Camping and BMX Weekend

If we are friends on Facebook, maybe you have seen some of my pictures of the kids riding bikes on a BMX  track.  Last September my friend Brandy asked me to bring the kids to a track in Powder Springs.  WHERE?!?!  I opened WAZE and immediately didn't like the idea.  50 minutes away?! UGH!  Isn't there a BMX track IN Atlanta? Well, no. No there isn't. 

Of course now 6 months later,  this a is a sport that the boys are totally into and boy, 

 would I love for them to practice every day.  (They are soooooo worn out and sweaty after riding)  Yet with a nearly 2 hour drive each time we go, I just can't.  Especially during the week. 

The track we frequent most is Cobb County BMX and it's awesome!  The people are nice and so helpful to anyone who is clueless about this sport.   🙋

The bike track has a walking track around it, so when Im there I am walking with a friend or a podcast.  It's fun.  It's just THAT DRIVE. 

When I learned about the Gold Cup/State Qualifier race weekend in McDonough GA (1.5 hour south of  us) I immediately thought ...I do not want to drive down there both Saturday and Sunday!  haha

I ran the idea of camping by Ernesto and he was down for it.....so I opened up the GA Parks website and found two great options not suuuuuuper close to the track but closer...  Unfortunately planning a week out (which is really good for us) is not enough.  Everything was booked!   Wha-waaamp. 

A week later, on Thursday morning I opened the site again and wa-la!  Someone had cancelled in an "electric" campsite. YES!  I booked right away and started immediately looked up a "camping essentials" list.  

We had most of the stuff already.  I had been collecting gear for a camping trip in February with our friends Virginia & Rodney in Florida, but it got rained out.  Everything was sitting in tubs, ready to go. I went to Walmart and bought all our food and an electric skillet. Let's camp!!

We arrived High Falls State Park around 630 pm on Friday night.  Of course I would've like to have gotten set up BEFORE dark, but for some reason, we couldn't get out of the house earlier?!?!

Oh well, you have to just go with the flow in the Espinoza household or you would be irritated all the time trying to get Ernesto things moving quicker.

Our site, even though we had no choice of the location, was a great spot.  We were in a cul-da-sac, not too close to the bathroom, but close.  The river ran along the sites across the street from us, so we still got to hear the rushing water. 

The kids busted out their scooters and rode around with their headlights while Ernesto and I set up the tent (a Coleman 6-person with easy set up). We started a fire and got to roasting. 

We woke up early the next morning, started another fire immediately because we had to heat the water for coffee.  I bought this kettle at Walmart and the little pot from Goodwill.  I got water boiling and broke out our French press.

Now I LOVE coffee from a French press, but we drink a lot of coffee and my press only produces 2 cups a time😭. I had to keep two pots of water going  so I could start steeping one after the other.  This may be considered "glamping," but next time we have an electric site, Im bringing a coffee pot. 🤷 

The skillet, on the other hand worked out perfectly. The boys made sausage patties one morning and chorizo and eggs the next. 

Paloma took charge of washing the dishes afterwards.

March is pretty much Spring weather in GA, so it was a bit chilly at night, but everyone stayed warm in their sleeping bags.  We had air mattresses too (again with the glamping). 

One night Ernesto took a mattress to the back of the van to sleep.  The kids thought that was funny and went to wake him up in the morning. 

The park gets its name from its biggest attraction, the High Falls, which are fed by the mighty Towaliga River. Along with multi-tiered falls, the park also famous for its clear lake and big dam. Unfortunately we did not make it on any hikes but we did spend the two mornings playing by the river. 

While we were ohh-ing and aww-ing at the river and climbing trees, Mateo was chomping at the bit to leave the park.  He did not want to climb trees or "do pictures." He wanted to GET TO THE TRACK!  Im telling you, he is obsessed!! I snapped this one, just so I can remember the intensity of him wanting to leave.   Oh! And check out the dam!

After getting to the camp site on Friday we talked about maybe just going to the state race on Sunday instead of going both Saturday AND Sunday. Then we could enjoy the camp ground. It was, after all our FIRST camping trip.  Mateo really wanted to go though so Ernesto said, Ill take the kids, you can stay at the campground.  AND I DID! 

There was no contact with them once they left either.  ALONE.  NO SERVICE. OUT OF TOUCH! It was an awesome feeling.  I painted, journaled, biked, walked, contemplated life (and parenting) sitting along side of the river. After about 7 hours when it started getting dark I was ready and anxously awaiting their return from the race.  And guess what?

Mateo brought home first place! He was so happy and proud.  I was so happy to see him so happy!

The next day, we packed up our campsite and we all went to the track for day two of racing. 

They both placed in two exciting races...Then promptly passed out in the car on the ride home. 

I’m a big fan of tired kids! Also , I’m a big fan of camping.  We have to do this more often!  Of course, I would rather do it in an Airstream but Ill take a tent for now.  I figure that the more Ernesto moves from the tent to the back of the van to sleep, the quicker he will realize that we NEED one! 

A WEEK IN WEEKI WACHEE 2021

 It's that time again.  Time for the annual Weeki Wachee trip.  My parents are officially "snowbirds" by the way.  Living in Ohio all winter would drive my dad bonkers.  Add in Covid and I would say that Florida definitely saved his sanity....Am I right Dad?

He needs to get outside everyday.  And that is exactly what he does in Florida for 5 or so weeks every winter. Kayak and bike and then bike and kayak some more. 

We love going down there because it's a super unique spot.  This was our 5th year and I would love to continue this tradition every winter!

Since we were road tripping, we stopped to check out Cedar Key for one night. We stayed at a cute little hotel on the water.  

We walked around town, ate some seafood, ran home in a rainstorm and played on the beach/playground in the morning before continuing the 2 hours down to Weeki Wachee. 

We did end up getting our own house this year because my parents rented a friends house that wasn't on the river.  Being ON THE RIVER is EVERYTHINGGGGGGGG!

Also, the neighbor had 4 new kittens.  And kittens make everything better. It was so nice to be able to just hop in the kayaks right in front of the cabin. 

We went out everyday and even multiple times a day.  

The boys went out by themselves a couple times, but it is definitely harder coming back up the river. We had a lucky week with MANATEES. We saw a lot! Like more than any other year.  It was amazing because they were so close to my kayak and when they went under my kayak I felt a little twinge of fear in my stomach.  They are SO BIG!  Here, take a look at these two swimming by........

The weather was pretty warm and although I didn't jump in, the water IS inviting.  It is so clear and clean. These guys couldn't resist. 

There was a lot of convincing and encouraging going on between the three of them.  

Eventually they were all jumping in...and immediately grabbing for towels. 

The kids had two days of live school classes on this trip, and so besides a launching pad, the dock also served as a virtual classroom a couple times.  

Doesn't Marcelo look thrilled?! 

I brought my painting supplies and the three ladies had a nice afternoon with our bluebirds.  

I knew my mom would enjoy painting with me and Paloma is always game for making art. Ever since Covid, my favorite YouTube channel is Let's Make Art.  Their watercolor tutorials are so fun, and I think Im really improving!

Did I go thrifting while in Florida?  Ahhh, does a bear poop in the woods?  I mean come on!!  

These lamps came home with me.  I saw them right away on a high shelf but passed by.  They were calling me though and after we went through the whole store I told my mom "I know you are going to think Im crazy, but I love these lamps!"   She did not say anything negative about them nor discourage me from buying.  She is always very open to my decorating ideas, even though they are very different from her taste.  Our common love is thrifting and we want to be 100% supportive of each other!

We had some delicious food (hello tongue tacos!) and lots of laughs. 

Also, there was ice cream and my mom made her apple crisp!  Omg...soooooo good .

Having our bikes in Florida again this year was awesome.  The house we rented was on a dead end with very little traffic and the kids were zooming up and down the street.  

One day we took a cool bike ride around Lake.  

We stopped at different points for a little climbing and splashing.

We also stopped in our tracks for this tall bird, he was beautiful and I later found him online.  He is a Sandhill Crane.  See him in the road right in front of my dad. 

We were fascinated. 

It was a beautiful ride and although we told the kids it was a short ride, we ended up clocking 6.5 miles.  whoops! I tried to focus on the views instead of complaining kids.  "Im tired. This is boring! How many more miles are we ridingggggg??"  Paloma got off her bike a few times and sat down on the trail. "Im not going any more."  Mateo's face below says it all. 

My mom has rolled her hair in the same foam rollers for years. In fact, I remember her putting them in my hair as a kid and I remember how excited I used to get in the morning.  "Grandma, can you put some in my hair?" Paloma asked.

She was so excited by her curly hair that I bought some at Target right when we got home and we have put them in several nights.  Her curls are the CUTEST!!

We played Pegs and Jokers of course.  Here Mateo and my mom are playing with Luke and Eleanor on FaceTime.  No they couldn't be with us on the trip, but they still wanted to visit. 

A few houses down from our rental there is a house that really needs some love.  I want it so bad!  

This is what it looks like from the street. 

I know what you are thinking....but imagine that wood brought back to life!  The lot looks like an overgrown jungle, but I looked up close and there are beautiful tropical plants in there.  At one time it had a nicely manicured garden . 

A neighbor told me that an older couple owns it. They live out of state and haven't been there in a long time. I want to try and contact them.  Maybe they are ready to sell?! 

Before we all took off I snapped a couple pictures, but it's so hard getting everyone together.  I know Im a picture a$$, but everyone is going to be thankful I captured all these photos when they can't remember what we did 10 years ago. 

We left about 11am and drove straight home (7 hours).  My parents are there for another few weeks. 

Because they are Snowbirds. 

THE END