Jellystone 2020, Pt. I

How's it goin', campers?

Not sure if you guys remember this or not, but the Houghs didn't have such a swell time camping last summer.  We had reserved a block of sites for ourselves and seven or eight other families from our social group, and for the first couple days everything was awesome.  And then, out of nowhere, a Biblical thunderstorm sent flash floods through our campsite, and a torrent of water crashed through the side of our tent and soaked about, oh, $5,000 worth of electronics.

Fortunately, we had whoop-ass insurance, and came out of the month-long process with much nicer stuff than we had before (I've mentioned this all before.)  Long story short, no complaints here.

At the time, however, while we were staring at soaking wet electronics and soiled camping gear, we were officially funned out with camping at Jellystone Campgrounds.  We had no desire to return, even after all of our stuff had been replaced/upgraded, as there was a stigma to the campground now that we couldn't get over (we're not superstitious folk, but it couldn't be helped.)

It was with great reluctance, therefore, that we agreed to once again go camping with our large social order of families, this time at a different Jellystone Campground, up in Grayling.  It was the same group of usual suspects this time around - the Houghs, DeBoers, Johnsons, Larsons, Colliers, Butterfields, and Griffins - and we were once again staying for four days and three nights.

This year, however, we escaped unscathed:  the weather was perfect, we all had a blast, and we came out of it at the end without any sort of expensive catastrophe befalling us.  I gotta say, I'm a big fan of accident-free camping.

So yeah, what follows is a three-part series in this blog of ours, detailing - at great length - our second attempt at Jellystone camping with our Midland friend group.

Behold. . .

Due to the amount of crap we had to load up this year - multiple tents, my mini-fridge, tiki torches, all the tarps, bedding, camping chairs, cots, etc. - we were once again forced to take two vehicles.  Kris packed up her van up with the bulk of our stuff, even filling up our new cargo holder (or carrier, whatever they're called) that we bolted on to the top of her van (filled with bulky-but-light stuff like tarps, pillows, camping chairs, shoe mats, etc.)  She had Abby ride up with her, as well as Ella, who's parents had to work until 5pm and therefore wouldn't be making it up to the campsite until 7pm-ish (Abby, Ella, and the Larson's daughter, Sophie, were all going to stay in a tent this year, so we offered to take that up with us so we could get it set up for them.)

Meanwhile, Alayna and I loaded up the dogs in my car - along with our own personal bags for camping - and, on our way up to Grayling, made a pit-stop in Coleman for Shelby's K-9 Bed and Breakfast.  My parents swear by this place, and they only charge $20 a night for both dogs, not each (which is an insane price.)  We requested that both dogs be put in the same cage/cubicle/whatever, as they're used to each other and this is the first time we've left them somewhere that wasn't with one of my parents.  I apologize for the shittiness of these pics, too - I had Alayna take a couple as we dropped them off in the insanely-loud holding area in the back (lined with pens filled with loud, barking dogs.)

As we expected, Samson, having been on the streets for so long, bounced around from shelter-to-shelter, and only having lived with us for, like, five months, was totally fine with being dropped off at this place.  His overall attitude was, 'cool, this is my new home, then?'  Watson, on the other hand, was so depressed that we heard later, while picking them up, that he barely ate over the course of the weekend and wouldn't go outside to use the bathroom for a long, long time.  Predictable dogs.

The Surface of the F***ing Sun.  It was brutally hot out when we rolled in - high 90's - so hot, in fact, that the grass had all been cooked to a crisp (see for yourself.)  We were the first ones there (once again), but the Collier family showed up about fifteen minutes after us.

This year, our group had staked out seven campsites all together - we nearly had an 'island' to ourselves - and it had been decided that we'd all put our vehicles and tents around the perimeter of said territory, creating a large communal space at the center for dining, hanging out, bonfires, etc.  Broke down like this: 189 (Houghs), 184 (Johnsons), 188 (Butterfields), 185 (Larsons), 187 (Colliers), 186 (Griffins), Cabin 1 (DeBoers)

Consequently, being at the northern edge of our 'block,' we Houghs faced our tents south.  We were lucky that the site directly to the north of us remained vacant the entire weekend - I would've definitely felt bad for anyone that had to camp next to this group of folk.

While the Collier families ate their lunch that they had picked up on their way up to Grayling, we immediately set to work putting up our tents.  I didn't want to waste any time in this horrendous heat.

About an hour later, we had our tent up and were still at work setting up the kids' tents (Alayna was going to have her own tent this year, while her sister, as mentioned before, was sharing it with two of the girls from other families.)

While we continued to set up our stuff, Mees offered to walk all the kids down to the pool to let them swim (and consequently keep them out of our hair and occupied while Ryan, Kris and I sweated away setting up our campsites.)

Behold the full moon.  That's Alayna's tent on the left, with Kris situating the tarp for Abby, Ella, and Sophie's tent.

The Cannonball, Sophie (the Larsons had rolled in about an hour or so after us and the Colliers), Ella and Abby.

A couple hours into the set up process.  From left to right, our tent, Alayna's tent, and Abby's tent.  Still hot as hell out - we were all drenched with sweat.

This year I brought along some boards to rest the mini-fridge on in case it rained as hard as last year (fortunately, it did not.)  This mini-fridge served as our personal booze stash, as well as a place to store certain kitchen items that we didn't want getting all soggy and gross.  I will never NOT take a mini-fridge camping, it's a god-send.  About the same size as a cooler, but SO much more efficient - I don't know why more people don't do this, to be honest.

After wrapping up our own tents and sleeping accommodations, we started setting up the main dining/kitchen areas of our camp.  By this point in time, the Griffins and Butterfields had shown up, and had begun the set-up process. 

Took a breather at one point to crack open my first - and well-earned - beer of the trip.  Can't go wrong with Founders, folks.

We set up four of these canopies all together - creating a 'T' shape, if you will - to shelter all the picnic tables and food prep areas so we could hang out in the shade, like civilized folk.

Our bonfire area was situated close by our campsite, on what should've been the Butterfield's site (they were pushed back to the other side of the dining area, kinda over by the Collier's.

The Griffins had a frickin' RV.  They're the bourgeois of our group.

Drew (the Bos kid - his folks couldn't come this year, but they sent him up with the Larsons), Jackson, Ella, Abby, Sophie, and Alayna.  Still occupied in the pool.

Putting the finishing touches on the kitchen.

Like last year, we all took turns preparing meals for one another - two families would pair up to tackle each day's breakfast and dinner.  The first dinner of the trip fell to the Larsons and Griffins, who grilled up some steak and chicken fajitas for us all.  I've had far shittier food in my life.

The group kitchen (opposite side of the canopy from this table setup, sat all the coolers and totes filled with food and kitchen items.)

The Johnsons finally arrived around 7:30pm, while a passing shower was hitting us (not hard, but enough to be annoying) - so we all chipped in to help them get their stuff up as quickly as possible.

The Johnsons and Larsons have the exact same tent, coincidentally.  I kinda want one now, too.

Mission accomplished.

A walk through our quaint, gypsy shantytown. . .

Giving Kris her early birthday present - a Yeti-ish tumbler engraved with The Real Housewives of Midland (what the moms all refer to themselves as.)  A bunch of them got them, I guess, who knows.

Alayna, Elise, and Alivia playing. . . whatever the hell that African pebble game is.

The Johnsons and Colliers brought up their Cornhole boards this year, which we definitely got a lot of use out of.

Putting up some string lights for the kitchen.  Gotta keep it festive.

Cornhole lasted pretty late into the evening.  The DeBoers finally showed up shortly after the Johnsons, opting to rent a nearby cabin instead of doing a tent again - they only drove up one car, and it's the size of my Escape, so they couldn't have fit much in there.)

Enjoying the first bonfire of the evening, the worst day (in terms of weather) behind us.  From this point on, it was smooth sailing, to be sure.

To be continued. . .