Many of our friends can attest to the fact that for many years we stood our ground and said, "we don't need a camper because tenting is good enough." Well that story changed over the course of about year. Last summer, 2018, our camping friends allowed us to borrow there camper for 3 days so that we could experience it for ourselves. We didn't go far, about 30 minutes from home, to Green Lakes. Bottomline, we really enjoyed it and came to some realization that having a camper definitely has it perks.
In July, we found a great camper for a great price and we jumped on the opportunity to purchase it. And that story is now history. Here we were with a 26 foot mobile camper ready for our first adventure. This time history repeated itself as we decided to take the first trip back to Green Lakes. After all if we forgot something or something went wrong, we could be home in no time.
It's not a lie, that with any excessive toy, there are some excessive expenses. But at the end of the day its worth it because memories are made and the experiences are cherished by the family.
My in-laws decided to join us for the first time out. This was their first time to Green Lakes.
On our walk around the lake we came across some really cool things. Cicadas were going through some exoskeleton shedding . The neat part was being able to see each of the stages on several different insects.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Since there was a big hype about the transparent kayaks at Green Lakes we decided to try them out for ourselves. The first problem with these boats was they aren't really transparent because there are so many scratches on them. Secondly, the plastic gets warped and ages with time in the sun. The chair quality was probably the worst on the market. And worse yet it was like a plastic tub with a metal frame on the inside. In the slightest of breezes the thing spun like a cork in the water. It didn't track at all. In conclusion of the rant, the paddling experience to some of the good spots on the lake were a major chore. DON'T RECOMMEND IT ALL!
On a better note. The biking trails at Green Lakes are also very popular. Last year I saw several bikers on the trails and this time around I checked it out for myself. The only limitation on this outing was the incoming thunderstorm. I had about 45 minutes before the predicated downpour. I was able to cover 6 miles of trail and explore. In the process I discovered there a many trails that don't allow bikes. I picked up a map at the camp store to verify the info. So it was a bit disappointing to stare at a maze of trails and only be able to use like 15 percent of them.
The reasons we got a camper:
1. We found a camper that we were looking for: double bunks in the back, private queen bed in the front, large enough lounging area for the rainy day, and most importantly the fridge had to big enough to store food for a week.
2. The convenience factor: all of the camping gear minus the clothing and food is stored in one location. Its distributed nicely around the camper in convenient storage cubbies.
3. We would like to potentially camp in cooler weather. And it really helps to have heat in your lodging. On the flip side, if its rainy weather during the summer, we don't have to set up a huge tarp over the entire campsite.
4. And of course there are many more comfort reasons.
Lesya and I have been camping since we got married. We brought the kids on their first camping trip even if they were 6 months old. And as a family with a camper we hope to explore new places and make many more memories in the years to come.
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