Family Car Camping - Tons of Photos

Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews

Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
1,659
I just got back from car camping with the family last night. It was a very last minute decision between backpacking, and car camping. Since my backpacking destination mainly involved swimming in the river we would camp at, and the weather was turning cold this week, we decided to go for the car camping.

So, we went out to the west side of the state. Here are a few random camp shots.

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As always, I used my dutch ovens to cook a lot. For dinner one night, I had two of them stacked. One with biscuits, and the other with the main meal. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of that.

But, I did take pictures of my small one in action the next morning. I know that I am cheating using charcoal : )

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The kiddies (and wife too) sure love the freshly baked cinnamon rolls in the morning : ) (I know I am cheating using the pan in the oven too! : ) Sometimes, easy is good with the kids to keep an eye on ; ) This method is less timing critical)

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I got my new favorite kitchen knife done just before leaving. Nick (NWA) made me a ready to go blank of his Safari Skinner. I did the handle (African blackwood) and sheath. I love this thing.

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Here is the newest camper in the family.

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And the rest of the kiddies.

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To Be Continued.....
 
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One afternoon while momma and baby were napping, I took the kiddies for a short hike. If you look closely, you will realize that we play musical compasses a lot : )

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Ready to go.

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Brendan taking non-sighted bearings.

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Even though I have been car camping a million times.....I always learn something. This time was no exception.

The third day of camping, I put on a pair my backpacking pants that I wore 2 weeks prior teaching a land navigation course. In the pocket was my trusty waxed jute, in an opened bag, which had obviously been washed.

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The one end was soaked enough to wring water out of.

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So, I figured, I had to give this a shot to see what happens.

I cut a piece from the soaked end and shredded it as normal.

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It took a spark first hit easily. Although there was noticeable sizzle : )

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Usually, this stuff burns forever, and burns like a candle. It burned decent, but did actually go out.

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To Be Continued Again........
 
So, I reshredded it, and did more of it.

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This time the whole thing burned up, more like I would expect.

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I love that stuff!

Now, we got to go on to a longer hike. But, not too long, because the baby. He is just slightly too small for my kid backpack that I carried the other two in. Next trip he should be good in it, and we can go further.

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Spotting animal sign.

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To Be Continued Again.......
 
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Nearing the end.

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And we got to end at Lake Michigan.

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It was a bit cold, but that wasn't about to stop the kids.

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To Be Continued Again......
 
I always use the topo and compass on hikes, but log the trail data with the gps. It is nice to overlay the trails on the maps when I get home. This time, the GPS did not do so well. Because of the thick tree cover, it missed lots of points.

You can see the last section back (heading west), two track points are over 1/3 mile apart, and therefore it drew a straight line. The trail was definitely not straight. Oh well. I stopped logging data at the beach, because we were going to stop and play, and there would have been a bunch of "noise" points had I kept it on.

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Thanks for looking,
B
 
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great pics brother, way to get them young un's out there and congrats on the newest edition!!!!!!!!:thumbup:
 
great pics. seems like a fun time with your family!! thanks for posting the pictures.
and nice tilley, by the way.
 
Great camping trip for a wonderful family! Your kids look like they are having the time of their lives, not to mention the contented look on their parents' faces. The new Badger Lite looks awesome too!
 
Excellent pictures Brian. Now did you plan it that way in the one shot with your wife carrying baby on the trail and the words "MOM" inscribed in the tree in the foreground???

Also great point about the GPS it is something I've encountered frequently in thick woods and am somewhat surprised it is so rarely mentioned. Tree cover often prevents the GPS from tracking and sometimes you really can't get out of the tree cover very easily! A good reminder of why a decent compass and map is required back-up. I also find it helpful to have an electronic compass feature build into the GPS. Even though this adds to cost and battery usage, the e-compass is much more steady at a walking pace than the bearing by satellite tracking - I usually walk to slow.
 
Great pics Brian!!

You have a beautiful family and it looks like all had a great time!!!
 
Thanks all for the comments.

hector81 said:
and nice tilley, by the way.
Click to expand...

I am a die hard Akubra fan. However, I seem to be wearing the Tilley more and more. When it is WAY hot, the Akubra is too much. I don't mind wearing a Tilley with a multi-day pack on, where my Akubra is too stiff for that. And, a lot of times with the kids, one of them ends up on my shoulders :D Damn Joezilla and it article........ :D That is what kind of pushed me over to get one.

kgd said:
Now did you plan it that way in the one shot with your wife carrying baby on the trail and the words "MOM" inscribed in the tree in the foreground???
Click to expand...

Actually, I did not plan that. I didn't notice it until after I got home and check them out :D

kgd said:
Also great point about the GPS it is something I've encountered frequently in thick woods and am somewhat surprised it is so rarely mentioned. Tree cover often prevents the GPS from tracking and sometimes you really can't get out of the tree cover very easily! A good reminder of why a decent compass and map is required back-up. I also find it helpful to have an electronic compass feature build into the GPS. Even though this adds to cost and battery usage, the e-compass is much more steady at a walking pace than the bearing by satellite tracking - I usually walk to slow.
Click to expand...

I keep a small Brunton bubble compass pinned to my shoulder strap. Not a main tool for navigation, but it is always there, and lets me orient my map quickly.

I have went through several phases of GPS navigation and don't really use it anymore. When, I do I am in the "look at it and put it away" club. I don't like looking down at it all the time, zooming or flipping through pages. But, everyone has their own style and that is the important thing, although with really understanding the equipment you do use :thumbup: I have just not been able to come to trust an electronic compass. I have one in my gps and I even have one on my Suunto Vector, but that is more for entertainment, than actual use :D As the watch was free and all :D

But yeah, I have seen lots of gps issues that are rarely talked about. Awesome tool, but not a primary one.
 
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Hey Brian, great pictures and great looking family! Your kids are very lucky to have a dad that gets them outdoors to play and learn. :thumbup:

Doc
 
Those are some great shots amigo, you've really got a beautiful family and some cute kids. That looks like a fun time. Neat teepee by the way!
 
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