Tag: #camping

A HipCamping We Will Go

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Weekend GetawayLeave a comment

I had never heard of the app HipCamp before. Hannah wanted to go camping for her birthday and although we have Caddo State Park very close to us, it’s booked months in advance. I googled “camping near Longview Texas” and low and behold HipCamp popped up.

We found a campsite in Hawkins, TX. It’s about a 25 minute drive. The only problem was that the campsite was down a long dirt road that is very rutted and gets very muddy when it rains. They really want you to have a 4 wheel drive. I contacted the host and told him what car we would be in, but that it does have front wheel drive. They gave the okay, so Saturday after Donny got off work we headed out.

They were not kidding when they said rutted dirt road. It got a little hairy, but we made it. After taking the tour where the owner showed us where the composting toilet and the dock, kayaks and canoe was, it was already dark and we still needed to set up our tents. This campsite was right by a lake and extremely isolated, which we loved. But, when I say it was dark, it was pitch black. Luckily, I remembered to pack my headlamp. We also had about 5 different light sources, but the headlamp was definitely the winner.

Just a quick selfie

I had ordered a bundle of wood so we wouldn’t have to bring any with us. It was a little damp so we decided to have cake while Gavin and Donny were getting the fire started.

The campsite came with a fire ring and a picnic table.

We had fun hanging out around the campfire and later playing a game of Apples to Apples. I think I finally crawled into the tent around midnight. There is nothing better than sleeping outside. Our tent is mainly netting that we can cover if we need too. I loved being able to look up and see the sky and the trees. The only problem was that I tend to have to use the restroom at night and there was no way I was going to walk down a long, curvy very dark path to the toilet. So I just had to use the bucket that was given the us to scoop lake water so we could douse the fire. Hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right?

It was a little chilly when we woke up, but it turned out to be such a nice day. Overcast, not windy and no rain. It has rained on every single camping trip Donny and I have taken. We would even check the weather forecast, but it still rained. We really lucked out this time.

There were some cool lily pads on our part of the lake.

We walked down the trail to the floating dock because Gavin wanted to go kayaking.

There was a super cool dome house that you could also rent. It had a deck with a grill. I snapped a quick picture because people were staying in it.

Donny started the fire again and we just relaxed, enjoying the water and all the sounds of nature.

I finally made it to the toilet. Can you imagine walking this trail in the dark? I swear there were animal burrows all around it.

Although our trip was very short we had a lot of fun. I cannot wait to use Hipcamp again. It was so easy and this campsite was gorgeous. And we made a little friend.

Chicken Prison

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Home lifeLeave a comment

Our chickens have always had free range of our backyard. They would occasionally jump the fence into the front yard, but always stayed close. When we got the newest four chickens we realized they were rebels. They would take off down the street, across the street, all over our street. I spent a lot of the day chasing chickens. Well, today that all stopped.

Donny spent most of the morning putting chicken wire up to keep them in. A little chicken prison.

It worked. They can’t get out. Now we just have to make sure that our cats don’t go back there when we go into the backyard because they can’t get out either.

Donny’s plants are doing well in the greenhouse. Hopefully we’ll get some veggies.

Tomorrow we leave to go camping for Hannah’s 18th birthday. She loves to camp. This will be the third camping birthday. We’re using HipCamp. I had no idea this existed. It’s like Airbnb for camping. It’s going to be a short camping trip because of Donny’s schedule, but I’m sure it will still be fun.

Since his car is bigger than my little one we are taking his. The dead mouse smell is still lingering, but I gave that interior a scrubbing and it’s much better. This is about the only time I miss all the room we had in the Flex, but we’ll make it work. We always do.

Backyard Campout

On By thefunkyfrugalistaIn Home life, WeekendLeave a comment

With the quarantine being lifted more and more each day, we decided to let the kids each invite a friend over for a backyard campout.The weather has been so iffy lately, but today there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

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The guests were due to arrive at 3. Donny and I decided to work on the yard before everyone showed up. I finally repotted some plants, got my planters hung up and found a useful place for our chalkboard that no longer fit in our house.

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When the kids arrived they all piled into my son’s room to play jackbox. It’s a super fun interactive game. You buy game packages and everyone plays on their phone. Hours can go by and you don’t even realize it. It’s been a great distraction with being stuck at home.

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With the sun getting lower, it was time to set up the tent.

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After we chowed down on hotdogs I asked the kids if they wanted to walk to the park. It’s half a mile away and I fully intended to go with them. Donny was pressing me to let them go by themselves. I was sure, 100% positive, that they’d want me to go. Nope, they didn’t. I have to admit that I was a little crushed. The helicopter parent in me was panicking. Thoughts were running through my mind about everything that could and surely would happen to them. Thanks to Donny, the sane more rational one of the two of us, he talked me off the ledge. For the record, they did call me to come pick them up, so that’s a little win, right?

When it got dark we made the quintessential camping dessert. Smores for the win.

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By this time it was getting late. Donny and I were tired and the kids were ready for parents to go in so they could hang out. Yes, there are both boys and girls staying in the tent, but they are all just really good friends. Remember, helicopter parent here. I watch and listen very closely.

They wanted the giant, bright gulag-ish interrogation light that we have in the backyard off. I’m sure my neighbors were happy about that too because I’m pretty sure it illuminates their bedroom pretty good. We left them with glow sticks, flashlights and I left the twinkle lights on in the patio (aka carport).

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Now it’s bedtime and morning is going to be here before we know it. I hope we get some sleep.  I’ve checked on them more than I care to admit.