Winter Wonderland 2

Last Wednesday night after hearing that a snowstorm was heading our way I was thinking about hot chocolate and my nice warm bed when Eldon called. Turns out he'd heard about the snowstorm and was thinking about camping. Naturally. "This is about as good as it gets," he proclaimed and I could tell he already had is new sleeping bag packed and the deer steaks marinating in his Secret Sauce. Thus began the Second Annual Southern Illinois Semi-Epic Winter Camping Trip.



Before all you responsible-type people out there get too worked up about me leaving Andrea to fend for herself with new baby and all, be assured that I didn't commit to going with Eldon and crew right away. But Andrea assured me that she would be fine (even though she probably meant that she thought I had rocks in my head) and so after much deliberation I confirmed that I do have rocks in my head and decided to venture out again this year. This time, I'd take Kenrick along - partly to help ease the load on Andrea, mostly because I thought he'd really enjoy it. Also, my buddy Don was planning on going and if he was going, well, I couldn't just stay home, could I?



So anyway, by 5:00 Friday afternoon the Kenrick, Don, and I piled into the truck with half a ton of camping gear, clothes, sleeping pads, bags, and rations, and - feeling very manly - headed south into the snowy and treacherous wilderness. We pulled in to Robert's farm at about 7:30 to find the rest of the crew sitting on straw bales around a blazing fire in a snowy little gully just down from a corn field. Perfect.



Supper was taters and beans with deer steaks courtesy of Eldon and Kyle. And hot chocolate. The temperature dropped to the low twenty's. Perfect.



Kenrick and I set up my little tent and spread out our foam pads and sleeping bags. It was getting pretty late and he was starting to drag a bit so I stuffed him in his mummy bag clothes, coat, and all, and cinched it up tight. He was asleep before I left the tent. Everyone else made various beds under the stars; Bruce's clan and Robert made a big platform of straw bales, Kyle and Doug and Don found flat spots on the snow to lay down foam pads, and Eldon filled a ditch with straw. Everyone wrapped tarps around their sleeping bags and drifted off to the call of the coyotes. Perfect.



Kenrick didn't wake up until 7:00. I woke up a few times, but more from discomfort that cold. We stayed warm and dry in the tent, but I learned that the snow doesn't make the best of surfaces to lay on, even with a foam pad.



Breakfast was bacon and eggs courtesy of Bruce and his daughter Elissa (sp?). And hot chocolate. I brought my old coffee percolator (I think it used to be dad and mom's) and brewed up a fine tasting batch of java. Topping it all off with one of Don's hobo pies made it, well, perfect.



Kenrick enjoyed following the deer trails through the woods and even found some turkey tracks with Kyle. There was about nine inches of snow on the ground, and the trails were pretty fresh.



Here's a few pictures from Bruce and Don.

First order of business: supper. Eldon presides over taters, beans, and deer steaks. It's getting a bit late and Kenrick's about down for the count.

A good view of the full buffet.

Emily tucks in

The next morning, Doug wakes up to find that someone's taken his house and bed and left him out in the cold. Am I alive?

Getting the coffee going. Kenrick looks like he needs some.

Breakfast, courtesy of Bruce and gang. Bacon, eggs, hobo pies. In that order.