Camping, Sand Dunes, Buggees and more...

 Back in the Great Outdoors

And so continued the league of camping! This time our destiny was the Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park Campgrounds, Florence. There wasn't any specific reason as to why we chose this one. We just wanted to drive a little farther away from home (yes, it's a valid emotion) and go some place fun where we could do some, you know, activities. We were simply looking for campgrounds near the sand dunes and came across this one. Tents, tarp, blankets and the whole list of things packed into our SUV, we set forth for yet another weekend being lost in the great outdoors. 

Nature's Hourglass

Day 1: Silvery Dunes and the Moonlight 

We planned to camp for our usual 2 nights and with a brave heart set out on a 3 hours drive to Florence! A fairly smooth drive and soon we were driving slowly through the meandering road inside the State Park. This is a large campground with the ample camp sites separated by trees giving some good individual space, a kids' park, proper restroom with a WC that flushes and shower with hot water! 😋😁 We let the kids stretch their legs at the park. Once at our cozy little camp site, by-now-pro-husband-and-me quickly put together the tent, beat in the weights and set up the blankets and pillows inside. The kids immediately pranced inside and played away to glory! 

There was a little trail through the wilderness that led to the dunes at the State Park. Of course, we had to explore those in the late of the night and with no working flashlights. Luckily for us it was a moon lit night and the dunes glistened silvery in the most heavenly way in the moonlight. It was a steep dune and fun as it was walking down the dune, it was quite a cardio work out walking back up. 

Back at our site, we soon had a roaring fire in the fire ring and were dining over home made pasta! We were all tired from work, school and the three hours of drive. Soon we all hugged, cuddles and were peacefully snoring! 

Tent, Fire, Over-excited Kids = Perfect! 

Day 2: The People on the Buggee Go Up and Down All Through the Dunes 

After some quick breakfast, we set out to what everyone does in Florence - going on a buggee into the dunes. There are all sorts of options and depending on where your adrenal rush is standing, you can take your pick. We choose the biggest buggee which seats about 20 odd people, takes you up and down dunes and along the coast for an hour. Now this buggee fellow is exactly how a 3 years old would build a lego car! A flat piece with some wheels underneath, only the buggee has some seats too. It's open on all other sides. But, parent to parent - it's totally OK to take your kids on this. 

Wind Swept Buggee-ing

It is an experience for which I fail to find one word for. The buggee bubbles over the sand and small dunes for a while; and before you know it will come to threatening halt atop a huge dune, do a little dance and then go full throttle down the dune. Oh boy, 5 seconds of being totally blown away! This happened fair few times over and every single time we stopped atop a huge steep dune, I would be a 5 year old opening by biggest present! 😄

On a humorous note, initially effervescent with energy my son actually managed to sleep through most of this journey! See, I told you it's safe! 

Soon, we were cruising down the coast line and sometimes you could see the waves sneak up to the buggee! If luck be with you, you might also see folks race dirt bikes and do stunts on the beach. We got to see some, seldom have I seen my daughter so wide eyed! 😉

Information: We were here in August and despite that the buggee ride was windy and chilly. Prepare with warm clothes, especially caps.  

Once back to reality and rumbling tummies we decided to try out the popular, Fresh Harvest Cafe. We tried their smoked salmon sandwiches, omelettes and breakfast burritos - each better than other. Special mention to the coffee, it was truly very well brewed! 

Once back at the camp site the kids were too excited to nap and instead we decided to spend the rest of the day at the Cleawox Lake within the state park. Rolled on the dune, filled our buckets with sand, caught a tan and had a marvelous time! Given the perfect day, the lake was a pristine deep blue and it just a happy place to be in. 

My daughter, Rupkatha has a rule about camping and having tomato soup; and so, tomato soup it was for dinner. We toasted our bread on the fire grill, heated the soup and washed it down with some crackers! Exhausted from the a day's worth of fun, we crept back into our tent to a welcome round of sleep. 

Day 3: Curtain Fall 

Filling in the Sand and the Memories

Folded the blanket, dusted the crumbles, packed the tent and secretly planned for the next! 😄 We took the kids back to the lake side and sand dunes to get dirty one more time. One last roll, one last sand lifted by the wind. 

But lo and behold, our day was far from over. The kid in my husband had awakened and he wished to do an ATV ride at the dunes where we were just the day before. So, we all trudged along and while my husband was away being crazy, I took the kids to this little adventure park, Sandland Adventured Inc. Now, you don't simply have to visit this place, but, if you have some idle time then why not! They have cute train rides, water rides (without getting wet) and the most fun of all - a little loop for go-carting! It was fun fun fun! 

With that we called it a day and called it a trip! This camping trip had so many varied ingredients that it was interesting at every point of time. With that we started home with happily napping kids and the both of us chatting away to glory.