UGO! Day 1

We just returned from a short vacation!  We joined friends and like minded families at the annual Unschoolers Gathering of Ohio Campout!  We haven't been able to travel in almost 3 years, Tori's unexpected early arrival and dismal finances plus a lack of transportation suitable to a larger than average size crew forced us to keep ourselves off the road.  Blessed doesn't even begin to describe how I felt as we headed out on the road last Thursday, you would have thought we were travelling days away instead of just hours...but for once it was the DESTINATION that mattered--although we made the most of our journey!

We headed out early, our plan was to visit COSI in Columbus on the way, unfortunately their website failed to mention that they were CLOSED for most of the month of September for a remodel, really disappointing and frustrating as we had allowed almost 2 1/2 hours to walk around.  We ended up at a nearby conservatory which gave the kids a place to use the restroom and run off some energy!  Also allowed the opportunity to snap a few pictures!



The whole gang in by one of the many butterfly sculptures at the conservatory

After spending about an hour or so at the conservatory, we headed off for lunch...eating out has become an unexpected treat around here so everyone was not only thrilled to be eating out, but also thrilled that I had found a restaurant featured on one of their favorite TV shows (Man vs. Food) as our dining destination!  The THURMAN CAFE is quite popular, even on a Thursday afternoon we had to wait for a table!

 

 

Finished with lunch, we headed towards the camp. We made a not so quick stop at Wal-Mart to pick up some provisions and managed to check in shortly after 3 PM! Before 4 PM the van was unpacked, room set up and we were at the lake!

 

 

The only problem with a quick trip down to the lake would be the RETURN trip up the steps....depending on who you asked, the steps numbered anywhere from 227 to 283.......all I know is that it is a WHOLE LOT OF CLIMBING with a sopping wet toddler on your hip!

 

After we finally made it back to the lodge, we headed over to what can only be described as a miserable dinner...that dinner was by far the most DISAPPOINTING event of the trip...but it was only FOOD and it wasn't like we were going to starve to death! After dinner there was an opening camp fire! S'mores!  Something about marshmallow and chocolate almost made me forget the horrid dinner!



Following the campfire, the kids quickly went off to join friends (new and old) and I had time to sit and chat with other mamas....guess I must have been starving for adult conversation because I was the only one who missed the 12:30 AM check in for the family!  Grant came and found me!  I think I finally tiptoed back into my room around 2:30 AM and managed to fall asleep!