DEER CREEK CAMPGROUND 7/31 - 8/2

The Munson's

Scott, Ben & Marc

AHH!!! The good ole' outdoors in southern Missouri. We have finally hit a time in our lives where we can relax, a little. We were supposed to go boating with Shannon and the fam but there was a tube that busted..I don't really know the specifics, because lets face it, Shannon told me and I don't think she knew what she was talking about...but thanks to Michelle being so insistent that we go camping and her determination to find a place, our weekend was salvaged. She found a campsite in SO-MO that floated the Black River. Michelle and Marc took care of everything, food, campground, float details...We couldn't/wouldn't have been able to do it without them. The campground was great it had water on site and just up the road was hot running water, clean toilets and electricity. More props to M&M they were so very patient with me as I packed what I thought I would need, at the last minute. However, Marc & Scott took turns poking fun at me and what I considered "a necessity". I will have you know that I used EVERYTHING that I brought and they were all necessary, especially all of my yummy munchies. :)

Marc grabbed one of his parents tents for the Munson's and it was...mini. We had some good laughs while Scott & Marc set it up for them and even more when Ben & Becca got there. They are pretty "outdoorsy" people so they didn't mind at all that their sleeping arrangements were going to be "cozy".

Friday night we made some super great foil dinners and sat by the fire. *** just as a side note, just because there are a wide array of spices available does not mean that you need to use all of them. They won't get their feelings hurt if you skip them***

The Girlies

We found a little sand bar so we decided to stop and eat, it started to rain so we chilaxed for a little while, but then it started coming down a little harder. We had 2 options. Sit and wait it out, and run the risk that we might have canoe to the pick up place in pouring down rain and possibly lightning or we could make our way to the pick up point while it was raining lightly, and then sit on the shore there. We decided to make our way there.

It was cold and rainy, which made it more cold. And a little more miserable. But all in all we were all in high spirits....

Well, that was until we came upon the smiley face and then completely over analyzed what our directions were. There was shore line but there was a pretty significant incline. We figured that this couldn't possibly be the real pick up point and that the man told us that once we see the smiley face we go just around the turn and the pick up spot is there...Apparently, there was discussion but Scott and I were resolved in thinking that this wasn't where we were getting picked up and there were some drunk people talking to Scott telling him where the other pick up points were-In case you didn't know, Scott has very little tolerance for people giving unsolicited advise-So, we kept on going not realizing that Michelle really wanted to stop. The long and the short of it is that we missed the pick up point. We kept hoping that we would see another pick up point. Finally, we came upon a truck that had a canoe trailer. So we all got out and Scott and Ben called out campground and they said that they would come and get us. It was only like 3 so we had gone 10 miles in 4 hours.... WAY TO QUICK. We were so grateful that they were going to come and get us. Well, that gratitude soon turned into this...

Apparently, we were at the "SECLUDED CAMPGROUND" and it was just that--secluded. Nothing going on, nothing around. Except for a bomb shelter looking port-a-potty, and the little home of the owners.... We were there for HOURS. Waiting for our campground to come and get us. We thought they were on their way but apparently they started to pick up the other floaters. Early. So we had to wait until the last load had already made it back to camp. So sometime around 6 (I think, nobody had any way to tell the time, well, except for their boy scout skills, so like I said nobody knew what time it was) the bus came to the camp ground they loaded the 3 pelicans into the back and off we went. The driver was not very friendly at first, I think he was trying to make us feel bad that we missed the pick up point. I just wanted to tell him that we know, there is nobody more upset than us. The worst part of the whole thing is that between the 6 of us we were probably the 6 most educated people and we didn't have a drop of alcohol in our systems. It was a little embarrassing. I think that might have been our saving grace. When we got back to the DCC the owner was out on the deck waiting. He looked like he was about to punish us, but when he realized that it was an honest mistake and that we were all completely sober, I think he felt bad...I don't know but he was really nice. He even said to come back next year. That is another story...

Things I was grateful for:

It could be worst (GAME)

Food

Water

Gatorade

Good friends

Good Company

Grapes

a Camera

Shade

Towels

the pelican with built in Ram X-cel

Lessons I learned:

When the guy says that the get out spot is by a smiley face, regardless of whatever logic you are attempting to use...GET OUT AT THE SMILEY FACE!!

Bring a watch

Always have bug spray when you are in the great outdoors

Try to float to your campsite

DON'T GO CAMPING!!!!

*Michelle I am half joking on that statement

We were all very excited to be back to our campground

We were also very excited for some good ole camp cooking by Mr. Maddox. Even though they didn't say it, too many times, there was nobody happier then Ben & Becca when they got into their car to head back home. Don't worry guys you won't be uninvited :)

On our way home we stopped at a flea market. It was a great time. We just took our time and found some great finds. Such as: a baseball glove, brand new girl shoes $.50 a pair, a catcher's mask, MO belt buckles, a bath seat, the Happy Anniversary figurine, a personal port-a-potty, a xylophone...there was so much more but so little time..I know we will get another oppurtunity. Thank you M&M for enjoying some of the little joys of life with us.

We got home and apparently a town of bugs dined on our bodies/blood. We were eaten alive. OH how those little buggers itched. This is one of the reason's that I will never be left in the outdoors without spray. Also, maybe th reason that I will never go campiopng again. But then again it might be like deciding that you want another baby, giving birth and being pregnant...you forget all the negative. I guess we will see in a year. Until then.