Akin Bits: Camping at Indian Springs State Park

Another fall, another family camping trip. This one was very last minute. As in, three days prior, I said, "Let's go camping!" and we booked it. Three days later, we loaded the car (way too full) and headed off. The compromise with this last minute trip was that we'd try a campground a lot closer to home. Indian Springs State Park is one we have never tried, and if I remember right it's only 35 minutes or so away from us. Upon arriving in the park, we looked at each other and remarked, "That was short!" Compared to our usual two hour plus drive, that was easy-peasy. We checked in and decided on our site, which wasn't difficult since there were very few people there (it was mid-week) except a few campers and RVs. Our tent was the only one to be found.

Call it good fortune or good planning, but we have never had heavy rain on a camping trip. Once a short drizzle that let up quickly, but no heavy or steady rain. Well, there's a first time for everything. In fact, this was a camping trip with several "firsts," and they weren't all good. One of which was extreme difficulty with lighting a fire. I'm no fire expert, but I can build a good fire in decent conditions. This time the wood was too green, or wet, or something. We didn't have fire starters (my fault), and due to rain prior to our stay, everything surrounding the campsite was also nice and damp. When it comes to camping, fires are a must. In fact, if I couldn't have a fire, I doubt I'd go camping at all.

So, right after dinner outside, it started to sprinkle, and then it picked up. By that time the sun was going down, but it wasn't too cold. The kids had been playing on the playground right across from our campsite (another first, and the perk of getting a good site), and when it started to rain, we debated having them come back to the site to stay "clean." Well, anyone who camps should have just laughed at that dumb statement. There is no "clean" when you're camping with kids.

What happens when it rains on the playground? Anyone? WATER SLIDE. Yes, the playground slide quickly became a slippery and fast ticket to flying into the woodchips and mud. The kids were ecstatic. They were covered from head to toe (the following picture does NOT do it justice) in dirt and mud. Oh, and they were so happy. I realized I might as well just let them play and get dirty then shower them off and put them straight in pajamas. That way we could save our other clothes for the next two days.

(All my pictures from this trip are from my phone. I actually forgot my Nikon DSLR (gasp!), but I probably wouldn't have gotten it out much due to the rain anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.)

When they were fully saturated, it was time for a shower. I stood outside the campground shower and attempted to clean them, low water pressure and all. Then I put them straight into pajamas and let Davey carry them back to the tent one at a time. It was tricky but it worked. Once the kids were snuggled in all dry, there wasn't much else to do. No fire due to the rain. So what do you do at 9:00 pm in a situation like that?

You go to bed.

The next day was damp but not rainy, but we were still having trouble with the fire due to the wood we had bought. Ugh.

That night at least we did have a fire. My dad (Grandpa Jim) had brought a laser pointer back from his recent Europe trip and Maddox loved it. It has a kaleidoscope effect, which looks really cool at night in the trees. That was some good entertainment, especially for Maddox.

After packing up our final day, we went to the natural spring located in the park. Many people come to gather water there and drink it, claiming it has health benefits. Smelled strongly of sulfur (read: rotten eggs), but hey, people love it. The kids were much more happy climbing on and through the gate to the springs.