scouting with the boys!

i've just returned from a week long camping trip with tommie and his boy scout troop, in northern michigan. it was one of the best adventures we've ever experienced! the mix of 30 plus personalities, the non-stop pranks, the non-stop jokes, the non-stop horse play of boys ages 10 through 17...and even the adult leaders! the wonderful memories, forever imbedded in our minds... the food, new friends and bonding... just really nice... instead of telling you every single detail of our camping trip... i've decided to break it up into the "five senses"...

sound:

artillery from a nearby military camp

thunder

bullfrogs

coyotes

giggles

crackling fire

towels snapping ( a towel fight)

full cans of beans, unopened, tossed in the fire pit.. BOOM! AND BANGING!

spunky chipmunks

bellowing loons

an owl

one rule-following, neurotically anal camp dad (not even a leader), leading by intimidation and pissing everyone off

prayers

guitar playing and sing-alongs: like american pie and cat stevens, james taylor

swearing by teen-agers

sight:

wild pink roses

wintergreen

indian pipes (wildflower)

loons

sleeping bear sand dunes

lake michigan

fossils

wild turkey's

taste:

turkey over the campfire

cobbler cook-off

typical camp food

smell:

smelly boys

wild pink roses

winter green

chocolate cake coming from a dutch oven

blazing fire

pine

touch/feeling/activity:

dodge ball tournament with a 100 plus boys

all the boys learning how to play texas hold em

biking everywhere

hiking everywhere

rain

chess

a gazillion opportunities to earn and complete merit badges

hiking up 450 foot sand dune

a merritime museum

putt-putt golf in traverse city

would i do this again? in a new york minute! would tommie do it again? yes, if he could patrol with the teenagers.