I haven't posted anything for a while, so here is a dump of adventures from the past few months.
We had a great hang in the Pinebarrens recently. Frank got to use his new hennessy hammock and 0 degree bag, Loren tested out his new underquilt, and I got to try out the aquaquest tarp that I modified to use with my hammock for foul weather, it now has doors.
We stayed at the Batona campground in Wharton State Forest, which turned out to be great spot for a quick weekend trip. We took trip to the visitor center to register our sites on Saturday, and decided to tour the mansion that is part of the historic Batsto Village. They don't allow photography on the interior, so all you get to see is the outside, and grey skies.
The viewing tower of Batsto Mansion.
Batsto Mansion.
When we arrived back at our campsite, we headed into the woods to cut some firewood. After that we hauled enough wood to keep the fire going all night, we geared up for an 8 mile roundtrip hike to Apple Pie Hill, to try to catch sunset from the fire tower. We headed out in a light rain that soon changed over to snow for the rest of our trip.
Loren and Frank crossing one of the many boardwalks on the Batona Trail.
Boardwalks and swamps.
Frank and Loren at the top of the fire tower.
Don't look down.
Frank and Loren waiting on me - waiting on sunset.
Sunset from tower was pretty underwhelming.
Ranger Frank on the way to Apple Pie Hill.
Patterns in a cedar log we split.
We got back to our campsite a little after dark, got our fire roaring and ate a late dinner. We stayed up late enough to burn most of the wood we had collected, and turned in for a calm evening in our hammocks. The temps hovered right around freezing all night, and we were all pretty comfortable. The next day we had ourselves some egg sandwiches for breakfast, slowly took down camp, and let Loren talk us into taking his beastly CRV out for some off roading on the sandy roads. This turned out to be way more fun than I had expected, and the CRV performed really well on the backroads.
The CRV tearing up the sugar sand while driving in circles.
You can make it, it's not that deep......
More mud puddles in the Pine Barrens.
We found this section of pines that were decorated for Christmas, and Frank got to work re-decorating with ornaments that had blown off.
The Pine Barrens version of Christmas in March.
At the end of February, I took a quick weekend trip out to Southwest PA to hang out with the family. We had just enough snow and cold to test out the new cross country skis at Laurel Hill State Park (where Jim works) on Saturday, and by the Sunday it was warm enough to enjoy a fire in the backyard.
Brenna enjoying the uphill section.
She fell out around a bend and immediately began doing snow angels.
Travelling in style.
Sunshiny hike on Sunday morning.
Last but not least, Sloane and I spent a glorious day and night in Cape Charles MD, this past weekend, at the Inn at Perry Cabin.
Late afternoon view from the balcony off our suite. There was a puddle on the railing from the morning rain.
Sunrise the following morning. The puddle was now ice.
Our room had a Nespresso machine, and I drank like 4 of these things. So good.
Room service is awesome, breakfast on the balcony, the sun was so warm.