Camporee, Round Three

About three weeks ago we went on our first and only camping trip of The Year of the Disappearing Summer. [Can we take a moment to try and absorb the fact that school started this week? Like we're already in school, people]. The trip is put together by our church, and it's by far my favorite kind of campout, where the menfolk cook all the food (and then play cornhole) and the tweens/teens play with and watch all the kids, and the ladies sit and chat relax with drinks of choice and I inhale two whole books in three days.

This was our third such trip with our church, but this year was a little different. In past years we've always had a group campground reserved at Lake Dillon, but we didn't get in on the lottery to reserve the campground this year (I'm still not quite sure how it works), so the campout was held a bit farther north at Wolford Reservoir. There weren't as many trees, which made for slightly hotter days [but also slightly less frigid nights]. The scenery was a bit more rugged and very striking, and it was fun to be able to spend time on and in the water, riding around in a pontoon boat and splashing around by the dock. (At Lake Dillon you can boat but aren't allowed to actually swim since the lake is part of the Denver watershed).

It was also a better setup for community; there was a good centrally-located area for hanging out and having fun, and we got to know some old friends much better than years past, as well as meet new friends. 

The kids, of course, loved it all--roasting marshmallows, sleeping in the tent, getting faces painted, playing in the dirt, you name it. Me, I'm still lobbying for us to try one of those comfy campers one of these years [you can try to break me of my love of creature comforts, Army, but you'll forever fail]. But as always, it was worth it. I'm loving the tradition this trip has become for us, and I can't wait for next year!

Clifftop view of the swiming hole.

Fast asleep after church on the lake.

S'mores, fading facepaint, and (not so) scary stories.

Goodbye, campsite. See ya next year!