Funny enough, “I love camping; I am such a good camper!” were the ironic words I shouted two days prior, when I decided on this Labor Day Camping Excursion.
Growing up we always went camping on our family vacations. I have such wonderful memories of loading up the car and going to the beach to camp all week, so I didn’t hesitate when I was invited to go camping at Fire Island this weekend. I did not, however take into consideration the fact that I would have to borrow camping gear (as I have none, whatsoever) nor do I have a car to haul said camping gear! I wouldn’t let it get me down though. I was only staying the night, I planned on living in my swimsuit, the world was my oyster! I packed light and carried my stuff to the train. Amber and I took the 9am train about 1.5 hours out to Patchogue (don’t worry, the lady laughed at me as I tried pronouncing the name too). Then we walked to the ferry station- still carrying our equipment mind you- where we waited for the ferry.
It was a pleasant boat ride, about half an hour to Fire Island. When we got there we saw lots of boats and families. There was a beautiful wooden walkway and everything was green. It was a crystal clear day and we made our way to the campsite where we could meet our friends and set up.
That’s when it happened…
The defining moment of the trip…
The bugs…
Not just evil mosquitoes that hate me. Oh no! Something much more sinister. Evil, blood sucking, biting FLY’S! Swarms of them! Everywhere!
I coated myself with bug spray first thing, but it didn’t seem to matter. It was like icing on the cake.
The beginning of the end for me. The rest of my stay was a blur. I do remember that it was gorgeous and the water was nice. The people were friendly and the facilities were good. But the thing that stayed with me (haunts me to this day in fact) were the disgusting creatures that ruined my trip.
They were there with me at the beach. They were waiting patiently outside my tent. A few brave ones managed to get inside our tent. Trying to sleep that night was next to impossible, knowing that at any moment I would hear a buzz by my ear, or feel my flesh getting ripped into…
Another thing, is that bites affect me different than most people. They get really swollen and hard. Plus they itch like crazy!!
To top it off, I got bit at my eye. When I woke up, I could feel that it was swollen. I said to my fellow campers, “I think my eye is swollen from the bite?” The telling response was, “Oh! Wow!” :(
Today at work, I got a lot of “What happened to you?” because I could not wear contacts or make-up today and as Amber so eloquently put it, "you look like you were ran over by a truck" (it's good to have honest friends)
Anyways, there were parts of it that were definitely fun. However, I am emotionally (and physically for that matter) scarred from this experience. It will be a long time before I go camping again.
(unless I go in a car, with my parent and there are no killer bugs on the loose)
Below are some highlights from the trip:
Me on the Ferry... so happy, so clueless
The Beach
The last summer sunset
The path we took on our twilight walk into "town"
This photo captures the essence of the trip.
This bug spray was everything they ever wanted.
Amber and I on the beach
The pretty campgrounds
The beach
Getting ready to get the H- outta there!
(Thank goodness my hair still looks good, at least there's that)
6 comments:
First of all I really like the new layout of your blog. Second, nice pictures of the camp ground. It looks like a great place. And finally, I'm so sorry that you were attacked by those man eating, sorry, woman eating insects. When you come home I"ll put the tent up in the backyard and try to make your camping experience a little less traumatic.
dad
Sorry you were eaten alive. At least those gorgeous views made it a little better? Bugs suck.
Bugs love me too! The eat me alive and the bites get huge and itch like crazy so I totally feel your pain chick! Happens every time we have a storm here in the summer. All I have to do is walk out of my house. Sorry to hear you had such a crappy time, I love camping!
oops, that last comment was from me lol
~ Kat
That's too bad that camping isn't your favorite, it's not mine either. What lovely pictures, though. Some of those should be up in your house and framed they look so nice!
This post was absolutely hilarious! lol I loved reading through many of your posts, but this by far is the most entertaining. You should be a writer. Your descriptions were so well written. I laughed with you, I cried with you, I felt itchy all over, and will now have the fear of bugs buzzing in my ear as I lay down to sleep tonight! Thank you for sharing your experience and my only wish was that you would have included a picture of your bug bitten eye :) I look forward to your next camping trip and the stories/horrors it will bring. Love you...
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