Cookies, Camping, and S'Mores!
We loaded the van at 5:45 am on the Friday before Mother’s Day. We realized that the girl’s packing or loading skills must have improved vastly from the camping trip of 2015 because they were loaded and ready to go in less than 30 minutes. That left us with a lot of time before the 7 am ferry to Swan Quarter. The ferry trip was uneventful with a few naps and some reading accomplished.
Our next stop was Hardees of Belhaven where we scarfed down more than our share of round hash browns! One more stop in Belhaven for some Dramamine from the drugstore and we were on our way for real. It is almost 500 miles from Ocracoke Island to Linville Falls! The weather was spectacular with blue skies and no rain along the way. We missed the rush hour traffic in the Triangle, too!
We stopped in Boone at a Food Lion where the girls used their carefully prepared shopping lists to buy all the food and supplies we would need for the long weekend. The girls worked with Ms. Piland during their weekly meetings to make a menu plan, shopping list, and budget. We also stopped at a discount store for a bucket to carry water, very important!
We arrived at the campsite, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, before dark and the girls got to work putting it all together. They worked hard, cooperated and had the tents up in a jiffy. They then started to prepare dinner. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, and s'mores! Soon it was time for bed because the sun went down and we were exhausted!
The next day we awoke to a crisp, cold morning! It had snowed in the mountains a couple of nights before we got there. I slept in 3 pairs of socks, two shirts, gloves, a hoodie, and a thick pair of sweatpants! It was chilly but the girls didn’t complain at all. After breakfast we went to Linville Falls and it was beautiful. The weather was perfect, it was not terribly crowded and they had a cool gift shop!
The weather was warmer Saturday and Sunday nights, so we were more comfortable. The only animals we saw at our campground were birds and chipmunks. They were so adorable! In the night something came up and scratched on our tent, I hope it was a chipmunk!
On Sunday (Mother’s Day) we visited Linville Caverns. What a neat experience! The girls really enjoyed the tour. Going on a trip like this with a science teacher was so fun! Ms. Piland could have easily led the tour herself, she was so knowledgeable! You could see an actual fault line in the cavern. It is an incredible experience to be underground and see those spaces that you otherwise never would.
We slept one more night at the campground and woke up early on Monday to break camp. The girls had the tents down and folded in a jiffy and we were packed and ready to go. One stop for breakfast in Marion and we were on the road home to Ocracoke. Traveling with these three young ladies was so easy. They listened to music and napped and before we knew it, we were in Washington for fuel and lunch. An hour later we were at the ferry docks in plenty of time for the boat home. What a relief for Ms. Piland that she didn’t have to drive the long way around. (You all know what I’m talking about)
We survived a 4-day camping trip across the great state of North Carolina! Actually, it was a very relaxing trip for me because the girls did all the work and Ms. Piland did all the driving. I had hours to read which was heavenly, especially in the cool mountain air and sunshine!
The troop also participated in the recent British Cemetery Ceremony. They are such a joy to our little village.
The girls enjoyed a beach trip last week with lunch at Jason’s Restaurant. They said it was yummy! Thanks to everyone who sold and bought Girl Scout Cookies and treats in the past, you helped support the troop!
