Most Father's days, if given the choice, Mark likes to do nothing but relax. I came up with an idea and he liked it, go camping at Brushy Creek and have a picnic lunch with our dads. Saturday we packed and loaded the trailer and were up to Brushy Creek by 11. The forecast was showing pop up rain and storms. I was concerned and hoped we wouldn't get any severe weather. Mark chose to stay at the North campground. We hadn't stayed there since our kids were really small. We set up camp and saddled horses first thing. We knew the early hours were our best chance to ride without rain. We took a lovely two hour ride on the all weather small rock covered trail. We had Tex and Roany and both did prefect. Roany has been sound and moving great this year. He is up in the high twenties...we think. We passed numerous mulberry trees loaded with fresh mulberries. I would take a handful and eat them. Mark had never eaten one before and kept questioning me until finally he tried them. It brought me back to when I was young riding on trail rides with the Elm and Sturwaldt families. When I got older I went to Brushy a handful of times in the teen years and college years riding with friends, and of course all the years with Alice. We would pick the mulberries and eat them on our ride. We rode the rock trail out to a view of the lake and back. When we got back we had a sack lunch that I had packed. When your hungry, a ham and turkey cold sandwich is even good. Later it rained lightly and the forecast was showing more rain coming and another rain cell after that. I knew we had a small window to cook our food. All the food I brought was intended to be cooked over a campfire. We enjoy a trip of "Glamping" also known as glamorous camping. It isn't real roughing it unless you are living in a tent, using nature as your bathroom, not showering, and cooking over a fire. We stay in an air conditioned camper with bathroom facilities, full kitchen, and a soft cozy couch and bed. So, the one thing I like to do is cook all meals over a campfire or at least charcoal in a firepit. Mark doesn't start fires without massive amounts of lighter fluid and lots of flames. I like to start the fires and use only paper, wood, and charcoal. We got the fire going and my campfire packs going. In a foil pan, I had diced carrots, potatoes sliced, and a big hamburger patty and covered all in foil. Things were cooking along great and then the rain started. It was a light rain and the foil kept the food from getting wet. It was great. I got wet flipping and stirring the food, but our fire stayed lit and our food cooked. We ate under our awning and it was great! We never did get our water heater working so used the nearby shower facilities. Walking back didn't feel real safe with all the sharp bright lightning in the sky. It rained light until about 11. It wasn't heavy rain and it was much needed! Everywhere in Iowa has needed rain and the crops needed it bad. At Brushy, we probably got half an inch, but back home we got 2 and a half inches!! I love our camper so much .I wish we could use it more, go on more outings, and camp often. Mark just has such a busy lifestyle we rarely can get away. I was thankful we went even when we knew there was a chance of storms. Mark choosing the north camp allowed us to ride the next morning when the south camp and most other trails were closed from the rain. There were 3 other trailers with horses in the north camp and mostly regular campers. In fact people got really excited when they would see us ride by. We gave plenty of petting opportunities.
Sunday morning I fixed egg and bacon over the fire, then we went on another ride. Our parents and Jake came at noon. I had chips and brats, Karen brought pie, beans and drinks, and mom brought fruit. We had plenty of food and it was a nice little picnic lunch, minus the pesky flies. The weather was great, not tot hot. We asked my dad if he and Jake would like to take a ride together. He was worried about getting on, but we just pulled Tex up to the picnic table and he hopped on. It was great to see my dad and his smile up on the horse. He and Jake rode together on a short path just off camp. I think they both enjoyed it. Mark had to show off some backwards riding skills for entertainment. The day wasn't over yet, after packing up the trailer, making a stop at Alice's memorial bench, we headed home. We unloaded, took showers, and headed to Karen's for her Father's Day pancake supper. It was 5 babies for the entertainment. Libby and Jossie's kids and Titus. We all seem to sit around and watch them interact for fun.
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