Cozy Camping

My local grandchildren recently finished their homeschool curriculum for this school year and, to celebrate, we planned to go camping at Lake Minatare, located 12 miles northeast of Gering. However, since the kids had been hoping to camp on the far eastern side of the lake, our campsites were probably closer to 17 miles from home.

We avoid camping on weekends, especially holiday weekends, because we've found that the campgrounds are sparcely populated during the week. That's just the way we like it. However, the weather forecast was not in our favor this time. We had planned to leave on Sunday, after church, but Monday's forecast was horrible--rainy, with highs only in the forties. That's not good camping weather unless you like to stay inside your RV, watching TV or reading a good book. Our crew prefers to spend virtually all of their time outdoors, at the beach, so we postponed our trip until Tuesday, leaving just enough time at the lake before the Memorial Day crowd rolled in. It didn't matter to any of the kids that the weather was predicted to be rather cool; in fact, they insisted that "cozy camping," with a campfire to warm them up, was better than anything summer could offer.

There was just one reason why the girls insisted on camping in the same area where we had camped twice last fall: they wanted to see if Jerry Alfred was still thriving.

Jerry Alfred is the name the older girls gave to a windblown sapling that they had transplanted, way back in September, from one part of the beach to the spot they were using for their imaginative play. They were overjoyed to find that the weather- beaten little tree was leafed out, looking as if it had always been right there where they had put it.

Little sister, Lucy, was eager to pose with Jerry Alfred when the girls insisted that I take its (his?) picture.

Even though Tuesday's high temperature didn't venture out of the 50s, the sun was shining and the Cottonwoods on the east side of the lake blocked the rare east wind. We found the expansive beach quite pleasant that afternoon, so the kids got busy, digging in the sand or checking to see if the boys' tepees--the ones they had painstakingly built from fallen branches last fall--had survived our windy winter. To no one's surprise, neither tepee had withstood the gale-force winds we had to endure these past few months, but the boys were pleased to find that all of their building materials were laying flat on the ground, right where the tepees had stood.

This time, the boys and girls decided to have a contest to see who could build the best structure, so they wasted no time getting started, while Meagan and I sat with the little girls in the sand, and Levi relaxed in the tent he shared with Tobin. It wasn't long until the sun set over the lake, and it was time for bed.

My motorhome's overcab bunk is a favorite perch, even for those who are too little to sleep there.

The next day began with our traditional breakfast of pancakes and eggs, with all of us crowded into my rather small camper. The day was chilly, windy, and cloudy, but the sandy beach was quite comfortable. Tobin was eager to try a polar plunge, and we were excited to watch him, but no one else even thought about braving the cold water that day.

The four oldest kids resumed their building contest, while the little girls were content to play in the sand for most of the morning.

As lunch time approached, Meagan started a roaring fire in her fire pit, which is the safest option while our part of the state is experiencing such exceptional drought. She baked a delicious peach cobbler over the hot coals, which we all enjoyed after our hamburgers, hot dogs, and baked beans.

   

Lucy wasn't too keen on keeping her warm outer wear where it belonged, so she wrapped up in a blanket while she waited for lunch to be ready. It was warm by the fire, though, while she roasted a hot dog for the first time.

Meagan had been anticipating cooking over the campfire, and everyone agreed that our lunch was a success. But our favorite campfire treat was the banana boats we made that evening, after supper. 

 

 

As Meagan and I were working near the campfire, little Lucy decided to wade through some tall, brown grass, located just a few steps from the back of my camper. All of a sudden, she fell down, flat on her bottom, screamed, scrambled back onto her feet while lifting her hands for Meagan to rescue her, still wailing because she was absolutely terrified. Meagan dashed over to see what was the matter and was astonished to see a fierce-looking, nesting turkey that had successfully hidden from all of us until then. 

 

It was hard to spot that sneaky turkey even when I stood right over her to take her picture. She only left her eggs once, in an apparent attempt to distract us from her nest. The kids took that opportunity to count the eggs--there were eleven--before she sat on her nest again. We were careful to give that turkey plenty of space, but we weren't sure she would be able to evade the vast army of campers who would take over all of Lake Minatare's campsites for the upcoming holiday weekend.

For the life of every living thing is in God's hand, and the breath of every human being.

Job 12:10

Our last day was sunny and warmer, a great day to finish the elaborate structures the kids had started two days earlier. Levi agreed to judge the forts, with criteria that included sturdiest, most creative, best camouflaged, most protected form the weather, and at least one more I can't remember. Everyone worked hard to build admirable structures, each using a tree to stabilize their creation, but the girls edged out the boys this time, based on Levi's criteria.

 

The boys, who are experienced tepee builders, erected their tepee around a tree, and surrounded their yard with a strong fence.

The girls' structure was hard to spot, until we realized that it was built against a tree with plenty of  spreading branches. They used bark to create their walls.

Levi was a thoughtful judge who took his job very seriously.

Millie loves camping, too. Here she is with her own treasure.

I imagine that we will have to camp on the far side of Lake Minatare on our next outing, too, so the kids can check on Jerry Alfred and their structures. But as much as we love the wide, sandy beach, we won't complain when we finally get enough rain to significantly raise the lake's level. The water will eventually drown the tepee and the girls' hidden retreat, and probably Jerry Alfred, as well, but we can always start over on another section of beach on the other side of the lake. And then, there might even be enough water to go skiing!

The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. 

Deuteronomy 28:12

The high water line on the Cottonwoods; the lake is barely visible in the distance.