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A few days ago grandma thought it might be fun if we took Phoebe on an overnight 'camping adventure' up at Giggle Ridge. Grandma has long loved camping but we aren't a fan of being cramped in with thousands of other folks doing the same thing. We had considered our back yard, but Giggle Ridge would be special... not just anyone gets to camp there.
We waited for a warm night and made plans...
I told Phoebe yesterday morning and she was keen on the idea to say the least... we decided the 'cave' on hole 3 was the perfect spot tp sleep. While Phoebe and her mom worked the mini-golf all day grandma and I started gathering the necessary gear. Who would have thought we needed so much stuff for an overnight camping trip. But this had to be right for it was very special... Phoebe's very first night out under the stars.
Phoebe had requested that we roast marshmellows over a REAL fire and grandma concurred. The trouble is there's a campfire ban on account of the extra dry summmer we have been having. Luckily Donna had a portable gas 'log fire' pit which she loaned us. I cut some green sticks to put the marshmellows on as per Phoebe's instructions.
The time dragged by all day with Phoebe constantly asking if it was time to go camping yet. Eventually it was supper time and then she went home to pack her personal gear and get ready.
Phoebe's older cousin was to accompany us, another treat for Phoebe and the cousin too. I picked them up just after nine as we had to wait until the last of the mini-golfers had finished before we could set up camp on the greens.
I arrived at Phoebe's house and she was eagerly waiting with all her camping gear ready by the door. She had her PJ's on and even her horse slippers which always make me smile. Phoebe was galloping to get going! We loaded her and her gear in the truck, including a variety of stuffed animals, her blankie and a pinwheel 'so she could watch the wind blow' as she was camping. We drove up to the golf and Phoebe was getting pretty excited! When we arrived at the golf Phoebe was positively bouncing! Grandma was waiting for us as the last of the customers finished playing golf.
We strolled around the course and Phoebe and Sabrina decided to camp in the 'cave' up in the 'mountain' on hole 3 as it was the perfect place. Grandma and grampa were to sleep about 15 feet away on hole 2.
The girls decided to play a round of golf under the lights - another first for Phoebe! This was pretty cool! Grampa started packing the loads of gear from the trucks onto the adventure golf. I also set up and lit the campfire to set the mood of the evening.
When the girls had finished their quick round of golf they came up to hole 3 in Giggle Mountain and camping started for real! First it was time to set up the beds, arrange the stuffed animals and set the pinwheel in a planter to moniter the wind. Unfortunately there was no breeze to set it in motion but we promised to keep an eye on the delicate instrument through the night. Once everything was in place I killed the lights on the golf and we gathered around the fire, refections were dancing in Phoebe's excited eyes... WE WERE REALLY CAMPING AT LAST!
Grandma explained the fine art of roasting marshmellows and we began. Unfortunately Phoebe's first marshmellow got hot a little quickly and burst into flame. I rescued it, but Phoebe declared the blackened treat to be 'yucky' and so grampa got to eat that one. The next one slipped off the stick and onto the fake wood of the gas fire but grampa rescued it too in a hurry. That one also proved to be not edible for Phoebe. By the third marshmellow Phoebe had got the hang of it and Phoebe declared it to be absolutely YUMMY! Camping was indeed a LOT of fun!
Once the marshmellows were done it was time to brush her teeth and get ready for bed, But since we were camping it might just take a while. Phoebe happily jumped into her bed, but insisted she needed a flashlight for it was kinda dark out there in the cave on Giggle Mountain. After testing each flashlight we had extensively she settled for the very biggest and brightest one. She tucked in her stuffed animals, kissed all goodnight and pulled the covers up to her chin. We all got into our not quite so comfy beds and tried to settle down. It was quiet for about ten seconds. Then the questions started... She suddenly remembered stars were in constellations and wanted us to point them out to her... which we did, making up a few when we ran out of the ones we were familar with. Grandma and grampa knew too well we were in for a long night.
After fifteen minutes of endless questions and fidgeting we asked her if she wanted to move a little closer to grandma and grampa. We all know the answer to that one. So camp was rearranged with everyone on hole 2. Then the whole thing settling in thing started once more...
After 25 minutes grandma asked Phoebe if she would be a little more comfortable if she crawled in with us. Yup. So the camp was rearranged once more to accomodate Phoebe and her entourage of stuffed animals. Grandma and grampa usually sleep in a kingsized bed. But the much smaller sized foamy on the carpet covered concrete would have to do tonight.
The flashlights could finally be turned out now for Phoebe felt secure, all snug in our somewhat comfy bed. And with the flashlights out at last the stars could be admired more than ever... and questions asked more easily than ever, for we were now all nice and close. And since Phoebe's current ambition is to be an astronaut, this was the perfect time to get all kinds of knowlege from grampa, for he always has an aswer to any question Phoebe might ask. And ask she did. Like which star is Mars? How far away is it? Are there aliens on Mars? How did I know. What was after Mars? ANd if you went to the end of the very, very, very end of the road what was there??? and so it continued until she slowly got quieter, then nodded off to sleep.
By this time it was well past midnight, perhaps closer to one and grampa's arm and left leg were asleep, but the rest of me was quite wide awake... but eventually grampa nodded off as well... until 6 am of course when Sarah arrived to blow off the course with the noisy power blower and then begin watering the flowers. Around seven Phoebe began to stir and grandma and grampa watched with delight as she woke with a start, sat up in momentary confusion... then a big smile spread over her face... Phoebe was camping for REAL! It was time to strike camp and head for some breakfast. Camping makes one hungy...
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond, some sort of adventure is usually involved in a broken leg. Lovely story, Dan. It brings back so many memories. I love camping, especially with grandkids!
My grandson and I have been backpacking together six times already and have over seventy miles of trail under our feet. Not many five year olds have experienced that. I finally got to take his three year old sister camping a month ago and we did a three mile hike together through a mountain pass but all the sleeping was done in the RV. In our area, we're not looking for warm nights to camp--we want cool ones at this time of year.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5089 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I am reading "Heidi" to my 6yr old daughter right now and it often makes me think of your stories of Phoebe :)A plucky youngster with a passion for life... just like my young'uns too come to think of it
-------------------- Karen Stanley Signs & Wonders Amherst, VA Posts: 136 | From: Amherst, VA | Registered: Jan 2007
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