We got there in about 3 hours, enjoyed the ride up there despite the fact that I was not driving, I took a little nap to help me with the urge to just push the driver out of the way and take over. I could have gotten us there in 2 hours! :) I enjoyed talking to those I shared the ride up with and once we got there, we found our group and joined in the fun. I must say by the way that getting to the camp site several hours after the others was great because camp and the tents were already set up. Oh yes! That’s the way to do it. so we just had to throw our stuff in the tents and set up our sleeping areas and we were good to just chill with everyone around the fire. All but the three of us had started the fun much earlier in the day and so it was amusing to see them…um, how shall I put this…a little “loose?” okay fine, they were all mostly buzzed if not a little drunk. Since I don’t drink, I am always one of those that gets to just laugh my butt off at those that do. Which I did. Then off to bed…where some more hilarity ensued in our tent. One of our tentmates made sure everyone in the camp knew that his girlfriend doesn’t normally wear pants when she goes to bed. He made sure he told her that at least ten times. It was awesomely hilarious!!
The next morning as is always the way with camping trips, we awoke far too early and thought it was much later than it was. Seriously, always like that with camping trips. So up and out to the campfire and breakfast where I enjoyed the delight of Cinnamon Softee Poppets. See, when I am camping, all my food rules are gone. Basically it is on like Donkey Kong at that point. So donuts for breakfast, chili for lunch, cookies for dinner, smores for dessert, whatever it is all fair game. I discovered the deliciousness of Nutter Butters with peanut butter spread on top with M&Ms on top of that. Oh yes people, do it!
In direct opposition to eating like a pig, it was time to put on the ol’ bathing suit and head out to the boat. We all took turns on the boat as there was about 12-14 of us and only a few could be on the boat, but I got on with the other gingers, Sgt and his lady, and Niki. We got to ride the three person tube, which is awesome because unlike a lot of other tubes, this one doesn’t flip very easily, and trust me Sgt tried his hardest to make it do so. The 30-40mins I spent on that tube going crazy fast and almost tipping basically made the whole trip worth it even if the rest of it had sucked (which it didn’t). I was just laughing the entire time and having pure unadulterated, effortless, stressfree fun. It was amazing! Then we got one of the officers out that is scared of the water, and it was a big step for him to even get into the boat. But thanks to the success of female persuasion, Niki and I were able to get him to get on the tube with promises that he wouldn’t die and that Sgt wouldn’t try and flip him. So he climbed on, got a death grip on the handles and tried to listen to our reassurances that he was okay and that everything would be alright. He did great and I think by the end, even had some fun! At that point we just went back to camp and enjoyed just hanging out, eating (of course) and just enjoying each other’s company. Thanks to the sheer amounts of food I was eating, and that I had to spend the next day in a bathing suit as well, I did make sure to go on a 30min run. And I confirmed something I always knew about myself, I am a gym/treadmill runner, not an outside/elemental runner. Nothing to control my speed, it was hot, there were hills, and I kept breathing in campfire smoke! But whatever, I did it, and I felt good. And I only got made fun of a little bit…
A great night around the campfire and just more relaxing and joking and game playing. Due to the fact that everyone hit it a little strong the night before there was much much less drinking, and thus less amusement for me, but it was still an enjoyable evening. Then on Tuesday friends of one of the officers arrived with their boat and we were able to take both boats and everyone got to go out all at once. The boat I was in didn’t do any “behind the boat” activities, we just tooled around the lake and had a great time doing it. it was an amazing day just relaxing on the boat and hearing stories, and just enjoying the peace of the day.
Essentially I had an amazing and fantastic time and if I could do it every weekend I would. Hands down, I would throw together a bag of stuff and go. I needed it in every way you can need things, and it gave me a chance to be with people that have only ever supported and encouraged me and are a huge part of my life. While camping and boating is always fun, it was the people that made it incredible. I love that I have not a replacement family, but another grafted branch that offers me so much, more than I could have ever hoped for in just “coworkers” We are coming up on shift change which means that teams change again. Sadly several of our B side guys are going to the other side of the week, and normally that just means that you don’t see them for 6 months. But, here is where the stubborn redhead in me will take over. I refuse to lose anyone that I have spent 6 months getting closer to, so we will simply have to make adjustments to our get togethers to make sure that none of our little family is left out of all of them. it won’t be as often perhaps, but there is no just letting go of people for 6 months. This is one member that won’t allow that to happen!
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