Fearlessgal and Bentley go Camping…

Well Bentley and I went “camping” for the first time ever this holiday weekend.  We joined my friends Lori & her husband Cliff, my friend Mark, Lori’s sister Lisa & her son Mark, and Lori’s cousin’s daughter Riley.

Our adventure started with odd Michigan weather where its in the mid 80’s durning the day and down to the upper 50’s/lower 60’s at night.  A swing of 15-20 degrees definitely presents a packing challenge.  This is especially true for the following two reasons:

1.  I’ve never camped before (tent or camper), andespecially never with a high maintance dog.
2.  I was staying in an RV with a total of 5 adults, 2 kids and the dog.

The first night there were only 3 adults, 2 kids and 1 dog – this was an interesting night as the kids just wanted to walk the dog, the dog just wanted to lick, sniff and pee on everything, and the adults just wanted to relax. 

My friend Lori and her husband Cliff are great hosts no matter what.  Cliff cooked a great dinner of turkey burgers on Friday night, fixed some things around the RV andgot us all set up for the night (this was after Lori had already spent one night in the camper with her nephew and neice).  We spent the evening around the camp fire made some S’mores, then Bentley andI were off to torture Mark S. with our out of sync snoring (the campfire and odd weather wreaked havoc on my allergies as well as the dogs).  Bentley kept waking up and jumping off the bed (which was too high for him to jump back up to) so I kept waking up and having to pick him up and put him back on the bed.  Little sleep was had that night.

Here are a couple of pictures from our first night:

Bentley in his Pop-up Tent

Lori & Riley making S\

Mark and Mark

Mark and I nicknamed the back “bedroom” of the “Toaster Oven” – it was fairly cold in there when we headed to bed Friday night and by 8:30 am the room could no longer be considered cool or comfortable, it was fairly warm on it’s way to uncomfortable.

Everyone got up and had a little breakfast (Panera Bagels, we luckily got to eat them before the ant infestation occured later in the day).  Lori took the kids off to the showers (we couldn’t shower in the RV because of a previous incident with flooding so now it acts as a pantry for dry food).  Mark, Bentley and I relaxed around the site until they got back then we all decided to head off to the lake (this was a perfect activity since Lori had just spent several dollars and a good hour getting the kids clean from the previous day).  Here are a couple of pictures from our morning at camp:

The beach was pretty full but we found a spot with some shade and settled in.  The kids instantly headed for the water and us adults lounged on the beach for a bit before venturing in.  The kids finally bugged Mark enough that he headed into the lake – it was reported back to Lori and I that the kids were nuts the water was super cold. I finally ventured to the lake and I can confirm it was SUPER COLD!  Groveland Oaks is pretty awesome though because on the lake they have the Beach, WaterSlide, Paddle Boats, Kayaks and I believe you can fish there also.  Below are pictures from our day at the beach:

Mark and Riley trying to drag Mark to the water

Is he trying to choke her or is she attacking him? Who knows!

Riley wanted to be buried in the sand...Mark agreed

 

Riley playing/pouting in the sand by herself

Is it me or does she look like a drunken spring breaker?

After several hours (and some very sunburned legs of mine) later we headed back to camp.  Lori’s sister Lisa and Lori’s husband Cliff had made it in finally and we all sat around the site relaxing for a bit before dinner.  Riley (who is 5) got Mark and I to play Monkey-in-the-Middle with her.  She made herself the “monkey” then got mad when we didn’t instantly give her the football.  She then decided I would be the “Monkey” so on Marks 2nd throw to her she got right under the football and it nailed her right under her eye – here are pictures of the “injured’ child and the guilt that ensued:

Riley guilting Mark

The make up hug

 After another great dinner prepared by Lori and Cliff we hung around camp waiting for it to get dark for the fireworks Saturday night.  Here are some pictures of the madness:

Lori, Mark and Me

Lori, Mark, Me and Riley (hidden in the back)

Riley decided to play “Beauty Shop” on Lisa’s hair:

There were some great fireworks at Groveland Oaks and from our campsite we could see almost all of them.  Riley had had such an exciting few days she slept right through them.  Here are a couple of pictures I was able to capture:

So our friend Mark had this straw cowboy hat that had seen better days thanks in part to Riley.  Mark decided to “sacrifice” the hat to the fire gods.  But in “normal” Mark fashion there was nothing “normal” to this event.  Mark decided to load the hat up with sparklers, loaded the fire up with sparklers and it went up, well like the 4th of July.  Lori and I tried to convince Mark to let us light the sparklers on his head, but for once better judgement prevailed:

The madness has begun

Mark is a little crazy and a lot of cold!

Pre Fire

Want to see the video?

More Sparkler Fun..

What is Mark doing with those sparklers?

Cliff and Lori decided not to put up the tent on the second night and instead have all of us bunk up in the RV.  Mark, Bentley and I were back in the “toaster oven”.  Lisa and her son Mark were on the “bed” that is made from the kitchen table, Lori and Cliff slept on the fold out couch and little Riley being the youngest and most asleep earned the floor that night (but as the one who originally picked up her blankets in the morning, Lori and Cliff set her up well with lots of padding to be comfortable. 

All in all it was a fabulous weekend!  Can’t wait until our next camping trip in August.  Bentley won’t join me for that one as it will most likely be too hot for him and there will be far too many people camping together, but I think Bentley had just as much fun as I did. 

This last picture was when we got home Sunday afternoon, I think this says it all:

He needs a vacation from his vacation!