Ready to Camp

Hello!  Guess what I’m ready for?

Vacation!

Seriously ready.  Last weekend David and I spent our days relaxing, walking all around town (I think we covered 10 miles), and getting ready to go camping in the Black Hills!

We have gone to the Black Hills a couple times since we got married.  Both times we went with David’s parents and stayed at the Hart Ranch.  We love it so much.

This year, it’s just the two of us and we are roughing it a little more, staying in Custer State Park at the Blue Bell Campground.

The cabins have a nice deck, heat and A/C, beds, and benches.  That’s pretty much it.

No running water, kitchen, bathroom, bedding, appliances or other amenities.  I feel like we’ll have to pack our little car full to bring everything we need!  Things like sleeping bags, towels, pillows, sheets, coolers with our food, a water cooler, all our cooking utensils and supplies, outdoorsy things like bug spray and sunscreen, water bottles, camping chairs, first aid supplies, a lantern and flashlights, lighters/lighter fluid, cleaning supplies…the list feels never-ending. (But who am I kidding? I actually love making lists, just like my Mom!)

Although it’s lots of planning, we couldn’t be more excited!  We will hike (possibly Harney Peak), drive the wildlife loop looking for animals, see a few of the touristy spots (Mystery Cosmos Area?!), and just relax.  We have games packed like Yahtzee and Skip-Bo.  David has John Grisham books to read, and I am really excited to dig in to The Book Thief.

Camping and cooking will be a new experience for me.  We’ll use these pots and pans and our brand new Coleman camp stove.

David helped make a meal plan since he’s the camping expert.  I made a big grocery trip and have been prepping a foods to bring along.  I think we’ll eat pretty well.  Here’s the plan:

Breakfast:

• Biscuits and gravy — David’s favorite breakfast.
• French toast
• Scrambled eggs
• Breakfast potatoes
• Muffins (made ahead of time)

Snacks and lunches on-the-go:

• Turkey and ham sandwiches
• Trail mix
• Granola and Belvita bars
• PB & J
• Popcorn (I found a cool popper)
• Swiss Rolls and Nutty Bars (childhood favorites!!)
• Carrots, apples, oranges, canned fruit

Drinks

• Hot chocolate
• Juice mix
• Instant coffee

Lunch/Supper at the campsite:

• Dinty Moore Beef Stew (a must according to David)
• Pie Iron Pizza pockets
• Pie Iron Quesadillas
• Burgers
• Hot dogs and baked beans
• Sausage, peppers, potatoes cooked in tin foil packets
• Soup
• Broccoli Cheddar pasta mix

We’ve made the pie iron pizza pockets before.  You butter two slices of bread, make a sandwich with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, then let it cook in the campfire until it’s toasty and melty.  So good!  I also have chocolate chips and marshmallows packed so we can do pie iron desserts.

Most of our meals will be fairly simple to make.  I made it easy on myself and prepped the burgers, cooked taco meat for the quesadillas, and I’ll chop all the veggies right before we leave.

Thankfully our trip is after the big WINTER STORM that is hitting the Black Hills tomorrow.

Considering it was 90 degrees in Des Moines today, I can’t imagine dealing with a snow storm.  It should be cleared up by the time we get there, but I will bring warm clothes just in case!

Wish us luck with all the camping and hiking and not working! 🙂

Have a good one!