We Smell Like Camp Fire and Red’s Tavern

I was tempted to just give up on the whole blog, but then, it auto renewed this weekend. I figured since I was changed for a whole year, I might as well keep it going.

A couple weeks ago, we went camping at the Ichetucknee Springs for Deena’s birthday. I actually haven’t been camping since I was a kid, and wasn’t sure how I would like sleeping in a tent. I’m not a fan of bugs. And I like the A/C and fan.

We left Friday afternoon and planned to stay until Sunday morning. Ichetucknee is about 2 hours North of Orlando for any of my GA friends looking for a place to go camping, tubing, and kayaking.

Packing for a camping trip is much different than packing for a weekend stay in a hotel. We all, literally, packed one small bag for clothes and bathroom stuff, but then we had sleeping bags, air mattresses, coolers, beer, tents, food {OMG did we have a bunch of food! If anyone went hungry on this trip, that was their own fault! And we ate good too!} Alex’s truck was packed! Deena said we had more for this trip than all 9 of us had for Key West combined! I think she was right, too!

We made it to Ichetucknee Family Canoe and Cabins about 30 minutes after the sun went down. It really sucked because either of us had ever put our tents together before arriving. It made for a very interesting start. It was even better when we realized Alex’s pump didn’t fit our air mattresses. At that point, I was ready to find a hotel. Alex said it best, “I’m to old to sleep on the ground!” Luckily, we got the tents up and mattresses pumped up thanks to a box of camping stuff some friends sent with us.

We spent the rest of the night sitting around the fire, drinking beer, making s’mores, and talking.

Kayaking

We were up bright and early thanks to a dickhead bird that insisted on squawking right outside our tent. I looked over at Huck and the first thing he said was, “Yep! He is right there!” Earplugs are now mandatory on all camping trips. The weather temperatures were perfect, though. Cool at night and warm during the day. Besides the birds, I slept fine.

I made Egg and Sausage Burritos, the first morning, for breakfast before we headed out.

Game face!

 

The campground offered kayaking and tubing rentals and provided a shuttle to and from the launch sites.

 

They offered two options, kayak from the beginning to end, or tubing from the halfway point to end. Since we started early, and it was still a little chilly outside, so we decided to kayak and try tubing in the afternoon if we had time. They told us it would take about three hours if we went down with the current.

The water, in the river, was crystal clear! And stays in the low 70’s year around.

The double kayaks were the best decision we made the whole trip. Our butts didn’t sit in the cold water, and we had plenty of room for all our stuff.

While floating down the river, we seen lots of fish, a million turtles, and a mommy and baby manatee.

The manatees were my favorite part!

We made it to our pickup site right as the shuttle was pulling in.

Once we made it back to camp, I setup the decorations for Deena’s birthday. We had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme party. She loves TMNT, and I think I bought every party item Walmart had. {Side note: I was obsessed with TMNT growing up. My mom even handmade me a costume for Halloween one year! Just another reason we were meant for each other!}

 

I also made a very unhealthy but very delicious brownie cake using a boxed brownie mix, chocolate chips, almonds, and a container of Hersey Chocolate and Caramel frosting.  

 

I’m sure the people around us were freaked out by our mask. I’m also a big fan of making people wear buttons on special days {Ask my mom!}

 

I think Deena liked her little party!

After we had dinner, we went to Red’s Tavern to watch the Gator basketball game.

Red’s is one of those rough bars that smell of cigarette smoke and Bud Light, but they had the game on and $6 pitchers of beer. Win Win!

And the beer was served in mason jars.

 

Unfortunately, the gators lost. I only stay that because Alex was really upset about it.

He was one sad gator fan!!

One happy FSU fan!

We spent the rest of the night around the campfire, talking, and making brownie s’mores.

Sunday morning, that damn bird woke us up bright and early again. We made breakfast {campfire cinnamon rolls} and packed ALL our stuff up. We dropped Alex off at one of the Disney resorts for a work conference, a serious upgrade from the campground, and had lunch with one of Deena’s friend before heading back to WPB.

Our first camping trip was a success. I definitely want to go again in the Fall or Winter. Next time, maybe we can go camping in the Keys, on the beach.

Huck also made a video of our trip down the river. He has some really good video of the manatees, too! {Click here to watch the video–> Ichetucknee Kayaking video}

Happy SUPER late birthday Deena! Thanks for stalking me!