Camping in a Yurt - Arrival - June 28

This summer, we decided that our big family trip would be to Pymatuning State Park during the last week of June.  We had been here three years ago, back when Jude was only 1 and Tamlin was 4.5years old. Like the previous visit, we rented a yurt (#73 this time) and stayed nearly a week.  These yurts are awesome; they have two sets of bunk-beds, a sink, mini-fridge, 2 burner stove, heater, running water, and electricity.  Additionally, they sit up on a deck that has picnic tables and awnings. It is just like a mini-home...without the cumbersome need to pack a tent and all the rest of the primitive camping gear.  The deck is uber useful for playing, eating outside, staying dry in the rain, and keeping us all up off the slightly soggy ground.    The kiddos loved the idea of sleeping in bunk beds, especially transformer beds that have futons on the bottom.

This time around, we were able to get a friends of ours to camp with us.  Scott is a friend of ours from way back in our college days.  His wife and him have two boys that are within months of the same age as our little ones.  They stayed in another of three yurts.  Additionally, our friends Tom and Rhonda stayed in their pop-up camper within the same campground.  It was a hoot to spend some down times just sitting around, swapping stories, and drinking adult beverages while the kids all played.  

Well, we, of course, didn't start actually packing to go to the yurt until the day before departure...and didn't finish packing the car until about an hour before we left :-)  On the upside, the only things I missed were minor, such as forgetting plastic baggies and forks.  We got to our destination around 4:30...but the yurts were locked!  And the camp store, where it said to check in, was closed!  Brian and I had brief moments of panic...but we divided and conquered.  Brian walked back over to the store to try to find someone and I tried the phone number attached to my confirmation email.  In the end, I reached a ranger but he was in Southern Ohio!   He barely had an inkling were Pymatuning Park was!  Apartenly the non-emergency ranger phone number was to location specific.  Brian had better luck and contacted the camp host, which had the keys to the yurts.   Yeah!

After unpacking the car and setting up the air, we had time to play with friends, explore the campground, and let everyone begin to relax.  With the kids being a little older, we brought their scooters to play with in the campground.  They were a huge hit with all the kids!  They both especially liked zooming down the ramp from the deck to the road.




Later, we built our first fire and had our first grilled brawts, and made S'mores!
(Tamlin 6.5 years and Jude 4 years)

 

It was a chilly night, but our little yurt  room stayed toasty with the heater going.  The night was peaceful and we all slept pretty well...waking up to the light and birds in the morning.
 
My how my boys have changed (and not changed) in three years!
Tamlin 4.5 years and Jude 13months