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Friday, October 23, 2009
Hippity-hoppity Halloween is On Its Way!
One bunny costume (McCall's Costumes) done and ready for Halloween 2009. Yes, we are shocked that the Big Camper decided not to continue the two-year Halloween Star Wars theme. The Little Camper refuses to be an Easter Egg and instead is waffling between a lion and Rodney Copperbottom from the movie Robots. How we are going to all find a theme to tie all of our costumes together is still a mystery.
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Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Little Things the Little Ones Do
"Blog Action Day is an annual event every October 15th that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance." This year we are blogging about Climate Change.
Last year, Mama Camp took a trip to the Texas gulf coast to celebrate the big camper's 5th birthday. His Grandma and Great-Grammy (in her early 80s) joined us, along with an aunt, uncle and cousins. It was the summer that Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island. A week later Mama Camp checked the Mustang Island web cams and it looked like the beaches were (relatively) clean and the trip was on. The first day was picturesque -- if you just move to the left or right to keep the silhouette of the offshore oil derricks out of the frame.
Two days later when the relatives had gone home and Mama Camp remained to enjoy the rest of our family vacation, we couldn't escape the destruction that Ike brought to the area. (Yes, that's a full-length couch that has washed up on shore.)
"Mama, where did that couch come from? How did it get here? Do you think they miss their couch? What are they going to sit on? What's a hurricane? What do you mean the Earth is changing?" asked the big camper.
The campers may be too young to understand the science of climate change, but they're not too young to participate in conservation and the little things that hopefully decrease our carbon footprint. Mama Camp hopes that the more we expose the campers to nature the more earth conscious they'll become.
Rainwater Collection
Mama Camp installed four rainwater collection barrels to water the flower gardens around the house instead of using city water. Even the little camper (almost three) loves to fill the watering can to fill up the bird bath and sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle the plants. Why pay for water when you can get it for free from the sky? Wasn't rain collecting more commonplace 50 years ago? What made us stop collecting free water? Do our four rain barrels make a difference in the consumption of water? It might be a drop in the bucket (ha ha), but our neighbors one by one have asked us about them and some have even installed them. Our 4+their 4+4more...
Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Mama Camp is lit by compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) -- a lot of them -- but we're curious about where they will all end up after their seven year lifespan. What will happen to all of that mercury?
Reusable Shopping Bags
Taking reusable shopping bags to the grocery store is the norm for Mama Camp, but it's not a new idea. The Camp Director can remember her Colombian grandmother back in the 70s taking large, red, mesh shopping bags everywhere she went, because she didn't have the choice of "paper or plastic." Will the campers know a world without plastic bags flapping in the wind, forever caught on a tree branch too high to reach?
Pre-owned Baby Gear
Between the big and little camper, we loaned all of the baby gear to fellow mommies, and encouraged them to buy from the consignment stores. It's hard not to want all brand new nursery gear with your first, but with the second you understood how most of the gear was only used for 1-3 months. There is one activity center that has gone through five mommies and is still being reused.Last year, Mama Camp took a trip to the Texas gulf coast to celebrate the big camper's 5th birthday. His Grandma and Great-Grammy (in her early 80s) joined us, along with an aunt, uncle and cousins. It was the summer that Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island. A week later Mama Camp checked the Mustang Island web cams and it looked like the beaches were (relatively) clean and the trip was on. The first day was picturesque -- if you just move to the left or right to keep the silhouette of the offshore oil derricks out of the frame.
Two days later when the relatives had gone home and Mama Camp remained to enjoy the rest of our family vacation, we couldn't escape the destruction that Ike brought to the area. (Yes, that's a full-length couch that has washed up on shore.)
"Mama, where did that couch come from? How did it get here? Do you think they miss their couch? What are they going to sit on? What's a hurricane? What do you mean the Earth is changing?" asked the big camper.
The campers may be too young to understand the science of climate change, but they're not too young to participate in conservation and the little things that hopefully decrease our carbon footprint. Mama Camp hopes that the more we expose the campers to nature the more earth conscious they'll become.
Rainwater Collection
Mama Camp installed four rainwater collection barrels to water the flower gardens around the house instead of using city water. Even the little camper (almost three) loves to fill the watering can to fill up the bird bath and sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle the plants. Why pay for water when you can get it for free from the sky? Wasn't rain collecting more commonplace 50 years ago? What made us stop collecting free water? Do our four rain barrels make a difference in the consumption of water? It might be a drop in the bucket (ha ha), but our neighbors one by one have asked us about them and some have even installed them. Our 4+their 4+4more...
Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Mama Camp is lit by compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) -- a lot of them -- but we're curious about where they will all end up after their seven year lifespan. What will happen to all of that mercury?
Reusable Shopping Bags
Taking reusable shopping bags to the grocery store is the norm for Mama Camp, but it's not a new idea. The Camp Director can remember her Colombian grandmother back in the 70s taking large, red, mesh shopping bags everywhere she went, because she didn't have the choice of "paper or plastic." Will the campers know a world without plastic bags flapping in the wind, forever caught on a tree branch too high to reach?
Pre-owned Baby Gear
Other Reusable Items
We use empty margarine tubs as left-over containers, and then eventually as paint holders. We don't use paper plates and try to use cloth napkins, but paper napkins just come in handier with little ones. We also wash and reuse plasticware after a party. We use the backside of used office paper for art projects. The local farmer who sells his produce at the corner convenience store gladly accepts our used egg cartons to refill.
Recycling
Go to your local dump and you'll understand the need to recycle. It's huge and smelly and if we lived in a third world country you would see children climbing the mountains of trash looking for scraps to sell. The trash doesn't disappear when the trash man carts it away. Whether the mound of trash is outside of your door or outside of the city limits, it is still there.
Mama Camp is still a big consumer, but we are working on it, and the campers like to take the recycling to the bins. Mama Camp has small bins to separate the items that the city will take in the single stream recycling, and others for things that we take to the recycling center.
Local Foods
Mama Camp had a very successful earth box, and we were on our way to producing more of our own food. However, with the arrival of a new pet, we have postponed our outdoor planting projects. Our next project is to start composting more of our vegetable/fruit trash. Once this is up and running we'll revisit the backyard garden project. We are currently trying to eat more local foods by trying out Greenling, a distributor of local and organic food.
What will the campers' world look like?
At the coast, we found one intact sand dollar in the hours spent walking the beach with Grandma and Great-grammy. Great-grammy talked about when she was younger, and you didn't have to hunt for whole sand dollars; they would just wash up onto the shore where you were sitting. Really? I can't even imagine. What else will be missing by the time the campers are great-grammy's age?
Website Links:
Mustang Island, Texas
"Sand Dollars Where'd They Go?"
City of Austin Rain Barrel Program
CFL Recycling
City of Austin Single Stream Recycling
Greenling
Getting Kids Involved
A Climate of Hope: Helping Children Respond Productively to Global Warming
Mama Camp is still a big consumer, but we are working on it, and the campers like to take the recycling to the bins. Mama Camp has small bins to separate the items that the city will take in the single stream recycling, and others for things that we take to the recycling center.
Local Foods
Mama Camp had a very successful earth box, and we were on our way to producing more of our own food. However, with the arrival of a new pet, we have postponed our outdoor planting projects. Our next project is to start composting more of our vegetable/fruit trash. Once this is up and running we'll revisit the backyard garden project. We are currently trying to eat more local foods by trying out Greenling, a distributor of local and organic food.
What will the campers' world look like?
At the coast, we found one intact sand dollar in the hours spent walking the beach with Grandma and Great-grammy. Great-grammy talked about when she was younger, and you didn't have to hunt for whole sand dollars; they would just wash up onto the shore where you were sitting. Really? I can't even imagine. What else will be missing by the time the campers are great-grammy's age?
Website Links:
Mustang Island, Texas
"Sand Dollars Where'd They Go?"
City of Austin Rain Barrel Program
CFL Recycling
City of Austin Single Stream Recycling
Greenling
Getting Kids Involved
A Climate of Hope: Helping Children Respond Productively to Global Warming
Friday, October 9, 2009
"E-i-e-i-O" or Mama Camp Goes to Sweet Berry Farm for the Goldwasser Toys for Tots Fundraiser
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The yearly trip to Sweet Berry Farm signals the start of fall. This is the fourth time Mama Camp attended the Goldwasser Real Estate Toys for Tots fundraiser there and it's always fun but this year it was a blast! Maybe it was the crisp fall-like weather that made it extra special, normally it's hot and sweaty but this year the campers were bundled up in jackets, hats and gloves.
The campers enjoyed grilling hot dogs and s'mores by the bonfire, pony rides, talking to the goats, posing for photos, stuffing old clothes to make a scarecrow and going through the maze (in the dark).
Mama Camp arrived late and did not take advantage of the setting light to photograph the campers amidst the pumpkin patch...and as usual, the camera with the flash stayed home tucked away in the drawer so the iPhone camera was the only photo capturing option.
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The best part of the night is the Big Camper offered up one of his unopened birthday gifts to Toys for Tots. At six he's trying to understand where his gift is going and who will receive it. Mama Camp has always encouraged the campers to set aside some of their allowance for donations and this year the Big Camper chose the animal shelter. The campers know that Mama Camp participates in various fundraisers but they have never seen the beneficiaries of these efforts. Stay tuned to see how Mama Camp corrects this...
Testimonials: Big Camper, "I love going there". Little Camper, (The grin from ear to ear said it all). Daddy Camp, "Going through the maze in the dark was hard but so much fun!" Camp Director, "A beautiful drive, a wonderful farm, the campers had so much fun...why don't we do this more often?"
Cost: one $10 toy per person
Actual cost: gas to Marble Falls
Website Links:
Goldwasser Real Estate
Sweet Berry Farm
Toys for Tots
Friday, October 2, 2009
How to Survive ACL Fest with Little Kids
Mama Camp & ACL Fest… Can you bring a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old to a three-day outdoor concert and come out sane?
Traditionally, the Austin City Limits Music Festival has fallen near the Camp Director’s birthday, which means we call in Grandma for extended duty with the campers while Camp Daddy and the Camp Director race from stage to stage enjoying favorite (and new) music.
This year, Grandma cannot travel, but could watch the campers at her house. But now the Big Camper is in kindergarten, so the first day of the festival is a school day. Plus, Camp Daddy is coaching the Big Camper’s Saturday morning flag football game, so we can’t miss that either. It all adds up to one thing: this is the year that Mama Camp is taking the campers to experience one more thing we love about Austin – the music!
First, Mama Camp asked FB friends for advice on taking kids to the festival. There were two suggestions:
1. Take them & hang out at the Austin Kiddie Limits Stage (http://www.aclfestival.com/inthepark/kiddie.html). But have someone pick them up at 4:00 so you can enjoy the rest of the festival
2. “Don’t ;)”
Without the necessary child-care available (see above re: Grandma), only half of the first suggestion is doable. And the second suggestion, while elegant in its simplicity, lacks a certain can-do attitude that Mama Camp takes pride in putting forward.
So, like all camps, we make a plan:
1. Pack the Little Camper in the car along with the big all-terrain stroller, a water-proof blanket, four one-liter bottles of water, three small umbrellas, four ponchos (there’s a hurricane in the forecast), extra clothes (in case there’s a potty accident), two camping chairs, kid’s snacks, and the diaper bag (diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer and changing pad).
2. Pick up the Big Camper from school early.
3. Drive-thru Chick-fil-a for an early dinner.
4. Beat the after-work rush hour traffic downtown to the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Lady Bird Lake. At the boat dock we’ll catch the 3.30pm Capital Cruises boat shuttle ($10/person) to Lou Neff Point.
5. Step into the Hyatt for the last clean bathroom break, and let the campers run around the lobby while the Camp Director and Camp Daddy gaze longingly at the bar.
6. Secure seats on the boat while Camp Daddy ensures the campers don’t:
a) Fall into the lake
b) Jump into the lake
c) Push each other into the lake
d) Find any other way to end up in the lake
7. Board the shuttle with two dry campers and all of the gear.
8. Enjoy the sights along Lady Bird Lake:
“Look Mama, a train…wooo-wooo!”
“Look Mama, a turtle!”
“Mama, how did someone write on the side of that bridge?”
“Look Mama, another turtle!”
9. Field tourists’ questions like “Where’s the best Mexican food in Austin?” Answer: “You’re a tourist…go to Guerro’s and experience SoCo at least once.” Explain the difference between 6th Street and 4th Street. Etc.
10. Debark at Lou Neff Point, and head up the hike & bike trail to the ACL Fest entrance on Barton Springs Road. Stop to say “Hello” to the swans along the way.
11. Arrive at the Austin City Limits Festival, get extra program booklets with iTunes sample cards for my nieces, and hope they don’t make us throw out the campers’ snacks from the diaper bag (thus avoiding a Little Camper hunger-fueled melt-down).
12. Go immediately to the souvenir tent to purchase 2009 t-shirts before the good ones sell out. And be grateful that the stroller still has room to stow the loot.
13. Find the “Tag-a-Kid” booth in case the campers decide to run for it.
14. Scope out the sponsor booths for freebies and group photo ops.
15. Head for the The Austin Kiddie Limits Stage. Note: they have a new schedule this year (Friday until 4.30 and Saturday & Sunday until 5:00). So we might see about 30 minutes of kid-friendly music here.
16. When the Kiddie Limits Stage closes, find a spot to camp where we can hear one or more of the big stages. Then hope and pray that the campers want to sit still. When they don’t, draw straws to see who chases after them. Note: don’t bring anything valuable in case it has to be left while chasing after the Little Camper.
17. When the campers are ready to go, let them know that the next boat shuttle is not until 10pm or later. Stay calm while campers whine about being exhausted, standing in line waiting to pee, and not being able to sleep because it’s too loud. Consider possibilities for leaving early:
a) Walk back to the Hyatt (about 1.5 miles)
b) Catch a cab back
c) Take a Pedi cab (make that two since the stroller will need its own seat)
Otherwise, just wait until the last show is almost over, and then head out ahead of the throng in order to maneuver the stroller out of the park
Hmm...sounds a little complicated.
OK, new plan:
1. Sell two Friday ACL Fest tickets.
2. Meet Grandma halfway on Saturday and deliver the most well-behaved campers for a fun-filled weekend of junk food, candy before noon, late-night TV watching, and llamas.
3. Use the money from the sale of the tickets for beer & food.
4. Enjoy two fun-filled days at ACL sans campers… if it doesn’t rain too much.
Traditionally, the Austin City Limits Music Festival has fallen near the Camp Director’s birthday, which means we call in Grandma for extended duty with the campers while Camp Daddy and the Camp Director race from stage to stage enjoying favorite (and new) music.
This year, Grandma cannot travel, but could watch the campers at her house. But now the Big Camper is in kindergarten, so the first day of the festival is a school day. Plus, Camp Daddy is coaching the Big Camper’s Saturday morning flag football game, so we can’t miss that either. It all adds up to one thing: this is the year that Mama Camp is taking the campers to experience one more thing we love about Austin – the music!
First, Mama Camp asked FB friends for advice on taking kids to the festival. There were two suggestions:
1. Take them & hang out at the Austin Kiddie Limits Stage (http://www.aclfestival.com/inthepark/kiddie.html). But have someone pick them up at 4:00 so you can enjoy the rest of the festival
2. “Don’t ;)”
Without the necessary child-care available (see above re: Grandma), only half of the first suggestion is doable. And the second suggestion, while elegant in its simplicity, lacks a certain can-do attitude that Mama Camp takes pride in putting forward.
So, like all camps, we make a plan:
1. Pack the Little Camper in the car along with the big all-terrain stroller, a water-proof blanket, four one-liter bottles of water, three small umbrellas, four ponchos (there’s a hurricane in the forecast), extra clothes (in case there’s a potty accident), two camping chairs, kid’s snacks, and the diaper bag (diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer and changing pad).
2. Pick up the Big Camper from school early.
3. Drive-thru Chick-fil-a for an early dinner.
4. Beat the after-work rush hour traffic downtown to the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Lady Bird Lake. At the boat dock we’ll catch the 3.30pm Capital Cruises boat shuttle ($10/person) to Lou Neff Point.
5. Step into the Hyatt for the last clean bathroom break, and let the campers run around the lobby while the Camp Director and Camp Daddy gaze longingly at the bar.
6. Secure seats on the boat while Camp Daddy ensures the campers don’t:
a) Fall into the lake
b) Jump into the lake
c) Push each other into the lake
d) Find any other way to end up in the lake
7. Board the shuttle with two dry campers and all of the gear.
8. Enjoy the sights along Lady Bird Lake:
“Look Mama, a train…wooo-wooo!”
“Look Mama, a turtle!”
“Mama, how did someone write on the side of that bridge?”
“Look Mama, another turtle!”
9. Field tourists’ questions like “Where’s the best Mexican food in Austin?” Answer: “You’re a tourist…go to Guerro’s and experience SoCo at least once.” Explain the difference between 6th Street and 4th Street. Etc.
10. Debark at Lou Neff Point, and head up the hike & bike trail to the ACL Fest entrance on Barton Springs Road. Stop to say “Hello” to the swans along the way.
11. Arrive at the Austin City Limits Festival, get extra program booklets with iTunes sample cards for my nieces, and hope they don’t make us throw out the campers’ snacks from the diaper bag (thus avoiding a Little Camper hunger-fueled melt-down).
12. Go immediately to the souvenir tent to purchase 2009 t-shirts before the good ones sell out. And be grateful that the stroller still has room to stow the loot.
13. Find the “Tag-a-Kid” booth in case the campers decide to run for it.
14. Scope out the sponsor booths for freebies and group photo ops.
15. Head for the The Austin Kiddie Limits Stage. Note: they have a new schedule this year (Friday until 4.30 and Saturday & Sunday until 5:00). So we might see about 30 minutes of kid-friendly music here.
16. When the Kiddie Limits Stage closes, find a spot to camp where we can hear one or more of the big stages. Then hope and pray that the campers want to sit still. When they don’t, draw straws to see who chases after them. Note: don’t bring anything valuable in case it has to be left while chasing after the Little Camper.
17. When the campers are ready to go, let them know that the next boat shuttle is not until 10pm or later. Stay calm while campers whine about being exhausted, standing in line waiting to pee, and not being able to sleep because it’s too loud. Consider possibilities for leaving early:
a) Walk back to the Hyatt (about 1.5 miles)
b) Catch a cab back
c) Take a Pedi cab (make that two since the stroller will need its own seat)
Otherwise, just wait until the last show is almost over, and then head out ahead of the throng in order to maneuver the stroller out of the park
Hmm...sounds a little complicated.
OK, new plan:
1. Sell two Friday ACL Fest tickets.
2. Meet Grandma halfway on Saturday and deliver the most well-behaved campers for a fun-filled weekend of junk food, candy before noon, late-night TV watching, and llamas.
3. Use the money from the sale of the tickets for beer & food.
4. Enjoy two fun-filled days at ACL sans campers… if it doesn’t rain too much.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
"Uno, dos, tres...quatro, cinco, seis..."
Hispanic Heritage Month
Free Spanish classes for toddlers...well not quite; the little camper and I went to the Spanish story time at our local library. Through Spanish songs, stories and with the help of a couple of puppets we learned a few Spanish words. We'll go again next week and learn a few more. Check your local library and see if they offer story time in another language.
Monday, August 10, 2009
"...I caught myself a baby bumblebee...won't my mommy be so proud of me..."
Austin Parks and Recreation: Austin Nature & Science Center
August 10 (Monday)
It's been a couple of weeks since Mama Camp returned from our three week road trip. The first week back the little campers just liked being AT home and rediscovered their toys. The second week, we did several art projects inside the house trying to acclimate ourselves to the 100F heat.
Today being Monday, we braved the heat and headed to the Austin Nature & Science Center around 10.30am. Located off of Stratford Drive within Zilker Park, it's easy to find -- if you've read the detailed directions online. If you don't know that it's there, and don't have eagle-like eyesight, you'll miss the tiny sign on the side of Barton Springs Road. [By the way: the best tourist attraction signage that I've seen is in Midland, Michigan, where signs (with large type, easily readable by anyone traveling down the road) so clearly mark the direction of local attractions that you almost don't need a map.] Lucky for us, Mama Camp had read the directions and knew where to turn.
At the Austin Nature & Science Center the little campers were mesmerized by the Naturalist Workshop & Trade Center. For over an hour they examined bones, shells, insects, seed pods, feathers and more. Then they were off to the Dino Pit to dig for dinosaur fossils. There was a little bit of shade at the Dino Pit (even around noon) and with the occasional breeze it was almost a pleasant temperature.
It was difficult to get the little campers to leave the Austin Nature & Science Center. They side-tracked to the Animal Exhibits and dove into the "Small Wonders" house full of little reptiles. Finally, the Camp Director convinced them that Mama Camp would come back and thoroughly examine the animal exhibits, walk along the trail, and maybe bring a specimen from our backyard to identify at the Trade Center.
Testimonials
Big Camper: "I liked the entire thing!"
Little Camper: "Look mama...a turtle...look mama...a snake...look mama...a shark tooth...this bark is soft...look at the dinosaur! (honey...that's a horse skull)"
Camp Director: "What a gem...why haven't we been here before?"
Activity Fee: $0
Actual Activity Fee: $1.60 (gift shop dinosaur eggs)
Location Link: Austin Nature & Science Center
Photos: All photos taken with iPhone 3G camera
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
"...and miles to go before we sleep..."
Road Trip 2009: From Decatur, TX and back-4365.4 miles
(it will be 4825 miles when we roll into Austin)
July 22 (Wednesday) - Decatur, TX
Day 21
Mama Camp 2009 road trip pretty much complete, after spending the remainder of the week here we head home.
"...if a tree falls in the forest..,"
Day 21
Beavers Bend National Park - Oklahoma Forest Heritage Center Museum
Wonderful showcase of professional wood artists. Campy exhibit of
man's relationship with the forest with 14 murals by Smokey Bear
illustrator Harry Rossol.
"...splish splash I was taking a bath..."
Day 21
Getting some natural springs water.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
"...someday we'll find it...the rainbow connection..."
Day 20
The best part about the rain is the rainbow.
"...hold on for one more day..."
Day 20
National Junk Food Day and so many Little Debbie trucks on the road.
"...rain, rain, go away..."
Day 20
Raining from Nasvhille through Memphis...means no picnic, no hiking, no roadside attraction photos...and can barely read the road signs.
Monday, July 20, 2009
"...I sang of the caves and their shadows..."
July 20 (Monday) - Mammoth National Park, KY
Day 19
The campers listening to the park ranger before entering the cave. We did the Mammoth Passage tour because the littlest camper was too squirmy and wanted to be carried. The tour was mostly informational but for the price it was a nice road stop.
Activity Fee: $10 (kids under 6 free)
Actual Fee: $64 (entrance fee plus souverniers)
"...you're my butterfly..."
July 20 (Monday) - Dayton, OH
Day 19
Cox Arboretum Metroparks
Stopped to picnic, say "hello" to Zip and visit the Butterfly House. Met some wonderful volunteers.
Can you see the Cecropia caterpillar?
Location Link: Cox Arboretum Metroparks
Activity Fee: $0
Day 19
Cox Arboretum Metroparks
Stopped to picnic, say "hello" to Zip and visit the Butterfly House. Met some wonderful volunteers.
Can you see the Cecropia caterpillar?
Location Link: Cox Arboretum Metroparks
Activity Fee: $0
"One small step..."
July 20 (Monday) - Wapakoneta, OH
Day 19
On the 40th anniversary of Armstrong’s walk on the moon the museum was busy and with only on hour to spare mama camp opted to view the grounds and get back on the road.
F5D Sky Lancer
Location Link: Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Day 19
On the 40th anniversary of Armstrong’s walk on the moon the museum was busy and with only on hour to spare mama camp opted to view the grounds and get back on the road.
F5D Sky Lancer
Location Link: Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
"...Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream..."
July 13 (Monday)-Michigan
Day 12
From Novi to Traverse City, MI
The little campers were sacked out and missed Frankenmuth...
Bonner's Christmas Wonderland, founded by Wally Bonner in 1945 and open 361 days a year.
How many days until Christmas?
Charlies Country Corner Store had lots of "animals" on display...the little camper's favorite was the raccoon with Cracker Jacks box.
8pm...made it to Traverse City before sunset!
Location Link: Bonner's Christmas Wonderland
City Website: Traverse City, MI
Sunday, July 12, 2009
"...as the Miller told his tale..."
July 12 (Sunday)-Youngstown, OH
Day 11
Lanterman's Mill at Mill Creek Metroparks
(980 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH)
Stopped to eat a late lunch on the drive from D.C. to Michigan.
Although no longer in service the wheel was still in motion.
The Covered Bridge replica built in 1989.
Two long picnic tables across the covered bridge along the trail. The mill and covered bridge were very picturesque but the picnic tables could have been placed in a better location within the Lanternman's Mill buildings. The storm drains empty out along the mountain and could be seen from the picnic table and the aroma of the water in the river below was not at all pleasant. Mama Camp ate quickly and returned to the mill.
Location Link: Lanternsman's Mill, Covered Bridge, Mill Creek Metroparks
Day 11
Lanterman's Mill at Mill Creek Metroparks
(980 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH)
Stopped to eat a late lunch on the drive from D.C. to Michigan.
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The mill was a short walk from the parking lot and offered clean restrooms, gift shop, museum ($1/adults) and hiking. A hiking trail map of the Metroparks area can be found at the mill's gift shop along with history books, photos, and flour. The little campers thoroughly enjoyed climbing up and down the three levels of the mill where they viewed historic items from Lanternman's Mill.
Although no longer in service the wheel was still in motion.
The Covered Bridge replica built in 1989.
Two long picnic tables across the covered bridge along the trail. The mill and covered bridge were very picturesque but the picnic tables could have been placed in a better location within the Lanternman's Mill buildings. The storm drains empty out along the mountain and could be seen from the picnic table and the aroma of the water in the river below was not at all pleasant. Mama Camp ate quickly and returned to the mill.
Location Link: Lanternsman's Mill, Covered Bridge, Mill Creek Metroparks
"...the land of the free, and the home of the brave..."
July 12 (Sunday)-Lincoln Highway, PA
Day 11
Driving from D.C. to Michigan, Mama Camp got off the turnpike and drove through the Lincoln Memorial Highway. After passing the sign for the Flight 93 Memorial we did a U-turn and paid our respects. Unfortunately the little campers were sleeping and did not get to see the memorial.
Temporary Flight 93 National Memorial
The small US National Parks Service Station.
Benches with the names of the flight and crew look over the crash site and provide seating for guest during the park ranger's presentation.
"These tributes, along with other objects collected from the temporary site, are the property of the Flight 93 National Memorial and are under the dedicated care of the National Park Service."
"On September 11, 2001, the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 gave their lives. They made this choice so that an unknown number of people could live, people they never met. The people aboard Flight 93 gave the ultimate sacrifice. Motorcyclists from all over the free world leave this memorial as a tribute to you. Thank you for your Sacrifice. May God bless you and your families. -- America's 90/11 Ride Foundation, Inc."
Location Links: Flight 93 Temporary Memorial, Flight 93 National Memorial
Other Links: America's 9/11 Foundation
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