Weekend carcamp with the locusts

“Had a relaxing car camping weekend at German Ridge with Amy, our dog Mack,two other couples and a friend from work.

It was a toasty weekend at 88-90 degrees, but down under the trees with a nice breeze it was surprisingly comfortable.

We started drinking at about 9:45 on Saturday and held a steady pace through late that night. A good time and a lot of tylenol were had by all.

Took a short hike through the rock formations there down to the lake (more like a pond).

Let the dog (golden retreiver) go for a swim to cool off then headed back to camp before we lost our buzz.

We're smack in the middle of the 17-year locust season here. They were litterally covering everything. The sound was deafening, although we lucked out with one of the quieter sites. They were so loud at times that you almost had to yell to be heard.

They died off as the sun set and let us get some sleep. At around 5 in the morning we all heard them start back up. It sounded like a wave of sound coming across the forest. Then it was back for good a steady pulsating drone. It was very surreal at first but after a while you got used to it. They particularly liked the pine trees. The trunks were covered with the exoskeletons that had been left behind on their journey to the treetops. Its a good thing these buggers don't stick around long and only come every 17-years.

Saturday night we feasted on grilled steaks, pork chops and chicken with creek fried potatoes and home-made cherry pie.

Sunday morning we had a pitch in breakfast with farm fresh eggs, sausage and bacon from a recently slaughtered pig and an assortment of fruit and bagels with spread. You don't eat like this when you're backpacking. Heck I don't eat like that at home.

Amy and I left Brenn (6 months) with my mother. It was a much needed break, especially for Amy. Now that we've gotten out, we're ready to get Brenn started camping.

I worry about mosquitos chiggers poison ivy, all that stuff that we can handle but might be really bad for the baby. Any thoughts on prevention for babies?”

“sounds like a very fun weekend. you should've made locust soup, though! it sure seems like locusts have sucky lives...asleep for several years, come out, do it, die.”

“We saw the first signs of the locusts long before they emerged from the ground.

Whent he grubs started coming to the surface we had a mole problem for the first time since we moved to our house.

I'm wondering now if the round dead spots in my lawn last fall weren't caused by the grubs as well.

I have a friends on some wooded property that has them so bad he's scooping them up by the shovel full and burning them.”

“Another mystery solved...

"I'm wondering now if the round dead spots in my lawn last fall weren't caused by the grubs as well."- Indiana John

Back to the Sasquatch and Loch Ness monster....”