No. 111, September, 2009
Journal
Camping on Goose Island
by Delores Miller
Well, I always say I will try anything once - and I did. Robin, Keith and Marianne invited their old parents to go camping with them at Goose Island on the Mississippi River at LaCrosse for 3 days in August.
My children are very well organized, they planned the menu, bought the food for us 11 people, good wholesome meals including fruit, dessert, brats, chicken fried rice with soy sauce, hot dogs, steak, chicken, etc, etc. Different kinds of pasta salad. We did not starve. Three big coolers with ice. All made over a small gas-fired grill and a camp fire. Marianne even made us all grilled cheese sandwiches over the fire, she uses so much butter, that naturally they had to taste good. Robin made so many cookies, different kinds, all from scratch, and a brownie/peanut butter cupcake. Different kinds of dips for potato chips, nachos and bugles. For breakfast it was sausages and scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes and cold cereal with blueberries and fresh pineapple.
Set up a 2 room tent that was Marianne's, she had the air mattresses and could hold 5 people in there. Us other 6 people slept in Keith's pop up camper. Round the campfire after dark everyone told their favorite classic childhood memory. Everyone got the giggles then.
It was very hot, about 90 degrees, but Keith's camper did have air conditioning, so we could take naps in the coolness. Toilet and shower facilities were a long walk, but our campsite was right next to a sand beach, the children all played in the water, only coming out long enough to eat. Robin brought her little white dog Cookie along, and that was the only job assigned to Delores - to watch the dog. She likes me, she always sits by me, sleeps with me and walks me to the toilet.
About 75 campsites in this LaCrosse County Park, filled with some big beautiful motor homes, down to little pup tents. The park had a hay wagon and small Ford Tractor and several times during the day they came round and all went for a ride. At night a 5 piece band gave a small concert.
Very early Sunday morning while we were all sleeping we awoke to thunder and lightning and soon torrential rain came pouring down. All made a toilet run, came back soaking wet, crowded into Keiths camper where they handed us dry bread for breakfast. Packed up lawn chairs, coolers, sand toys, flung them wet into automobiles. Keith helped Marianne drop her tent, tossed it wet in her van, and Keith lowered his camper and all headed for home, Keith and Marianne had the longest trek, 3 hours. Will take all week for everyone to dry out. And wash laundry.
Robin and Madeline went to 10 a.m. church, Madeline had to light candles.
Russ stayed home, refusing to go camping, said he had enough of that in the Marine Corps 55 years ago.
Do hope the children will invite me again next year.
copyright, 2009 Russell and Delores Miller
Shown here are some of the group. Keith took the picture and Delores was taking a nap in the camper. Connor, Madeline , Robin's children Partially hidden is Keith's Dayne Robin and Marianne - Sisters Marianne's twins Elena and Cassidy Keith's twins Tierney and Alyse.