• Participants: Ashley, Kim, Dave, Rene K, Brian K, Ethan K, Jennifer R, Emma R, Trevor R, Marley
• Campground Rating: 5 (out of 5)
• Rating reasons / About the campground: 2 1/2 hours from Stockbridge, very hilly state park (not conducive to much bike riding though the actual campground wasn't bad for the kids to ride around), very well stocked camp store, very mountainous, beautiful - breathtaking views, very neat campsites, adequate bathrooms and showers, pool and lake swimming. (This is copied from our first trip here back in 2007 - this trip was much cooler and more humid.)
• Campsite number: 2 (Rob and my camper - Brian's camper on 3)
• About our trip:
Compared our first drive out to Cheaha this was a piece of cake. Took just a little over 2 hours with very minor traffic to contend with. Hoping to get a couple of campsites near each other (instead of waiting for the women to get out of work at 5:30) I towed Rob's TT behind my TC so we could get a jump on the traffic/crowd as soon as the kids got out of school. Unfortunately, we arrived to a very packed campground around 5:45 and were unable to find any sites close to each other. Luckily, the park ranger said "No problem" to our request to camp on the same site (#2 is quite long). So that is exactly what we did (I just had to get out my extra power cord). He also said that it was fine for our friends to camp in the ADA site (#3). So we were all able to get close after all.
NL and Freedom Lite on site 2:
Brian, Renee and Ethan on site 3:
The easiest way to describe our trip is with one word...three letters...one syllable...WET! Actually, that is probably a bit of an understatement. Cheaha is the highest point in Alabama (2407 feet). Even when it wasn't raining the trees were sucking all the moisture out of the passing fog (actually clouds) which inevitably rained down on us with a breeze.
Saturday brought more drizzle/rain. We were able to go on a short hike on the ADA boardwalk. Here's a picture of the spectacular view:
The rain held off long enough to build a fire and cook the potatoes. Kim enjoying the fire (note the new outdoor stereo - project post coming soon...):
After dinner, the girls spent the night in Rob's TT and the boys spent theirs in Brian's TT. The adults played some cards (here Kim and I are at the table):
Sunday morning was, well, rainy. Again. Do you see a pattern? After breakfast, Ashley and I watched some Avatar:
and played some Clue:
The girls played some DS:
then played some Candyland:
After lunch...WAIT...WAIT!!, what is that?!!?!?!?!?? It can't be! BUT IT IS!!!! SUN!!!:
The kids took advantage and played in the creek:
Is the water cool, Emma?:
Group photo of kids on a log:
Of course Mother Nature was just luring us into a false sense of security.
Getting ready to go on an excursion around the park:
And of course, during the thunderstorm shortly after they (please make note of the word THEY) left on aforementioned excursion:
At least they were able to do a little hiking with a marginally better view:
The girls soaked on the boardwalk:
Kim and Renee in front of the breathtaking view (just look at those mountains!):
Oh, I almost forgot to mention the rabbits...they were everywhere. They were multiplying like, well you know the rest:
The trip home on Monday was especially easy because my navigator was on the ball. Take no prisoners. Sharp as a tack. Oh RATS!:
Oh well, thank goodness for the GPS! Happy camping, Dave.
* This post was
edited 06/04/09 06:36pm by luv2skyski *
Looks like you all had a great time Dave, even with the weather, but thats what camping is all about......relaxing and spending time with friends and family. Happy Camping, Rick
2007 AF 1140, 2.5KW Onan, 200 Watts of solar, Trimetric, 2 Lifeline GPL-31T's, 1000w inverter, rear deck, Turbo/Maxx fans.
2007 Dodge Ram Quad, DRW, 6.7L-CTD, EB, Air lifts, Hellwig,
Stable Loads, Rancho 9000's, Tork-lifts and fast-guns.
Great photos, look like a fun trip. It looks like you also didn't let the rain keep you cooped up inside entirely, but sure is nice to have the comforts of home in there. BTW, did Colonel Mustard do it in the Billiard Room with the Candlestick?
I also have to say I love the T-shirt slogun (I have multiple personalities and none of them like you)
The outdoor stereo looks nice, but if you post the project you'll get the sound police all over you! Nice idea though. To use my low-level RCA lines coming from the camper stereo, I have to have some kind of amplifier - using a seperate head unti might be a good way around that and make things simple and 12volt. The computer speakers I'm using for now require AC for the amp.
With all those kids running around - I think you all have learned something from the rabbits!
A bad day camping is still better than a good day working, you had family and friends.
Looks like a great time and you'll probably be shot for posting that last photo (it was good to know you).
Great trip report, love seeing reports of kids and friends having a good time. All the kids bring back memories of my younger years camping in our Franklin TC. Don't ever remember having a bad camping trip, not even if the truck broke down, it poured, snowed, or the roads were washed out.
Perfect timing too. My daughter and I hope to spend Saturday night there on our way through Alabama on the way to some wheelin in Hot Springs. Just hope we can get a spot without reservations when we arrive mid-afternoon on a Saturday.
Just finished a 12-day trip gathering photos for next report.Photo Albums
2004.5 Ram 3500 4x4 Quad-Cab SRW CTD 6-spd
2004 Lance 815 (an upgrade from my prev 2005 35' fiver )
DW (homemaker), 1 DD @ Clemson in Civil Eng, 1 DD @ Tech in Acct, 2 DFs (meow)
Yep that navigator picture looks V-E-R-Y familiar. Dont know about yours but mine gets a little noisy too. GPS, dont leave home without it. Looks like everyone had a good time.
...Better weather next time
2007 F-350 SRW 6.0L CC SB 4X4
2006 Outfitter Apex 8, 220W Solar and 3 AGM's
2008 Jeep Rubicon
Great report and beautiful family! My grown kids (ages 31, 38, &41) tell me our camping adventures are some of thier favorite memories. It was mostly tent camping in those days.
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Nice idea though. To use my low-level RCA lines coming from the camper stereo, I have to have some kind of amplifier - using a seperate head unti might be a good way around that and make things simple and 12volt. The computer speakers I'm using for now require AC for the amp.
)
GPS, dont leave home without it. Looks like everyone had a good time.
