Monday, July 13, 2009

First family backpacking trip




Last weekend we dusted off the backpacking and camping supplies and jumped into the great experiment of taking a two year old camping. Eric's pack was filled with wipes and ten diapers for him to carry while Dadda lugged nearly 50 pounds of mosts everything else over the 2.8 mile long Saratoga Gap trail toe Castle Rock campground.

Castle Rock State Park is brilliant with tons of trails and beautiful views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The park has scents familiar only to the south bay and tree covered canopies for lots of shade.

This trip was a success. Dadda got a great work out carrying 25 pound Eric and a 40 pound pack. We all got time to re-connect to nature. We ate well. It didn't rain on us despite the brief teaser showers. Who expects rain in a near draught year? No one, which is why no one had any rain gear. And, we learned a few things for next time:

1) 2.8 miles is 1.8 miles too long

2) Don't set out on the trail at the start of nap time (why wasn't this obvious in planning?)
3) We need a larger tent
4) Momma absolutely is too old to not pack her pillow - the extra weight is so worth it
5) Natural bug spray doesn't work unless you shower yourself in the stuff every 15 minutes

6) No matter how tired we all are, Eric is not going to sleep until the sun goes down
7) No matter how tired we all are, Eric is going to wake-up with the sun rises

8) Eric needs his own sleeping bag or blanket
9) When Dadda is cooking on the camping stove he is to be referred to as the cooking guy

10) Zippers on tent doors are tough and can withstand multiple openings and closings