Camping Out

As I had been gone for nearly a month "the hubby" was truly happy and eagerly anticipating my arrival - so much so to my "treat" (let's say) he rented a log cabin about an hr away at Toledo Bend! Now we generally visit Toledo Bend in the summers and have BBQ's with friends as the boys frolic in the water and I catch some sun (as its the closest and cleanest thing to the beach in the area) but we've never used its facilities otherwise. AND we have always gone to the TX side (which equates to coming to a fork in the road and making a left instead of a right) but boy did it make a world of difference when it came down to what we wanted to do!

Area in blue represents Toledo Bend

We had made that "right" by mistake one time and ventured to the LA side but only found trailers, dilapidated campgrounds, and RV's and immediately hightailed it outta there in the other direction! Now, I've been in trailers that are nicer than my current apartment, believe me - it must be connotation they conjure; it must just be permanently embedded from my city upbringing (like living a stone's throw from the "projects" was such a bourgeoisie living experience, LOL). And although we are and have been Southern transplants for close to 6-years now, it's something about seeing campers/RV's and trailer communities that just makes an area unappealing to me - especially when it appears as if it's no longer a getaway but a way-of-life when it's supposed to be a getaway. If I'm gonna "rough it" at a campsite, I really don't want the impression that I am there with "permanent residents" (it could be just me, but hey). And maybe that was it. The area seemed more like a community than a campground. But not one in which I would like to be, one in which "Freaky Jason" or "Micheal Myers" was gonna wander into from down the road outta their nearby housing development. OK - I think I've drawn the appropriate image.

The other thing was, as sweet as the thought was of "the hubby" to plan such a romantic getaway - it was the last thing I wanted to do! I had been away for over three weeks - all I wanted to do was sleep in my own bed, lounge in my PJ,s, and take in my family. I didn't wanna be away from Rah anymore time, I wanted to be with them both. But, I only had the nerve to tell him the latter (he doesn't read the blog - no worries, LOL). So he quickly changed the romantic getaway into a family getaway and what else could I do but oblige!

I arrived home Wednesday night, packed and grocery/supply shopped all day Thursday and we headed out first thing Friday morning. Meanwhile all of the luggage and laundry from my travels was still piled in the hallway and my house was a complete mess as "my boys" had been living as "independent souls" since I had not been home - All I could do is think of back being in my bed first chance I get back from this family getaway and the pile of housework that now awaited me (insert expletive and exhaustion).

Now, I knew what I was in for because as I stated earlier, we had stumbled upon this place a few years back when we went the wrong way so I had accepted that - I did 8-years ARMY, I camped outside, I dug holes for bathroom usage - couldn't be worse than that? The weather was crisp and cool low to mid-50s, rain was expected but not for the first couple days, we had the option for a cabin if we so desired ( "the hubby" was thoughtful in that regard) he knows I can be finicky, but I guess that was also because it was originally a romantic getaway, my bad. But, nonetheless I was ready to rough it, and I knew Rah would enjoy that more - especially the campfire and making S'mores. It was just the mere fact of the timing that bugged me - had this trip been just one week later, I would have had no issue, but I had to "suck it up" because I needed and wanted to spend time with my family and he had been so thoughtful, if this was the plan, so be it! But dang, did I want to be on my pillow top, under my comforter, and walking through my house without the need of bathing with shower shoes! Ahhhh...just the simple luxuries!

We all dressed in layers and packed the staple necessities to eat, drink, entertain, and care for ourselves in case of an emergency. We did not bring any forms of electronics - we were going "family time" full throttle! When we arrived to our surprise the campgrounds had received a complete overhaul! There were updated cabins, the campgrounds were well manicured, and it appeared it was newly sectioned off according to your method of transportation/sleeping accommodation (i.e. campers/RV area, cabin area, and tent area) it was much more aesthetically pleasing, I must say! I was automatically put to ease. Maybe a few others had shared/expressed similar views of mine. Or maybe this had been a completely different campground. This is the largest man-made body of water in the South - we came initially looking for a beach like atmosphere summers ago and what we we saw was the total opposite, maybe it just threw us for a loop. With the long stretch of shore that accompanies it, there must be varying degrees of what one may deem suitable to live. I now felt a since of ease (of which I didn't feel I needed to feel a since of ease about in the first place), if you can follow.

You can actually see the relation of  DeRidder to Toledo Bend

View from our cabin

The inside of the cabin was just as nice and incorporated all the updated essential amenities, it felt as if we were in a little hotel log cabin in the woods: full kitchen (fully stocked with cookware and utensils) w/stove, refrigerator/freezer, and microwave, 1-bedroom with a wardrobe (full bed - you must provide your own linen), 1- full bathroom/wet room with seated shower (you must provide your linen), open living room/dining room with sofa and dining table w/extensions, and a flat screen TV complete w/satellite cable in addition to a spacious loft area overhead (Rah had a ball up there). I mean what more could you want, maybe a washer a dryer? They had the facilities right on site within walking distance and a general store should you have forgotten anything else.

Rear view of our cabin

Front of our cabin

Rah heading up to the loft

 We ended up having to pitch our tent inside - as we had of course, scared Rah so much with tales of "Big Foot" that the last thing he wanted to do was sleep outdoors, HA! We gathered wood for the fire, and Darryl chopped it with his new axe (he just had to buy it), we climbed trees to see who could get the highest (Darryl won of course), we had nature walks and answered Rah's million questions, grilled fish, burgers, hot dogs, and corn, we made Smores of which none of us could finish - those things are way too much (and that's saying a lot for me since I like anything sweet), told Rah more spooky stories and scared him by throwing rocks in the woods and making sounds by throwing our voices (Darryl even said he had to go check on something just to go the other way and tap on the side of the house, Rah's heart could have jumped from his chest as he crept quietly to me for safety and told me to "stay quiet and still so we wont be seen"), and lastly we just sat on bench swings watching in the views as Rah skipped rocks and fed ducks. It was simply perfect.

Corn hot off the grill

Darryl "Paul Bunyan" Swann

Making Smores and telling spooky tales

The cabin was very large; it could easily accommodate 7 - we have agreed to go back - we actually stayed an additional day. Well, we were going back and forth with the idea but hadn't quite settled on a firm decision as the following day called for rain yet but as we were heading out for church services Sunday morning the truck wouldn't start - we felt the decision was made for us, LOL! We lounged all day on Sunday in the cabin as the rain prevented much more and that was perfectly fine for us adults, not too much so for a 5 year old so when it settled down a bit he was allowed out and had a grand old messy time in the mud, leaves, and such!

We had no cellphones - Darryl did not bring his and mine had died, thus not many pics to share - yeah, I know. Campground contacted a tow truck to get the truck home (yeah, and hour Glad, we have great insurance); the campground security also took him on base where he borrowed a friend's vehicle so we finished our "family getaway"! Rah and I stayed at the cabin while all of this took place, he didn't arrive back until around 2am (insisting on giving me a quick review on gun use before he left like I was gonna have to defend our homestead). He's so dramatic at times! I rolled my eyes the entire time as 1. I know how to use a gun and 2. Seriously, we're at at campground that is monitored 24-hrs by security and under the jurisdiction of the military.

So after awaking the next morning and creating a few more memories, we packed and cleaned ensuring we left as little carbon footprint as possible and headed back home. There would be 2 more car exchanges before we finally made it there and got the truck up and running - but, hey you can't have a camping trip without a good camp story! And there you have the Swann Family Version.

My cleanup crew

BTW - I slept the entire week thereafter...