John Harvey Photo

Cultus Lake

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Camping with the Baby



Stuff From The Car
Everyone told us we were crazy to go camping with a 4 month old baby.  Maybe not everyone - my Mom took me camping when I was about that age, but my friends with babies thought I was nuts.  Turns out it is doable - if you have enough stuff!  We picked Cultus Lake because it's relatively close by - only an hour and half to get back to the city so if we failed badly it would take too long to get home.  Cultus lake also has showers which makes people happy.  Mark and Jeremy were game to join us so we had a trip!



Barred Owl From Front Barred Owl From Side
So we got out to the camp site and disgorged the car.  I setup our 10 person tent (no kidding) and Helen made sure the baby stayed warm.  Mark and Jeremy arrived later in the evening but their puney two person tents took only moments to setup.  We settle in to a little camp fire and started to enjoy camping.

That started a question - why go camping?  The first part of the answer flapped it's way - to see wild life.  An owl had skirted an edge of our camp site and setup pirch in a near by tree.  I figure all the campers inadvertently feed mice and those mice are now feeding owls.  The bird moved from tree to tree but was quite patient with me (and some invited guests) taking it's photo.


We retired to bed and had a good night.  Turns out our 10 person tent (did I mention it can fit three queen sized beds and is larger than any room in our condo?) has lots of vents and not all of them can be zipped closed.  We were effectly sleeping outside.  Nara was fine - she had five layers of clothing on and she was warm everywhere when she woke up in the morning.  Reason number two to go camping - kids love sleeping in tents.  Nara really seemed to like looking at the tent.  Perhaps it was the whole world being orange, or just the change from the usual, but she really like looking a the tent.

Waking Up In ATentNara Sucking FingerHanging Out At Camp

We got up and got on with our day.  We had lots of gear - nice seats, a stroller that doubled as a bassenet and three different stoves.  Jeremy cooked us pancakes and we got ready to see the world.  Nara was surprised by bird sounds and spent a lot of time looking at trees.

Baby At Camp Nara Sleeping In Her Bassinet
 
Cultus Lake Saturday MarketJars Of Preserves

Cultus lake has a "Saturday Market" in the park behind the gas station.   We were on our way to the Chillwack farmers market but I figured why not stop in?  There was some locally produced items and a little locally grown food but their was a big component of flea market meets beach toy shop.  The juxtaposition really threw me off, but if you are looking for a traditional farmers market, maybe this isn't what you have in mind.

Selling Plastic Junk

Turns out the Chilliwack farmers market was almost a no show - only 5 vendors and not much of a selection.  We are spoiled in our choice in Vancouver (not as spoiled as Seattle though!) so I was a little dissapointed.  We finished up the rest of our shopping and returned to camp.

Jeremy Holding Baby
Reason number 1 to take a baby camping.  They make a great lap warmer!   Nara slept in her pack and play, but she spent most of the days on someones lap.  She really like the attention - we actually had some problems after the weekend because she got used to so much holding.  Perhaps a little spoiling once in a while is a good thing.

Baby SleepingReading Nara AComic Book

I'm really not a fan of camp fires when camping.  I like trees - not wood on fire.  I don't like smoke.  I don't find them particulaly warming (put on a tuque).  I'm not a fan of roast marshmellows so that burning sugar on a stick thing doesn't do much for me.  We took a vote - turns out I'm entirely wrong - everyone else loves camp fires and a nice camp fire is their number one reason for camping.  My bad.

  Jer And Mark Preparing MarshmellowsMark Cooking Marshmellows
Jeremy Poking FireSparks In Front Of Lit Tent

Would you drive an hour and half to go to Minigolf?  I didn't think so.  How about 5 minutes down the road?  Perhaps the last great advantage of camping is the location - a home base to make exploring a new part of the world easier.

Mark And The Three Ball Problem Jer Starting GameMark With The Train Behind HimNara Hiding On The Green

Of course Mark won.  Two holes in one - it's starting to be hard to call it a fluke!
 
Thanks Mark and Jeremy for joining us!  We couldn't have done it without you.


Waking Up In ATent
Jeremy Poking Fire
Person: Jeremy
Jeremy Holding Baby
Person: Jeremy, Nara
Mark With The Train Behind Him
Selling Plastic Junk
Altitude: 27m (88 feet)
Location: Go To...
Barred Owl From Front
Species: Strix varia (Barred Owl)
Baby At Camp
Person: Nara
Nara Sucking Finger
Person: Nara
Nara Sleeping In Her Bassinet
Person: Nara
Tags: camping, tent
Reading Nara AComic Book
Person: Jeremy
Barred Owl From Side
Species: Strix varia (Barred Owl)
Cultus Lake Saturday Market
Person: Helen
Altitude: 23m (75 feet)
Location: Go To...
Mark Cooking Marshmellows
Person: Mark
Baby Sleeping
Person: Nara
Jars Of Preserves
Altitude: 28m (91 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bloom
Hanging Out At Camp
Nara Hiding On The Green
Person: Nara
Jer And Mark Preparing Marshmellows
Mark And The Three Ball Problem
Person: Mark
Sparks In Front Of Lit Tent
Stuff From The Car
Tags: car, packing gear
Jer Starting Game
Person: Jeremy
Tags: bloom(1), camping(1), tent(1), packing gear(1), car(1)
People: Nara(6), Jeremy(4), Mark(2), Helen(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > John Harvey Photo - Camping > Cultus Lake

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Last Modified Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 23:49:23 Edit
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