Winter Withdrawals

I can't wait for April to come.  Usually April is warm enough to get out camping to a South location.  We can't go to far up the mountains, but we can definitely get out and regenerate our bodies souls with nature.

My husband is talking about selling our 5th wheel after this next camping season, and starting a new hobby.  I am not sure how I feel about that.  We will see how the kids feel.  My husband thinks hanging out at the lake with a boat in our 100 degree weather might be more fun.  I like getting out of the heat and going to the mountains where it is quiet and beautiful.

My dear husband changes hobbies every 5 years.  Throughout our whole marriage I have seen it over and over, but this time it will effect me and  the kids. At least I get one more happy season, let's make it the best!

My plans this year will be; Lake Powell camping on the beach, Enterprise, Baker, Yankee Meadow, Panguitch, and maybe Sand Hollow again.  I love all these places, and  look forward to camping them again.

Yankee Meadow Campground

Yankee Meadows is located up Parowan Canyon, and is purely beautiful.  We have camped in the actual camp ground 3 times.  The campground goes in a circle like most campgrounds.  They seemed to me to be spread out enough that you did not feel like your'e privacy was being infringed upon, and we could not hear our neighbors during the day or at night.  We kinda felt alone, and that's how I like it.

The first time we went up there, my youngest had just learned to ride her bike, so we packed the bikes.  It was so nice to know she could ride in the circle and I felt like she and her sister were safe.  They rode around the circle for 3 days straight, some times with me running behind them, or just walking and they would turn around and come back and get me.  The distance was not bad, it was about a 10 minute walk around.

They have an ATV parking at the entrance, which is nice to not hear the bikes and have the dust stirred up constantly.  This limits the traffic a lot, and cuts down on the irritating noises.  Up the road is the lake for fishing.  We usually drive to the lake with all our chairs and gear.

All three times we stayed in the campground we could not believe how clean, and fresh the BIFFYs were.  BIFFY is a girl scout term, Bathroom In Forest For You.  I have called those outhouses that since child hood.  I think it's a cleaner name, and doesn't make you think of stink and bugs.  Anyhow, I think  I commented daily to my husband on how clean they bathrooms were and they did not smell.

We saw the Camp Host come around 3 times a day to mop and do whatever he did.  He was very nice and said he did it all summer.  He seemed to be alone, and maybe that was why he was so thorough with his cleanliness.  I liked him, we had good conversations.  I know he was there last year, but this year, 2013, I noticed a different host trailer.  I hope he can meet the bar that the other host has set.

There are NO reservations at Yankee, it is on first come basis, and I think it's only $10 a night...not sure on that, since it has been a year or so since we stayed in their grounds.  They do have water, but not at each site.  You can fill your trailers when you get there, at least we did, and then you don't have to haul your water up.

Our Yankee Campsite in the Aspens

A fun hut the girls found

Yankee Meadows in June

My dear husband always finds amazing camp sites.  Every time we camp I feel like we have found the best site.  I love being in the trees.  This camp site was mostly Pine trees, but our view was lots and lots of Aspens.  Aspens are my favorite.  They seem to have a lot of memories of my dad in them.  We camped a lot growing up, and my dad would always make us a whistle out of a pine branch.  We always wanted the leaves left on so we could walk around camp blowing a branch.  We were cool, even if we  were the only ones that thought it.   I love the white and black, tall trees, they are pure beauty.

Our family went on a long 4-wheeler ride and found some beautiful finds.  I love this rock wall.

It's nice to take day trips away from camp.  The only bad thing, was how dusty and dirty we got.

I let my little girl drive me on the 4-wheeler, and when I would tell her to slow down and not follow so close, she would stop....and a billow of dust would encompass us.  We definitely needed a shower after this 3 hour adventure.

There are many little streams all over, and our kids enjoyed racing their empty chip bags, and little sticks.  We followed the stream al the way to the road, and watched the bags go through the tunnel under the road.

When we were done, we made sure to NOT litter and took our trash back to camp with us, and enjoyed our walk back to camp in the nice, crisp, fresh air.

This is one of my favorite parts of camping.  Lounging with a book and either my coffee, or drink.  I love the sound of the stream, and wind in the trees.  This is the best way to re ground myself after busy city life.