To Camp or not to Camp...THAT is the question.

(Graham added some commentary, see if you can find it!)


A couple of weeks ago The Chaney Family (minus Max) went camping. We just got back from our trip to Southern Oregon on Monday morning and the Elder Chaney's came by our house to pick up myself, the munchkin, and the dog. We packed the car to maximum, including a soft roof rack bag, and headed off toward the mountain. Our first stop was Trillium Lake, it sounded really nice and small. Once we got there, we found that all the spots on the lake were taken and the sites in the middle of the campground were pretty exposed. Next we took off to Clear Lake, once again, not very exciting. Finally we decided to go to Timothy Lake which had been our original choice. We passed the first 2 campgrounds without even realizing that they were part of the lake. I think it was meant to be as the campground we ended up at was named Hood View.

We found a great campsite that was set back aways from the campground road, right by the entrance. We were only a few steps away from the beach area and the dock (not to mention the pottys!) We set up camp and got ready to eat some dinner.

At dusk we headed down to the logs at the beach to watch the sun set. Oliver played "Thank you" with Granny Nanny. He picks up rocks, or any foreign material he wants to put in his mouth, and then you say thank you as you either take it away or he places it your hand. It is starting to become one of his favorite games.

Graham was meeting us up at the mountain after he got of work. Luckily he got off early, as it was slow, and made it up while it was still light out. We hung out around the campfire and had some yummy yummy smores. It was all so exciting that it took Oliver awhile before he gave in to the fatigue. That night wasn't too bad for him, he woke up once and Daddy had to go heat up water for a bottle. He wouldn't go back to sleep in his crib so he slept with me for a couple more hours. I slept terribly, with a pillow at the wrong height, freezing, then boiling and always worrying if Oliver was warm enough and not rolling over him. Graham got up sometime before dawn to go fishing. I had him move Oliver to his crib and was able to doze for a little while longer.

That morning we had french toast, a first for Oliver!

After breakfast we got ready and loaded up in the car for a hike. We drove a couple miles to the Trail head, parked and headed on our way. It was about 3 mile round trip hike, mostly level and shady, my kind of hike! Once we made to the end we sat down for a light lunch while Graham went fishing, again. He's pretty rad.

The lake at the Trail Head.A sign at the beginning of the trail...we didn't see any snakes.

Oliver fell asleep in the back pack, on the way in AND the way out!


The water was so clear.
After we had lunch, and Graham was done fishing, we started back to the car. Poppa J, Daddy & I left Mr. Oliver with Granny Nanny and drove into Government Camp since they needed more beer. I used the opportunity to doze a little in the car and be off of Mommy duty for an hour or so. We had another lovely meal for dinner and Graham went fishing again.

Oliver went to sleep much earlier, when it was still light out, but woke up only after about an hour. That night also ended up being a terrible night I still feel bad for the other Campers! Oliver finally went to sleep about 1/2 hour after we went to "bed". I tried moving him but he wasn't having it so he slept with me again. Sometime early, early in the morning he woke up screaming, and screamed for at least 10 mins as Daddy made a bottle. Finally after getitng his bottle, a fresh diaper and some new, footie pj's he fell back to sleep and I didn't even try to move him this time. He woke up again at about 6:30 am with another scream fest and was happy once he was up and out of the tent. Let's just say he's not such a happy camper!


Lake Timothy at Dawn.

We packed up our car and hit the road by 9am, Oliver slept 99% of the way home. We got home, both showered and then Graham was off to work a full day. Boy is he dedicated. All in all it was a fun trip but a very tiring one!