For those of you who have been following my blog (all 2 of you, including my Mom) You'll remember that I wrote a bunch of posts about my camping memories in anticipation of the first JLM camping trip this summer. This last weekend was that first camping trip. You see, our good friends Ryan Foglesong and David Zimmer are up at Hume Lake Christian Camps leading the music for the Jr High camps this summer. They're part of a great band called Chasing Cadence with 2 other guys from TMC and are doing a fantastic job! We wanted to surprise visit them and we wanted to camp. So we packed up all our gear including our brand new 2 mantle propane lantern (I love the sound of propane lanterns), threw Fritz in the car and headed up the 4 hour drive to the sequoias. Since we were going to be sitting in on indoor camp sessions we knew we couldn't take Fritz with us, so we dropped him off at doggie heaven in Reedley. Seriously, this place is operated by a retired couple and their daughter on their gorgeous property surrounded by peach, nectarine and plum orchards. They had great kennels and an agility course. After we drove off, we were a little worried that Fritz would refuse to come back home with us.

General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon


I was expecting that there would be alot of funny stories to tell of the ridiculous things that happened, but nothing really ridiculous happened, probably because we didn't bring Fritz. It was a very smooth and easy trip. So I guess instead, I'll just give you the highlights of the trip.

After we set up the site, we walked over to the Christian Camp and sneaked in the back of the big rock concert for the Jr Highers. Those kids were so great. They drank that concert like it was mountain dew and had the energy to match. They screamed and jumped and sang along. Then afterward, they swarmed the guys bringing anything they could find to get an autograph including hats and shirts and posters. We decided it would be fun to act like a couple jr highers wanting autographs and stood with our poster in each line. When it was our turn we screamed (though not as high or loud as those jr highers could) and they both just about fell over. The concert totally rocked and was so tight. We were extremely proud of them. We got to hang out with the band and Ryan's girlfriend in the coffee shop for a while debriefing about the concert. Then after the guys finished serving fries at the roller rink, we all got back together and listened to their album. A MUST BUY!


Our site, Friday morning. We got up at 5:30 to go watch the sunrise over the lake. UH-MAZING. In the early morning fog rises up over the water almost like steam. It's so beautiful. This was one of the things that really impressed John when he came up to Hume as a kid. We forgot to bring the camera though. Doh.


Breakfast Friday morning. Scrambled eggs, bacon and english muffins with percolator coffee (bad percolator coffee) and OJ. Mmmmm.


A new camping tradition: Roasted marshmallows IN hot chocolate. I have no idea why I never put these two things together before. Apparently, it was only new to me.




Canoes on the Lake with Ryan and Rachel. Not long after this picture we paddled to shore and as John got out of the canoe it tipped, filling up with water and soaking us up to our waists! Of course, Rachel and Ryan came prepared with swim shorts on and they didn't get one drop on them. John and I came in normal shorts and got soaked!


Rachel, Ryan, John, Me & David. SO FUN!!


Fritz, post-doggie heaven.