Third Annual Camping Trip

After three fabulous fun-filled days in the woods, I'm back indoors with my pups. I'm not the most outdoorsy girl in the world, but I do love our annual camping trip and I'm beyond thrilled that with the circumstances this year it still took place.

As I just mentioned this was my third year in a row heading up to Lazy J's campground in Rosman, NC, where we usually do the same activities of playing in the river that runs along our camp site, hiking to Rainbow Falls and Turtle back, and eating way too much junk food. So how might I have done something for the first time on this trip I've taken three years in a row? Let me elaborate.

Camping Solo
I've never gone camping 'on my own.' I've either gone with my parents when I was younger or with my husband. This year, I was responsible only for myself and didn't have anyone else there to partner up with for activities. Sure, there were ten of us total and anyone would have happily helped me with anything I needed, but I didn't have that one person that was my go-to. And not once did I feel singled out for being 'single.' Verdict: I'd camp solo any day.  Sure it sounds selfish and I enjoy camping as a team, but I really relished in doing what I wanted and only having to think about me for a change.

The Tent
For some setting up a tent can be a difficult task. I'm not that person. Read the directions, make sure all the necessary parts are there and it's a breeze. However, I've never had to set up my extravagant 4-person tent on my own before. I usually get cast as the direction-reader and part-giver-outer. Not this time, I got to do it all! And little ol' me did it all on my own. In addition to setting it up on my own, I got to enjoy the spaciousness all alone too. A tiny bit of me was a little anxious it would feel totally empty and the scary noises in the woods and granddaddy long-leg silhouettes would keep me up at night. Verdict: No matter the size, tent assembly (and disassembly) is pretty easy without assistance and there's no one to bicker with. Torrential downpours, weird noises, and bugs aside, sleeping alone was a breeze! I've actually never slept better on a camping trip than I did this year. 

Wade in the Water
The French Broad River runs right along Lazy J's campground which is the main reason I don't even consider going anywhere else to camp. No matter what anyone else is doing, it's always perfectly acceptable to walk about 5 feet from the campfire and wade in the water. It's even more acceptable to pick up the river rocks and throw them near others who are wading thus splashing water in their face. I find it very difficult to accurately describe how amazingly perfect the river water is at Lazy J's, but here's a pretty good visual. It's crystal clear and the perfect temperature.

So back to the theme, what could possibly be new related to this river that I've camped next to for three years running?

First, they've been getting lots of rain so the water is at least a foot higher than normal. Because of that we were able to rent tubes and float down through the grounds without having to stand up and walk over the rocks this year.

Second, a short walk north of our camp site is a pretty great swimming hole and rope swing.  A bit of water I've never been in before. Guess who was in it this year? Guess who jumped off the rock pictured below and swam across to the swing? Guess who climbed up the set of super sketchy shaky rocks and lept off the rope swing? If you guessed me, you win a prize! It took some convincing for me to swing of the rocks, but all I could think was it's not something I would normally do, I have three people here all cheering me on who have my best interest at heart and why not?

Third, every year on our trip we make the drive to Gorges State Park and hike to Rainbow Falls then on to Turtleback. Other than the amazing scenery and views, we mostly make the hike for everyone to slide off Turtleback. It looks something like this:

I've never slid down Turtleback. I have the irrational fear that I'll freak out right before I go over and throw my head back thus causing me to black out, float past the huge boulders and plumet to my death over Rainbow falls below. I know, I'm crazy! This year I was coerced into a binding pinky-promise that I would go over. However, because fo the aforementioned heavy rainy season and rising waters, Turtleback was deemed suicidal. 

Verdicts: Tubing was a blast and I was thrilled the water a bit higher this year at the campground so we could enjoy it. Happy doesn't begin to describe the feeling I felt after swinging out over the water on the rope from the shaky rocks. I was so proud of myself for climbing up there (with assistance of course) and doing it even though I was scared and shaking! And while I didn't get the chance this year to go down Turtleback for the first time, seeing how much of a difference a few days rain makes was absolutely astounding. Seeing the power of the water and knowing if anyone went in we'd never speak to them again definitely gave you something to think about. 

I'm sure there is plenty of other things I'm leaving out about this weekend as well, but my brain is still a bit fuzzy from the windy mountain roads. All in all, it was wonderfully relaxing weekend with great friends and I hope we're still able to do it again next year. 

**I didn't play photographer this weekend and don't have copies of this years adventures just yet. All the pictures above are from last year's trip. As soon as I get my mitts on a picture of Turtleback and Rainbow from this year I'll add one from comparison purposes. **