As we prepare to take ownership of our first motorhome next month, I reflect on how we got to this point. One part of that journey has been our car camping.
In Texas, we car camped as a couple in our first few years of marriage and with our first baby. In the UK, with a much larger tent, we camped with two preteen children.
- From Sugar Land, Texas 1998-2000: Sea Rim State Park, Guadalupe River, Inks Lake State Park, Lake Livingston State Park, Lake Texana State Park, Stephen F. Austin State Park, and Martin Dies Jr. State Park.
- From Austin, Texas 2000-2003: Pace Bend Park, Fort Parker State Park, Lake Somerville State Park.
- From Southampton in southern England 2009: Holmsley Airfield and YMCA Fairthorne Manor.
- In England’s Lake District in 2010 and 2011: Fisher Ground and Santon Bridge.
- Reflection
Sea Rim State Park in May 1998
Three months after our wedding, we decided to try camping on the way to Janet’s mom from Sugar Land to Crowley, Louisiana. I am surprised Janet ever entertained the idea again! We used my backpacking tent and I have two vivid memories. First, when getting up in the morning, I remember seeing a queue of mosquitoes just outside our zipper! Second, just as we got into our rented canoe, an alligator poked his head out of the water immediately alongside. I guess it’s experiences like this that make or break a relationship! Janet was great at scrapbooking too.
Guadalupe River in May 1998
Camping by the Guadalupe River over Memorial Day weekend seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately, much of Texas agrees, especially college kids. Our first campsite was overflowing, and we moved to another one that wasn’t much better and partied all night. For the second night, we moved to an RV campsite which worked better. We enjoyed visiting a cave, and visited several Texas State Parks, realizing that they suited our vibe. We managed to enjoy a relaxing float down the Guadalupe River!
Inks Lake State Park in July 1998
We were drawn again to the Texas hill country, staying at Inks Lake State Park with a great visit to Colorado Bend State Park. I still remember that deer! The pictures show our improved tent, that Janet could at least sit up in, if not stand! I’m surprised we didn’t find it too hot, but perhaps the lower humidity (compared to Sugar Land and the gulf coast) was the draw and I spot my hammock!
Lake Livingston State Park in October 1998
The cooler temps inspired our first camping trip with other people – Doug and Michele Lambert – who have become lifelong friends. Michele helped with taking my favorite silhouette photo!
Lake Texana State Park in February 1999
Camping with the Lamberts was always fun, especially because Doug was very proud of his camp cooking, especially breakfast. I remember this trip being particularly cold. We had told the Lamberts that we would bring an extra duvet for them, but forgot, and then had a very cold first night before a trip to Walmart the following morning.
Stephen F. Austin State Park in April 1999
After a road trip to Big Bend for Spring Break, we joined our Young Marrieds Sunday School class’s camping trip to Stephen F. Austin, where lazing around in hammocks was a central activity.
Martin Dies Jr. State Park in October 1999
After a summer road trip to Newfoundland, we met up with Joyce (Janet’s twin) and Scott for a fun camping weekend.
Pace Bend Park in October 2000
After moving to Austin in early 2000, we camped less. While the transfer was an exciting opportunity through work, we also looked forward to living in the Texas hill country having greatly enjoyed our camping trips there. By October, things settled down enough for our first Austin-based camping trip at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis, and our Chocolate Labrador Snickers joined us.
Fort Parker State Park in February 2001
We continued focusing on state park camping with this visit.
Lake Somerville State Park in October 2003
There was a pause in our camping trips as we did some other fun things, and then Bailey was born in March 2003. We met the Lamberts “half way” at Lake Somerville State Park, enjoying our first camping trip with kids. While not captured in any photos, a storm on the first night flooded our tent and we sought shelter in the local Dairy Queen until it lost its power. Otherwise, it was a cold and windy weekend, but still lots of fun.
2003 – 2009
After Bailey arrived in 2003, Samuel arrived in 2004, and we transferred to Beijing and then Southampton. For about six years, our adventures did not include sleeping under canvas, though we took fun holidays to France and Devon in 2008 where we stayed in a “static caravan.” A rented motorhome trip to the Lake District in 2008 was our first RV trip and reawakened our desire to go camping. We had not been reluctant to camp with the kids; it’s just a lot more effort with little ones and life had gotten in the way.
Camping at Holmsley Airfield Campsite in June and July 2009
To camp as a family,, we needed a new tent. Camping is popular in England, but because it rains so much, the tents have lots of room to accommodate covered living. Our tent was a mansion! It could sleep six in three bedrooms, with the same space again fully enclosed, and the same space again covered. We discovered a perfect campsite at Holmsley, a nearby former WW2 airfield, and we visited twice with perfect weather. These were mostly simple fun escapes, allowing the kids to run around and explore. Perhaps the most vivid memory is when a moth got inside Bailey’s “bedroom.” Bailey has a near pathological fear of moths, so you can imagine how that went. Samuel discovered how much fun his stomp rocket was while Bailey focused on her reading and making a new friend. We certainly saw the value of getting the kids outside.
YMCA Family Camp at Fairthorne Manor, Southampton, in August 2009
This camp’s assortment of outdoor activities really helped our kids overcome some of their outdoor fears and realize what they could do. While they were already avid tree climbers, they experienced zip lines, the blob, climbing, and abseiling. Such camps are rarer in the UK compared to the US and it was fun to participate as a family.
Fisher Ground in The Lake District in August 2010
Our transfer at the beginning of 2010 to Cumbria, on the edge of England’s Lake District, was like a dream. While the job was very tough, we lived on the edge of England’s most beautiful national park. Fisher Ground was a very popular large family campsite nestled in a valley with great access to many sites to explore, from steam trains to waterfalls, or just climbing the nearest fell. Our new dear friends, the Callaghans, visited, and we were again blessed with great weather. It was a very special place to camp.
Santon Bridge in August 2011
The following year, we returned to the same area, staying at another great campsite in Santon Bridge. This trip was with two other families, our best friends in the UK – the Callaghans and the Wyatts. It included a great hike up Scafell Pike with Rob and his father-in-law. Otherwise, the weather was more usual, i.e., wet, but we had plenty of room to eat, play cards, and have a fire for smores.
Reflection
We have many fond memories of our camping trips. It was a great, affordable way for the whole family, however large, to get into nature together. The open air, weather, campfires, and activities bond you with family and friends. After our last family trip in 2011, Janet and Bailey were less keen about sleeping on the ground. That’s when Peter and Samuel started backpacking, and family trips migrated to a travel trailer or an RV.
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 