Corona Camping

After some recent "remodeling" to the teardrop that resulted in a new bunk bed set up for the kids at the front end of the trailer and a shortened shelf at the back end for storage, we needed to test it out!  The road to Monte Cristo where we've dispersed camped before is still closed, as are all of the forest service campgrounds at the bottom of that canyon just east of Huntsville, but we found the county owned and operated Memorial Park Campground was open so we decided to try it out on a mid-week overnighter.  Gregg finished up with work after lunch on Wednesday, May 6th, and we quickly loaded up our stuff, hooked the trailer on and drove less than 15 miles to the campground nestled against the mountain right below Causey Reservoir.

It's not my favorite campground ever, but it had tables and firepits and flushing restrooms, which was nice.  I didn't love the shirtless "campers" who were drinking and blasting music across the way from us, but luckily they were only day use folks anyway, and after they left things were much more peaceful.  There were a surprising number of folks camping and driving through the campground, though.  Lots of people are corona-cooped up, I guess!  And it being the only campground open, I guess that makes sense, too.  We explored the campground on bike and foot, climbed the cliff across from our site, ate beef stew from a can, roasted mallows, had a terrible night's sleep, ate a big pancake breakfast around the fire, and all around had a great time.

The kids' new bunk situation worked out really quite well.  Gregg and I still need to figure out how to get and stay comfortable and asleep in such tight quarters.  And we'll for sure remember a diaper and more blankets and figure out a way to vent things so we can stay warmer and dryer next time!

Home, sweet campsite.

Dino book reading in the shade.

On an exploration walk to the far east end of the campground.
The river is high!

We saw this old bridge and crossed it to see what we could see.

FYI

Also posted on the bathrooms.

We attempted to reach the top of that cliff, but
didn't make it too far before turning around -
it was definitely a little sketchy for the kiddos.

But Gregg did it later solo - see him up there
at the top of the red rock?

Dinnertime!

Canned beef stew and grilled cheese - and it tasted SO GOOD!

Banana boats.

Shenanigans.

Fireside breakfast - it was a chilly morning
in the 20s!

Another walk to another section of campground.
These huge guns are at the entrance to the park
but there is no signage about them so I don't know
why or how they got here.

But they made great jungle gyms for the kids.

I spy Causey Dam.