Camping

The Long Family and the Martin/Marcus Family met up in Monterey for 6 days of adventure.

We stayed in a hotel in Monterey for one day and didn't do much except enjoy the pool and hot tub, eat take out Chinese food and jump on beds.



Then we drove down to Big Sur where we camped for 5 days. We had a nice campsite. It was big, had good climbing logs in it and was conveniently located near a well lit bathroom. We had a couple neighbors (first some Germans and then some stoner/surfer dudes), but they were all quiet.

We made s'mores the first night and the kids were pretty damn happy about that. I had some s'mores without the graham crackers or marshmellows. Michael, of course, passed.








The next day we went to the beach. It was a bit cold, but that didn't stop the kids from enjoying the water and sand.







We were close to a river and although it was cold, some of the braver people went in. I was not one of them. We did all have to cross it to get to the sunny patch, but some got rides.













We spent most days just sitting around the camp site, playing Yahtzee or riding bikes around the campground. Elizabeth had trouble the first day, but then was a maniac, tearing around the place like a 15 year old boy on a dirt bike. Miranda kept up with her and the boys well and never seemed to get upset that she was the only one with training wheels. (Well.. Julia was on a trike still, which she didn't notice either.)

We had a fire going all evening and morning as it was cold there and the kids kept asking why we weren't eating s'mores all the time. Miranda, despite the fact that we had a nice campstove toaster, tried to roast hers.




On the second to last day there, we took a little walk that turned into a longer walk along the river. The kids did great and we ended up at a group campground that had an ampitheatre. Someone suggested "doing a show" and for the next 30 minutes or so, the kids alternated doing little skits of the three little pigs, red riding hood and the gingerbread girl. It was all hilarious and ridiculously cute. And something about the situation made the adults talk like Julia child. First me, then Amy, and Eran.



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Sleeping wasn't great, but since we all went to bed so early, it wasn't too bad either. On the last night, it was almost decent. All in all, a very good trip. Dirty, but good.