Wis Camping Epoch

 

This year's Wisconsin camping trip took us to a new (to us) campground: the High Cliffs State Park. Brock and Alice were able to explore the ruins of this old building. Holly and I couldn't fit. 

The cliffs are clearly the stars of High Cliffs Park. 

This area was NOT an approved state park hiking trail. But it looked too good to miss, so we ventured in. 

I eventually made it down too.

More cliffs!

We found a giant teepee (on one of the approved trails).

It was nice inside. 

The cliffs all led down to a big lake. We skipped some rocks and searched for the coolest shells down here.

Pictureless story break -- So they had a swimming beach, and we went to it after this hike to cool off. Brock brought his favorite catch disc (think frisbee) cause we like to play catch in the shallow lakes we visit camping. We had only been playing catch for a couple minutes when some tomfoolery led to the disc being lost underwater. It doesn't float. Brock is devasted and committed to finding it. So Brock and I spent the next hour plus just pacing the water, dragging our feet, and the area we are searching is about the size of a football field. We were at least 150' off shore when we lost it. Thirty minutes in, I find a very nice smart watch, ask everyone around if it's theirs, can't find the owner. Later, a lady approaches me and asks if I found a watch. I return it, she's very happy. We eventually give up on Brock's disc and return to camp sadly for dinner. 

Twenty minutes later, I get a text message from random number: "Found your frisbee in the lake." (Always write your phone number on your discs, folks) I rush back to the beach to get Brock's disc, and it's the same lady whose watch we found. Perfect balance to the universe restored. Ok, back to camp...

Back to camp. Chillin.

Waiting for dinner...

Brock approved!

...and Alice finished.

After dinner, we started a fire and smores. We knew rain was coming, but we kept hoping it would hold out until bed time. It got close. As the rain got real, we piled into the tent and got ready for the storm. We had no idea how bad it would get. A few drops came from the ceiling at first. As the family started to panic, I tried to keep everyone calm and assure them that it was only a few drips and we'd remain mostly dry. I couldn't have been more wrong. Ten minutes passed, the dripping got harder, and I decided I would go outside to try and fix the rain fly up a little better. I stepped out of the tent into 6" of standing water. Our campsite was now a lake with a tent pitched in the middle of it. Insane flash flooding. 

The decision was made to escape to a hotel. The rain was so intense we had to turn around and reroute twice on the drive because there were roads that were uncrossable. 

But we made it. Sweet Wisconsin camping...

Surveying the aftermath in the morning. The pics don't do it justice. 

Discin' time!

See that basket in the background? Brock is smiling ear to ear because he threw in his 2nd shot from here, straight into the chains, for birdie. What a tight line!

Whooooo doesn't love to finish with some disc golf?