The site that we got at the park was large with huge trees all around. After reaching the site on 31st evening, Ankur and Anuj helped me to quickly setup two tents. Meanwhile, Savita (Ritu) warmed the food on a small electric hotplate that we ate before it became dark. One observation that fascinates me each time I go for camping is the experience or feeling of darkness that I can’t feel in the city. In the complete darkness, if one can manage to look at the sky through the trees, the stars look so beautiful.
Next day, our friends – Shirodker and Narayan families joined us at the camp. Their sites were next to ours. The kitchen was setup only at one site, so we used to cook and eat together. We also setup the badminton net at the site. Every night, we used to sit around a campfire, singing, talking and eating marshmallows heated on the fire. Daytime activities included hiking on trails through forest and along the lake, enjoying the sun on the beach and canoeing/kayaking in the lake and river. We also spent time at a beautiful waterfall on the East River. While we were leaving the waterfall area, we saw an accident where a canoe went down the waterfall. Fortunately, the occupants were able to get out safely and no one was hurt. I had my camera in my hand, and I was able to capture pictures of the canoe going down the fall.
We went to camping for the first time in 2000 at Lake Mara. This year is the 10th year of our camping, and to celebrate this occasion, we went for dinner to the East Side Mario restaurant, Huntsville.
We returned back to the city on August 3rd after enjoying a fun-filled vacation. To view pictures we took at the camp, click the following link.
