The place: Deer Creek State Park
The time: the weekend
The people: 4 couples from the young-marrieds small group
The challenge: successfully camp for 1.5 days in tents
The result…SUCCESS!

We had a lot of fun this weekend, really.  The couples blended well together.  We had what we needed (we did run out of plates, but we were creative!), and we actually cooked over an open fire with great success (burgers/hot dogs on Friday night, hot breakfast both mornings, kebabs/baked potatoes on Sat. night).  Even Carrie (not the “outdoorsy” type) adjusted well – though she was certainly a great source of entertainment for everyone else! .  But God was definitely nice to us with the weather!  It was SO nice!

Friday night, we arrived and set up camp. We cooked dinner and then sat around the fire for a while with s’mores and sparklers (thanks, Karen!).  Then we all squeezed onto one picnic table and 2 couples played Uno and 2 couples played Phase 10. 

On Saturday, we hiked a total of 6 miles in the morning after breakfast.  We stopped at a playground for a few mintes where we played on the swings, the jungle gym, and Mark & Scott pushed two little girls on the merry-go-round.  After hiking, we had lunch and rested for a bit.  Then 2 couples went down to the beach area in the park while 2 couples stayed at the camp and relaxed some more. 

After dinner the girls sat at the fire talking and the guys ate cookies & milk at the table . Then suddenly the guys noticed something moving.  Something black and white.  Something heading for our food tent…a little skunk arrived!  For 15 minutes, the guys tried to convince him to leave (without spraying) by shining lights on him; most of the girls just tried to get a glimpse of him from the far side of the campsite (or from behind their husbands). Eventually, after much laughter and sharing of skunk knowledge, the little guy toddled off into the woods.  SO we removed the items (ie food scraps and garbage bag) that might have attracted him and returned to the fire, where Eric was photographing us writing in the air with sparklers.  That is, until, the skunk returned 15-20 minutes later!  He toddled right back in, right behind Eric, right back towards the tent.  Everyone was startled, amused, and somewhat concerned that he would stick around this time.  But of course, with nothing there to interest him, he didn’t stay long and, encouraged by the lights, he said a final adieu and departed (without a scent!). 

Sunday, we got up, made breakfast, packed up and headed home.  Definitely an outing we will do again.  Definitely a fun weekend.  Definitely was glad to get home, too!