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Camping at Geode State Park, Iowa - Episode 3 - The Fire and The Racoon

2008.07.18





Twenty-six of us all gathered around the campfire one night to enjoy each other's company, the stars, the full moon, and some scary stories. There would have been songs but the guys who play guitar weren't up to it this night. The kids, 7 under age 10, and a few adults, decided to roast marshmallows for s'mores. There was a big variety of marshmallows for s'mores this year - strawberry, chocolate or plain. And there were chocolate or plain graham crackers. Sorry, couldn't take a pic of the roasting marshmallows, a s'more or anything else that night. The skewers were flying, the marshmallows were sticky and I felt like keeping my eyes intact so remained watchful while the kiddies roasted their marshmallows. Oh, and did I mention I couldn't take pictures because I was one of those adults who roasted some marshmallows? I made one with chocolate marshmallows, chocolate graham crackers and my chocolate bar. It was very chocolatey and delicious and sticky and sweet and gooey and I did want s'more but passed. They don't go too well with margaritas.

After the marshmallows we told the kids a few scary stories. Just as an FYI - the grandkids and others their age consider "Little Red Riding Hood" a scary story!

My daughter Amber and husband Barry decided to turn in early and went back 5 campsites to their tent. We soon heard screams and Amber came running down to tell us there was a racoon in their tent! We didn't believe her and started laughing - we thought it a joke (this family always is pulling some kind of joke). It wasn't a joke. Barry chased it out. A racoon had torn a hole in the side of their tent in order to get to the graham crackers she had stashed in a sealed tote. There were cracker crumbs all over the floor of their tent. Amber couldn't sleep there because of the gaping hole. So they slept that night in the other end of our camper where the grandkids usually sleep.

The following morning I took some gauze (for reinforcement) from the first aid kit and a needle and thread I carry in my purse and mended the hole while the little kids looked on in amazement!

What a time to remember!
9 Comments
urmysunshine Great stories- how fun!~ (I personally agree about lil red riding hood- everything from the red hood to the person eating wolf!) R
urmysunshine · 2008-07-23: 19:32
leocheung A post full of fun and joy:))
leocheung · 2008-07-23: 20:13
Queen911 This story cracks me up!! I like the blue tint in #1 and #2. Now I want s'mores!!!
Queen911 · 2008-07-23: 20:28
Lindyart thanks for sharing all this ..it brings back many happy memories !!
Lindyart · 2008-07-23: 22:54
sunshineand good together time
sunshineand · 2008-07-23: 23:50
photopoet Your story about the raccoon brought back fond memories of an escapade with one of those critters. We were in the tent and the raccoon was outside stalking the tent—where we had cookies. We threw the cookies outside and he eventually stopped his howling. You folks stockpiled memories for years. Love that last photo.
photopoet · 2008-07-24: 06:51
MUMMoira Great story, looks like fun despite the "terror raccoon!"
Little red riding hood was my daughter's favourite and only wanted read that.
BTW what is s'mores?
MUMMoira · 2008-07-24: 10:13
mystic1 Ohhhhh Yummmmy!! Now you made me want a s'mores :) Good set and great reportage
mystic1 · 2008-07-24: 12:04
jenjung that's funny - my friend the park ranger would have lots of stories like that but with bears instead of raccoons...

smores are best over a real campfire!
jenjung · 2008-07-25: 12:59
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