Calvin CRC Campout - August 2015: Part 1

Calvin Church Camping - Part #1

Yep, it's been a while since we went Calvin Church camping.  Fall is almost finished, and the snow's a comin', but what better time to share summer fun than when summer is done.  : ) 

In late August several Calvin "ites" gathered at Lac Philippe, group site #5 for a weekend of fun and fellowship.  

We left early on the Friday to make sure that we could settle everyone into the small group site.  
However, Andy and Diane beat us there  : )  
They were moving picnic tables with Lena and Corbin.  

Andy and Diane's castle away from home.  : )  

We began setting up once Andy parked his trailer in his "perfect" spot.  

We were going to be close neighbours.  

Our trailer set up.  

Andy's trailer set up. 
We must have worked Corbin too hard. : ) 

Evert and Annet parking the trailer.  

Grandchildren came with them.  

Time to set things up.  

Andy and Corbin passing the time as they were set up and ready to enjoy the weekend.  

These newer tent trailers have an electric winch system. 
Sweet.  I have to get me one of those.  : )

Up up and away.  

Awe, what a nice touch Diane.  

Wow, lots of stuff to set up.  

My son, Chris, and his cousin, Kyle, happened to pick the same weekend, and the same park to camp in.  I went to check out the site with Katrina.  Not much to it.  : )  

Dinner time?  
And you didn't invite me Diane.  

Trying to get the fridge to work. 
One of the hardest things to do on a tent trailer.  : ) 

Our community is slowly taking shape.  

Ah, new arrivals.  

Leo and Cathy were set up in about 10 minutes.  : ) 

Louise and Samuel arrived soon afterwards.  

Sarah lending a helping hand in setting up their accommodations.  

Samuel was made for the camera.  : ) 

Stuart and Christine arrived next.  

We who were set up began socializing.  

As did the children.  : ) 

While others set to work getting their tent set up.  

And shelter set up.....

Point a camera at Samuel and he breaks out into a smile.  

Back to work.............

Evert and Annet are finally set up.  

Time for a glass of wine to start the weekend off right.  

Katrina's in there somewhere.......

cool bike/scooter type thingy.  

Our supper time.  

Where'd the grandchildren go?  

Ah, Nathan and Margaret showed up.  

Kim and children too.  No Paul....???
Apparently camping is not his thing...go figure. 

Luke...how ya doin'  ???
Nice shades.  

Hangin out with Joycegina........

Tent almost up Kim?  

And Nathan and Margaret? 

Wilma showed up too.  
A rustic trailer that has many memories attached to it.  : ) 

Our shelter, which would prove to be a very handy building on Saturday.  More on that later...........

The community comes together to help set things up.  Thanks Leo.  

Supper time

What are you having Christine?  

Leo and Cathy.  
Nothing like dinner Al Fresco  : ) 

Stuart still trying to stay out my pictures.  hmmm : ) 

Our community, pretty much set up. 
Looks nice and cozy.  : ) 

I took another trip to see Chris and Kyle.  
Supper over the fire.  
I don't think they brought many cooking utensils. 
But they managed.  

Nice cloths line.  

Sarah in her glory. 
Reading.  : ) 

Keep that smile Samuel. 
Oh, Doug arrived as well. 
He biked here.  

Andy and Diane gave tours of their home. 
I hope you charged $$  : ) 

All sorts of natural conversations started between people.  
Nice to see.  

Hey Wilma and Donna Lee.  
All set up and ready to go.  

Standing guard.  : ) 
or is that sitting guard....hmmmm.  

After supper it was time for a fire. 

Now, fires mean different things to different people. 
I bought a couple of bags of firewood, thinking we'd have a nice cozy campfire for the evening, and have enough wood for Saturday night as well.   
Bill and Gwen are camping in the park because their motorhome wouldn't fit in our space.  
He volunteered to make a fire. 
I thought, sure, why not...glad he wants to volunteer. 
Gwen warned me about having him manage the fire.  : ) 

The youngsters getting ready to enjoy the fire....

or at times the Bon Fire. 
Eventually, after I knew there was no point in stopping Bill, we let him have fun with the fire.  : ) We went through all three bags of wood.  : )  

A neat picture of the fire.  

We had a great time around the camp fire. 
I think most people were in bed by 11 pm ish.  

Good morning Evert. 

It was a damp morning, not the sunny day that was forecast the day before.   Quebec weather.  : )  

Samuel smiling at the camera again.  : ) 

Everyone waking up.  

Hey there Hannah. 
Smile.  : ) 

A good old camping breakfast.  

I'm making bacon and eggs. 
As usual when we camp.  

It was yummy.  

Not too healthy, but yummy. 
Sometimes that trumps healthy.  

After all that hard work cooking it was time to enjoy breakfast.  

The sun shone for brief periods and burned off the fog and mist.  

Breakfast indoors....

Breakfast outdoors.  

Stuart's 4 - 5 pancakes.  

Hannah, look at the camera.  
Please......  : ) 

Hey there Lewis. 
Cereal.  
The breakfast of Champions.  

Gotta get that coffee going eh Kim.  : ) 

Informal gatherings of Calvin 'ites' sprung up around.  

Christine spending time with Wilma and Donna Lee

I wonder what deep theological subject Leo is talking about at the moment.  : ) 

It was nice to simply sit and chat.  

Diane sharing a great story.  

Hey Corbin. 
You look comfy.  

I brought my cribbage game along. 
It seemed to be a hit with Thomas and Lewis.  

I'm very competitive when I play.  

But I do seem to recall that I didn't win. 
Sigh.....young whipper snappers......

Dad, let me go.  I want to be free.......

Samuel and Emma chatting things up.  

So cute.  

After breakfast was finished for all, most of us trekked to the caves to see if we could walk through them.  
We brought our bikes, so we biked there.  
There was also a biking event going on over the weekend, and the trail head was a break point for this large group of bikers.  

Katrina resting after our biking. 
Lots of hills in Lac Philippe.  

And steps too.  

Hey Leo.  
He loves the caves.  

Sarah did ok too.  

Me on the other hand, I'm not so fond of enclosed spaces. 
I did manage to go through the first half of the cave though.  

That's a pretty black hole we are entering.  

Thank goodness there was a natural sky light.  : ) 

I got out at the 1/2 way mark.  
Even that first half was a challenge for me.  I think I've been there done that....don't need to do it again.  : ) 

But others were ready to tackle the next 1/2 of the caves. 
As you near the end things get deep and your head is pretty much the only thing out of the water and the roof of the cave is right there.....shiver.....  : ) 

But there were many braver souls than me that completed the caves.  Like Hannah...

...and Leo.  

Samuel enjoying the time at the caves.  

Bill and Gwen and grand children enjoying the day.  

Hanah did it again.  

Way to go.  

As well as Lennea.  

And Corbin.  

And Doug.  

Andy, what..not going to walk the caves...
don't blame you.  : ) 

Chillin after the caves were done.  

Time for the walk back down to the trail head.  

Mostly downhill.  

Downhill can be hard on the knees.  : ) 


Oh, we are done part one of our weekend adventures.  
move to part two to find out how Pastor Craig can influence the weather............  : )