Thursday, July 22, 2010

A-Camping We Shall Go...


Our humble abode



I have a confession to make. Before I dated Joe, I had never gone camping. I had never slept in a tent, cooked over a campfire or played board games in the middle of the woods. He took me on my very first camping trip in Autumn of 2006 and since that time I have bugged him to go camping any and every time the opportunity has presented itself.

When we went on our honeymoon, we didn't have the money to go someplace tropical and staying in a hotel for a week isn't our style so we took a road trip and camped at several state parks for a week. It was probably one of the best honeymoon ideas ever and I'm not just saying it because it was mine. We spent a lot of our time just enjoying the little things together; a walk on the warm sand in mid October, collecting shells and driftwood, roasting marshmallows over fires in the chilly mountains, watching the sun rise and set from our bed, seeing wild ponies, playing cards in the tent when the mosquitoes decided to attack us. We did quite a few touristy things too, like going to several caves, a lighthouse, a zoo and an aquarium but the main bulk of our time was spent just hanging out in nature.

Unfortunately, we haven't had many opportunities to camp since then, in fact I think we've only made it out into the woods once and we were married in 2008. This weekend we'll be doing something about that and spending two nights on Hunting Island. I've been planning what to bring and cook while we're there, emptying my memory cards and charging the camera batteries, painting some journal backgrounds so I can leave the paints at home, getting our tent, mattress and blankets together and am just all around excited.

We'll be visiting the historic town of Beaufort, SC while we're down there to visit a local seafood shack or two so Joe can get his shellfish fix, but I plan on spending the bulk of the time exploring the islands beach and marshland in hopes of spotting birds, crabs, sand dollars, alligators (although they still scare me) and if I'm really lucky, dolphins and sea turtles.

14 comments:

  1. My idea of roughing it is staying at a hotel without room service. However, sounds like you really enjoy this so have a great time!

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  2. I have yet to go tent camping though we have been supposed to go since just after we started dating, but we haven't gone yet. I am still pushing because I think I will love it too. Have a great time and take a lot of pictures to share.

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  3. Oh I love Beaufort....quaint, quirky and cute. Have a great time. SM and I used to camp all the time. Now...not so much but the kids are going to camp out in the backyard for the first time this weekend, so we'll see if the "wooly boogers" and things that go bump in the night will let them stay out or come inside....hehehehe. Have a blast. says The Olde Bagg

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  4. I love camping! Although I've graduated to a tent trailer, I still do all my cooking and 'living' outdoors and just sleep in the trailer.

    You will have such a great time! Can't wait to hear all about it.

    I've always wanted to see South Carolina.

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  5. We used to go camping every weekends of the summer when I was young, my mom is a teacher and had 2 full months of vacation. I have great memories from it and I surely want to repeat it with my kids. Hope you're having great times!

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  6. Woohoo! Have a wonderful time! I love to camp as well, and much prefer it to hotels. Hope you two have a blast & that the mosquitoes don't get too many free meals. ^-^

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  7. I love to camp and we get to do it once a week each summer, though I'd love to do it more. Have a great weekend and enjoy your camping trip!

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  8. ah- wonderful. I do have to say that you should enjoy it while you are young- the older you get, the more stuff you have to bring (like a blow-up mattress for your back).
    Ex bought a large trailer to camp in because we had kids- that was fun because you still got the nature and campfires, but you had a bed and potty.

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  9. I love tent camping though we haven't had a chance to go this year. Fall is actually my favorite time to go. Have a great time!

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  10. Arght, my comment disappeared! Hope you enjoy your camping and return safe and sound!

    Kisses from us.

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  11. Sounds like fun! Be sure to get some of that delish low country food like shrimp and grits.
    Can't wait to see some more nature pics.

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  12. What a wonderful blog post...
    I haven't been camping in years and unfortunately my husband is a city boy and doesn't like camping.

    GUESS WHAT??????? You won my blog giveaway!!!!!
    So Fleu and Flaux are going to come live with you in your Whimsical cottage!!!! And they are full of whimsy~: )

    Please send me your snail mail address and I will send Fleu and and her friend off to you...

    The catch is I'm leaving for California on Thursday and won't be back until the 11 of August... so she won't fly your way till I get back~: )

    I'm so excited you won!!!!
    Hugs and I hope you had a GREAT camp out!
    Pattee

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  13. Oh! I love camping with my fiance' as well. We go to a local lake when the weather is just right and camp in an area I have been camping as a kid...we do the whole burgers and smores' thing and sit for hours and just talk under a beautiful Elm tree. It is amazing, Breath taking and refreshing, Your honeymoon idea sounds lovely I may swipe that since our marriage date is Oct.31,2011 it would be lovely camping, snuggling weather.
    Brightest Blessings and enjoy! )o(

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  14. Thank you for the sweet compliments on my JiJ pages! ^-^
    There can never be too much Cthulhu... I named my cat after him (but call him Lhu for short)... and got a small, furry destroyer of worlds all my very own! o_O lol...

    Yes, I finished Diary... I read it in one sitting a few months ago... I LOVE it. =D

    Hope you're having a wonderful day! ^-^

    xoxo

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