So here it is, never thought we’d say it, but this is most likely the last family summer road trip vacation from Illinois. This time next year the goal is to be heading to a new home in South Carolina. It’s a steamy 88 degree day. Time to leave the air conditioning and private showers in search of connecting with nature and each other.
After a short visit with Meme and Pepe we headed North through McHenry to Kohler Andre State Park in WI. The kids gave us a detailed report on how Meme’s wild cats were doing.
Starting mileage 156,876 Official Time Leaving House: 7:40am Official Time Leaving Meme and Pepe’s: 8:30am
The car is begging for a weight loss plan.
One of the kids’ favorite times is when the van makes its first hard stop and all the loose bags on the top of the pile come hurtling forward and land on their heads.
We rolled into Kohler-Andre State Park at 10:30. Scott helped Brooke and Cody set up their hammocks and then he proceeded to relax in his hammock too. I sewed the pockets on Brooke and Cody’s hammocks. The hammocks themselves seem pretty indestructible, but the pocket on Brooke’s was coming loose and Cody’s had come completely off after a little run in with just a few energetic boys at a Boy Scout campout.
I started to make lunch before we headed to the beach only to realize I hadn’t remembered to bring the bread. So, we had peanut butter and jelly on hamburger buns and some frozen watermelon slices.
The water was a wee bit cold, but that didn’t seem to bother the kids much. They stayed warm digging and running in and out of the water.
Brooke dug a lounge chair for herself. Every now and then Cody would recruit Scott to help dig. Then Scott disappeared up the sandy hill to lay in peace. He didn’t have long though, the kids chased after him and Cody convinced him to bury him. I’m not sure I could stay buried even for a fraction of how long Cody was. He was smiling and calm the entire time. Then Brooke had to have her try at it. She lasted less than five minutes, but it was fun while it lasted.
Cody had sand in every little fold, even in his ears. The sand also mixed well with his already suntan lotioned hair. Who needs gel when you have sandy suntan lotion? Cody and I tried to clean him up, but even Cody was surprised at the amount of beach he brought home with him. After attempting to clean up we headed back to the hammocks and then made a campfire dinner of hamburgers and potatoes. The thunder rolled in and we watched from our hammocks as the storm chased everyone into their shelter. Scott was in the middle of making an apple cobbler, but he left it in the Dutch oven and headed for the tent too. We settled into the chilled-out vacation mode well for our first day.
