Camping Part I: Starting Out

This weekend was quite the exciting one for Austin and I. We both needed a break that included plenty of nature in it--so we decided to go camping!!! :) Nothing huge, just a little overnight at the local Ray Roberts Lake State Park where we could roast some marshmallows and hot dogs, go swimming and hiking, and see the beautiful stars at night. Fortunately, this was a great state park, and so we got to do all of these things, and enjoy relaxing in the fresh outdoor air!

Here is a picture of our camping spot! :) We stayed at campsite 34A, and loved it!!! :) You had to hike a ways in to get to the site, but it looked right over the lake. Also, we went camping in the "primitive" tent site areas, so the water was a little walk away, but nothing too far. :) What a wonderful treat! Everything was beautiful, and everyone that we met who worked there was very friendly and helpful. :)

I love this picture because it illustrates so well how excited both Austin and I both were to get to go camping this past Friday! :) Even though we were in the "primitive" camping area, the site still had a picnic table, fire pit, and a pole for hanging a lantern on. All in all, not bad I thought!

This is the view looking out to the lake. This is what we saw when we woke with the sunrise (sort of). :) The state park here was beautiful, with tons of trees, and lots of little critters. In fact, the night we stayed there, a little animal came creeping right up next to our tent! We never figured out what it was, but from the footsteps, it sure sounded like a deer. :) Before we went I read all up about the different types of animals here at the state park, and it did say that white-tailed deer were spotted around here. Hurray! :)

This campsite was divided into two spots: 34A and 34B. These were our friendly neighbors next door at 34B in the orange tent. We didn't really get to meet them since we got in so late, but they seemed like a nice little family, with the parents there with their son and daughter (probably around 9 and 11).

Here is Austin building our fire in the morning. We got to the state park too late to buy firewood there, so when I went shopping at the store for some camping food (those healthy hot dogs, buns, and marshmallows), I checked to see if the store was selling firewood yet. We were in luck! Only $4 for a nice big bundle, so that we had enough firewood for a big night fire, and another fire in the morning! :) Luckily the weather was just cool enough that a fire was a treat (but not too cold so that a fire was an absolute necessary to stay warm). Austin was our fire person in charge of building and maintaining so that we could enjoy the fire as long as we wanted. :)

This is actually so you can take a closer look at the tent that we set up in the dark (with the help of a flashlight) around 9pm Friday night. The rain fly is so nice, if it was hot or rainy you could sit underneath and stay cool and dry. :) Here you can see we put our camping chairs underneath the fly for the night. Then in the morning when we woke up, we could sit in them and put our shoes on! Pretty nifty, we thought. :)

This picture is to show the inside of our tent a little. Here Austin in on our air mattress huddled up in his sleeping bag being silly. :) It was the perfect weather for camping...not too cold at night, and just right during the day!

Austin has been dying to try out the camp stove we got for our wedding this past June. Here he is cooking the breakfast sausage that we ate with our scrambled eggs. Yum yum! :) Everything is even more delicious when you're camping.

Here I am, eating the delicious breakfast! The camping chairs we also got from our wedding, and made the camping trip MUCH easier, and a great place for our water bottles to rest. :)

Austin, in his element poking the fire. Ever the eagle scout! :)

We were in the middle of packing up after breakfast, since checkout is at 2 ( we wanted to hike and swim without worrying about getting out in time). Austin looked so cute as he packed his backpacking camping backpack so seriously. :) I just had to grab the camera and take an action shot! :)

This was pretty much one of the nicest, cleanest state parks I have ever been to. Austin and I loved it, and can't wait to go back for more camping! :) Stay tuned for the next segment of our camping trip!!!! :)