Convening with Nature

We decided to brave it…our first camping trip with Babygirl. The monstrous, suffocating heat this summer drove us to escape to Raccoon Holler, in the mountains of North Carolina. My family has been camping there since I was little. Probably 30 years! Mapgeek and I have…ahem…let’s say “fond” memories of Raccoon Holler (30 degrees, high winds, a tent in the Christmas tree farm) from several years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold camping in all my life. And Granddaddy P assured us that it was going to be chilly. To me, that meant 70’s in August in the south. I packed accordingly…one sweatshirt. No jeans since I was 4 months preggers and hadn’t bothered to shop for cold weather pregnant clothes. And, of course, Babygirl didn’t own anything for cold weather in her current size.

We left Atlanta Wednesday morning so we’d get there before dark. Being pregnant and with a toddler, Mapgeek and I decided not to “rough” it and slept in the Taj Macamper with my parents. It’s basically a 2-bedroom (with king-size beds!) portable house complete with a kitchen and bathroom. Plus, there was a TV, complete with a new DVD player and an Elmo video! Lots to keep a restless toddler entertained and out of the rain and mud.

We setup the pack-n-play in the kitchen area, hoping Babygirl would sleep in it. Which she didn’t. The problem is being in a campground with a screaming toddler. You know the neighbors love it. So, we put the munchkin in the king bed between us and she sort-of slept. The next night, we put her on the end of the bed that’s surrounded on 3-sides by the camper walls. Babygirl thought that was the best! She and her Granddaddy smooched through the screens all evening. Eventually, she would lay down with all her animals and pillows and sleep. Of course, we all had to go to bed when she did, so we got lots of sleep.

The first night a front came through. And Granddaddy P was right….it was COLD! Low 50’s that night, plus it rained. We ended up making the Walmart trek to West Jefferson for warm clothes for Babygirl and long pregger-pants for me.

Luckily, it was warmer in the day. Mapgeek and I finally got to canoe the New River. Zaloo’s Canoes hooked us up and off we went. It’s been years since I rented a boat where I was handed and paddle and was told go. Boat rentals usually involve a how-to-paddle and safety lesson. It was nice to be out on the water, though a little boring after a while. Luckily, we started a little early because it started raining right when we were getting off the river. It seems like it rained almost the entire weekend and it was chilly. A very nice change from the heat of Atlanta.

Because of the rain, we ended up doing lots of shopping-type activities. We went to a cabin store outside of Boone, where Babygirl scored a big stuffed bear (Honey Bear). We also spent one day in Blowing Rock. Luckily, it was during a brief reprieve in the clouds and rain. Blowing Rock consisted of buying a stuffed owl for Babygirl (did I mention she LOVES stuffed animals?), who immediately learned how to hoot, eating ice cream, and playing in the park. Our other notable adventure was touring the cheese factory in West Jefferson. Let’s just say….gross! I didn’t need to know how they make cheese.

I was pleasantly surprised how much fun camping was with Babygirl! Though, I don’t think I’d enjoy it in a tent. Especially if it rained. I stressed for a month about how we were going to handle the sleeping issue and it was nice to know that she could sleep with us if necessary. And with less fuss than trying to get her to sleep by herself in her pack-n-play. I’m looking forward to going again, though next time it will be four of us. Wonder how much a Taj Macamper costs??