Suwannee Camp Out

I'm pleased to announce that we have survived our First Solo Camping Trip!  Our previous camping experience was with CLOSE supervision of the Camping Experts so we were a little worried about how this gig was going to go.  ALSO, we made the QUESTIONABLE choice of choosing our destination from the Real Florida Guidebook, which brought us such adventures as THIS ONE last month.  Alas, it all turned out well... and before we even left we reminded ourselves that we can have a blast ANYWHERE and usually in the oddest conditions, so it seemed win-win!

We headed up to the Suwannee River State Park... through a rainstorm.  By the time we arrived, the rain had tapered off somewhat and we checked in and checked out our surroundings.  Apparently, we parked our car in the WRONG place and a kind gentleman (who was also camping) yelled at us about it.  To which Ben said, "Wow.  We already got in trouble."  My guess is, The Experts would have known not to park on the pine needles, so I chalked it up to our inexperience.  

Once our tent was up (ummmm, it seemed easier last summer.  Just sayin'.) we headed 12 miles into Town to get firewood, seeing how the Park Ranger was fresh out.  She sent us to Lowe's.  Who knew that they sold firewood?  They were VERY KIND there (so, SHOUT OUT to the folks at Live Oak, FL Lowe's!) and were happy to go up 2 stories in this contraption to retrieve 2 bundles of firewood for us... I guess anything for a sale.  A big $10 sale.

After this fun, it started raining again, so we decided to drive around and hunt out an adventure on our own.  We laughed for a long time when we came up on this school... mostly because we were in the Middle of No Where and of all the schools to find, it was hilarious that it's the same name as the school Ryan works at, and Carly attends!  

And you will be happy to know that this Lee Elementary is Tobacco Free.  See?  We are EASILY entertained!!

Well, it stopped raining and we were actually able to get a great campfire going (by WE, I mean Ryan!) which was good because we really wanted to eat s'mores.  I mean, dinner.  We roasted hotdogs and marsh mellows and spent a lot of time talking about things we were thankful for.  Because there is a lot.  Like, the rain stopping... a dry-inside-tent... a funny family to hang with... trees for oxygen... no cell phones or computer...

It got chilly over night, and were were VERY HAPPY it wasn't hot!  This was kind of late in the Season to be camping in Florida, so we were thankful for one last cool-ish weekend.  The next morning we headed out to do some hiking on the many trails that make up the Suwannee River State Park. 

Beautiful morning, with NO humidity! 

This tree was pretty cool... ENORMOUS and hollowed out... Ryan was the only one brave enough to climb inside (I was CERTAIN there would be bats up in it)...

He took my camera with him, and you can't see any bats...

Beautiful reflections all around

Balanced Rock, hanging out over the Suwannee River

Carly tried to tell us that she knocked this tree over... and she's so worried the Park Ranger might be mad.  Funny Girl.

Our hike brought us out to this railroad, just in time for a train to go by.  Kind of sad, but I don't think our City Kids have seen a train anywhere but Disney World.  Well, I guess they went on one in Alaska, but that was recreational.  This one was a working train, carrying lots of gasoline and other important looking stuff.  

I know it seems like something we would do, going on a road that is clearly marked ROAD CLOSED... and we did, but it is actually part of the trail, so completely legit.  

Ryan really wanted to follow the Trail onto the old bridge that crossed over the Suwannee River.  This part of the Trail is actually 12 miles long, and we thought that might be a little far for our Rookie Hikers. But we did check out part of it!

The next portion of our hike brought us to this long forgotten cemetery, which was pretty cool. 

I'm always fascinated by the stuff people used to write on tombstones.  We are so boring these days!

After a morning of hiking, we went back to our campsite for some peanut butter and honey sandwiches and a little rest... then we asked our trusty Park Ranger for some tips on a good Swimming Hole for our Advanced Swimmers.  She was kind enough to direct us to Madison Blue Springs State Park, which was beautiful!  The water is spring fed, so it's 72 degrees and crystal clear.  This portion was 25 feet deep!  Ryan and I just watched them swimming (and took pictures, of course).  Cold water never scares off our little fishies.

and yes... the Blue Springs are part of the Real Florida Fun!

Beautiful flowers on the side of the road... this really is pretty country.  Out in the Middle of No Where.

Our Alien Tent.  It served us well!

Camp fire fun our last night Out.

Torturing a few Peeps.  They are actually REALLY good this way:)

Peeps waiting to be tortured by Ryan.

Carly made Ben's breakfast for him... we weren't very adventuresome in the area of Campfire Cooking.  We continued being Camping Minimalists and only used/brought what we absolutely needed.  We did giggle for a while at our Camping Neighbors a few sites over who showed up with more equipment than they even carry at L.L.Bean.  It took them about 5 hours to get everything set up (you know, flood lights, changing room, fans, carpets...) that they made my Expert Sibling look like a Camping Rookie.  I probably shouldn't have giggled too much... we HAVE to be minimalists to fit everything in the trunk of our tiny little Jetta.

Mama's breakfast... Ryan said I couldn't bring my new Keurig.

SUCCESS!  FUN!  We loved every minute of our mini-vacation!!  It was excellent being with our little family of four, even though we missed our previous Camping Buddies ALOT!  We are hooked!