Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Weekend Getaway


Ryan and I went camping this past weekend at France Park. It was perfect camping weather....hot enough to swim during the day, but still cool in the shade of our camp site, but just cool enough at night to enjoy the fire. You all know how we love fire!!!! I guess maybe we're pyros, and that's the real reason we get along so well....who knows.

Anyway, we had a great time. We managed to get some disc golf in, two full days of swimming, some miniature golf, a little hiking, played some bullseye washers, played a little skip-bo, and last but not least, we broke out the travel edition of Battleship....and dang it if Ryan didn't sink my battleship!!!!!

I felt like we got a lot accomplished for the short time we were there.

France Park is such a nice place to get away for cheap, and just a short drive. I remember going there when I was a kid and watching Dad and his crazy friends jumping off of the cliffs. I can't imagine jumping off of one of those things. I'm not surprised they don't allow it anymore. The closest I'll even get to the edge is probably about three feet away. I don't know why it freaks me out....maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was forced to wear my lifejacket in the sandbox up at Sissy's cottage when I was a kid....and it was like a quarter mile away from the water!!!!!!

France Park is one of those places I think I will enjoy for the rest of my life. I have a lot of good memories there. Not only with Dad or Ryan.....I had tons of fun there in high school, and even with Michael a few times. Mom and I have been out there swimming together a lot, and Ryan and I keep going back making more great memories....I love it!!!

Swimming is probably the part I like the most about being out there. The water is crystal clear....unlike the Lantz's Pit water I've gotten so used to. You could see to the bottom for probably at least 15 feet out...it was absolutely gorgeous.

A funny thing happened Sunday afternoon while were out swimming. We were floating around on this big double size raft together just soaking up some sun, and listening to all the craziness going on around us. It's amazing how much you can hear if you sit quietly and listen. You can hear conversations from every direction out there, so , of course, Ryan and I had a lot of fun with that. I heard someone say something really funny, and I don't even remember what it was now, but I sat up to see where this conversation was coming from , and there were two little girls swimming near us. One of which just happened to be Jen and Chad's neice Hadley.

I think I kind of freaked her out at first, because as soon as I saw her, I asked if her name was Hadley. She's definitely not a shy little girl :-) I told her I knew her dad and her aunt and uncle. When I mentioned Uncle Chad, all she could do was talk about how OLD he's getting because it was close to his birthday...he he he... (Happy Belated to Chad!!!!!!)

I saw Craig and Jessica (Jen's in-laws) sitting up on the beach looking out at Hadley. Probably wondering who in the world she was talking to. Before we knew it, our raft had been taken over by her and her friend. We told her she should go tell her dad who she was talking to so he didn't freak out. So, she ran up and told him, and within seconds she was back on the raft. Craig ended up out there appologizing for her taking over our beach toys....but we had a lot of fun with them. I think we ended up hagning out with them for the last couple hours we were there. It was great. AND, it was awesome to hear Hadley calling Jessica Mom. They seemed like such a happy little family.

So that made a great end to our trip to France Park this weekend. Lots of fun in the sun, and some good company for the end of the day. It couldn't have been much better!!!!

Here's a picture of the beach as we walked down the first day......................And then, you have Ryan and I sitting on a cliff.....not too close though!!!!!!!!Thought this was a beautiful view...................My baby roastin' marshmallows.............he got a little roasted in the sun that day too :-)Oh delicious smores.........................
Uh.........what?.........I don't remember these pictures......he he he.......................Nope.....don't remember that one either.......................


But I DO remember this!!!! This is the last photo of the trip. We were just heading back to the camp site to clean up after swimming the day away.......................

Everyone needs to go spend some time at France Park......It's only $1.50 to get in for the day, and that includes everything!!! You can't beat it!!!!!

6 comments:

*Jen* said...

Looks like a great trip! Glad you two were able to get away on a quick mini vacation. They are the best! Jessica texted me yesterday and told me that they saw you. That is hilarious that Hadley took over your raft. The other girl she was with, Makenna, is Brad Tanner's little girl. Isn't it crazy how big Hadley is getting. She's a lot of fun to be with. I'm thankful that they are a nice, little family together.

KellyAnn said...

Looks like you had a blast, I'd love to check that place out. I love to swim also.

Anonymous said...

Jill Anne said...that brings back a lot of memories. We used to go there before it was open to the public. Did you know it used to be called "The Cliffs" by those of us who used to trespass there?

alli-gal said...

yeah....Dad always called it "The Cliffs" It's beautiful out there!!!

I like it that I spend time in some of the same places that I've heard Dad talk about. He was there doing the same crazy stuff that we are now....makes me feel close to him. Plus, I spent a lot of time there as a kid too.


Kellyann.......you guys should come up and hang out for the weekend sometime with us, and we'll just make a day trip out of it. it's only about 40 or 45 minutes from our house. and a dollar fifty to get in.....let's make some plans!!!

KellyAnn said...

Alrighty.... I'd love too. Let's do it. You start throwing some weekends at me that you both can do it and we'll figure out a good weekend for all of us. Hell I could even bring the girls to do that, they would have fun too.

Andrea said...

I haven't been to France Park in years. Looks like a great time!

I think I even jumped off one of those cliffs once! I KNOW Brent did it LOTS of times!