Jamestown Camping Trip Labor Day Weekend

Great Blue Lobelia growing along the River Trail 

Jamestown Camping Trip Labor Day Weekend

Kenny, Dana & Gabe Koogler 

Friday Aug. 31 & Sat. Sept. 1, 2018

Pix are here starting with frame 401

   We had planned on taking Gabriel and going on a long weekend camping trip for Labor Day.

We've been trying to take this kid camping since June.   Every time something seemed to happen to

thwart our efforts.  Kenny was preparing for back surgery or recovering from it.  The truck and camper debacle.   We had all been sick with some Summer crud and while mine only lasted 

twenty-four hours, Kenny & Gabriel were still not 100%.    Kenny was bound and determined

we were going, and that was that.  He had me book reservations at Maple Hill Campground.

He reasoned it would be a  busy weekend, and we might have trouble getting one if we didn't act fast.    He was correct on that as they were booked by the time we arrived Friday evening.

Gabriel was still very fussy and Kenny was having "sinking spells" every few hours. I told him

I believed it was a bad idea. I wanted to call and cancel, but he said no we were going. 

Hell bent for leather.

          We arrived Friday afternoon very late.  We set up. It was a pretty afternoon with perfect 

weather. Gabriel traveled like a champ napping 90% of the trip over.   I brought over the other pickup with the RZR in tow.   Everything went to plan. I had called John & Sharon to see if they'd be around this weekend? They were going to be around so that was good.   All seemed pretty good to start.

We played in the playground at the RV park a lot.  We got caught in the rain.  We went in and dried off and headed over to see John & Sharon after supper.

         Gabe loved them and he loved Otie the dog and Coon the cat. They tolerated him, but 

only just.   Coon wanted nothing to do with him other than stalking him as prey.   Otie was

more tolerant and let Gabe pet him.   The cabin looked awesome with Sharon's flowers blooming

and all their hard work really has paid off.  

     Season of purple and gold over in the field next to the campground.

    Friday night Gabriel was worn out. He had played hard. Lots of excitement.  Bedtime came and he was ready to go home to his own bed.   He did not want to be in the camper. He did not want to be away from our house or his own crib.   I tried laying down in bed with him, but it was no good.

He finally got in bed with Kenny in our bed.  He fell asleep while I sat up and read.  I went to bed thirty minutes later and we all slept together.   Near morning Kenny finally got up and slept in Gabe's bed.  I woke up with baby boy's arms flung over my face and all sorts of weirdness as he tried to sleep right up against me.   It was a rough night for sure.

       Saturday he was still not eating well from having been sick.   We thought riding the four wheeler

would help get his mind off it.   We went over to see John and Sharon before it got late.

John had an afternoon football game to attend.  We went and rode the river trail for a little.

It was beautiful.  Gabe still was fretting and fussy.   You'd get motrin in him and he'd be pretty good

for four to six hours, but when it wore off he was right back to cranky.   

Blue green waters of the East Fork River today.

Looking upstream you can see advection fog over the water.  The air is much warmer than the water forming condensation mist.

Looking downstream on the river.. it is beautiful. This is the ford and above that the swimming hole.

It is formed from spring water that is always about 68 degrees.

above: John's sweet smile and laugh

Mo, Kenny and Gabe talking and eating M &Ms

Above: Gabe tellin' Mo bout it.

River trail was pretty.  Tons of cardinal flower, green headed coneflowers, great blue lobelia shown above and below.

Below:  Stump with mushrooms and the river mirroring the forest

    We had a rough Saturday and I was exhausted from no sleep.  

We finally took Gabe back to the camper in more or less defeat.   I told Kenny I felt we were in for 

yet another rough night.  Gabe flat said "Wanna go home!" and finally Papaw was willing to listen to reason.   They let me lay down for an hour to nap while they went to play and get things packed up to go home.    We bagged the trip after only a day.   Gabriel just doesn't like camping or at least was not about it this trip.   We won't give up on him, but will try to take along Tessa and Michael and the rest of the family to see if that helps him enjoy it more.  We also need to pick a Jellystone Campground or some location geared specifically toward kids.   Keep him busy doing what he likes.

    We headed home and were darn glad to be there.   Everyone relaxed and had a better nights sleep in our own beds. Jared came up Sunday and Monday to visit.  He needed to be with Gabe and vice versa.    Not what we had planned, but like the Gambler says "Know when to fold 'em."