Ian and I tried camping this weekend. No, not the “camping” like we do with our friends once a year (in a cabin…with A/C…and bathrooms…and a kitchen…) Camping…for REALS! We rented gear for a very reasonable price for the weekend including tent, sleeping bags and pads, and stove from REI. We stayed at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. The park was beautiful and well laid out, and best of all only 80 miles and barely an hour and a half from our house! We did all the requisite camping things: had a fire, made smores, took the dogs for a long hike, played cards on our sleeping bags. All in all, a great trip. We’d planned for two nights, but after the first day of long hikes and the rain starting to come down, we realized we’d done everything we’d come to do and there was no sense roughing it out in the rain for nothing. And I’m glad we decided to come back when we did, it poured down the next morning. Plus, we did the whole trip in Ian’s new Toyota RAV-4, which with all its storage space and great handling in the rain made the trip even better. I definitely think we’ll be camping again, possibly even getting our own gear, and this park will be high on the list. Next time there will probably be an open invite to anyone who wants to go as it’s the more the merrier as the saying goes. And, I think one night is enough