts, Applejacks and Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches!
After breakfast, and bitching about parents who don't know how to keep their children quiet, Krystle and Katie head back to sleep and Laura and I decide to head to the lake to enjoy the sun and water. With several pictures taken, several tequila sunrises and franzia drank (yes, boxed wine!....they are classy girls, haha), we head back for some lunch.
After some lunch we head to the main building in order to use the facilities. Since we are covered in ick and grime from the lake we use the coin-operated showers! As we head back to camp, we grab some more wood for the fire, and some extra ice to keep the food and beverages cool.
Next, we head up to the Wolf Preserve that they have located at the camping grounds. There are 2 different times during the day that you can head up there to get a tour of the preserve, but since we headed up later in the day the gates were closed and we could only see the first couple dozen yards of the pens. As soon as we reach the gates a wolf strolls right up to the other side of the fence, no farther than 1o yds from us. We also see several little foxes running around the grounds. As we turn and begin to head back one of the wolves begins to howl. One by one each wolf joins in, just as if it is a primitive orchestra of wolf opera singers. Even though it was completely amazing, it was spine-tingling at the same time.
We reach the campsites just as the sun is sneaking behind the trees. We light the fire and start cooking some dinner. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn. Laura and I, since we didn't get to take a nap in the morning, decide to lay down around 10ish for only 20 minutes. Next thing we know we wake up, pitch black, no noise. I check my phone and it says 2:30. I poke my head out of the tent....no one is there....everything is away....and the fire is out. So much for the 20 minute nap!
Sunday morning, we wake with even more annoying children being loud and obnoxious! With a little chill on the wind, we light a fire for breakfast to keep us warm. After breakfast we start to pack up the tents, get everything into the car and head out around mid-day.
With such a great weekend it is so hard to head back into the week day. Luckily for me, I am still unemployed, so I can sit here and blog about what I have done. Too bad for the rest of them who are off at their different jobs.
Definite plans for another trip back to the camp grounds. Definitely recommend Camp Taylor. Very nice, quiet (as long as you are not stuck next to stupid children) and a lot to do.
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