On August 12^th I decided to rough it. I packed up the family and drove approximately 1.5 miles down HWY 50 to Zephyr Cove Campground. Some might say that going to a “campground” isn’t exactly “roughing it.” Well, when you have a 10 month old baby we decided to keep it as close to home as possible. How ironic is it that for a one night camping trip, less than two miles from home; we managed two SUV loads full of stuff.?

A little background for you. Zephyr Cove Resort is located approximately 3.5 miles from the casino area. It is situated perfectly across the beach and is accessible for both RV’s and tent campers. Zephyr Cove Campground actually has won awards from the U.S. Forest Service for it’s design and amenities. With plenty of modern restrooms and the relative closeness to civilization, Zephyr Cove tends to be a popular destination for families like us.

Our reservation was made a week in advance and we had requested a site that was a “walk-in site”; meaning that we parked our car in one area and trudged in. I figured this would give us the illusion of seclusion so to speak. Upon arrival we were informed that no campfires were allowed in this area currently. You can’t exactly camp with out a campfire can you? This actually turned from bummer to blessing.  I tend to think I’m a little more gung ho than I really am!

The campground manager gave us a lovely drive in site. Granted there were people right on top of us, it was still in a nice spot. I won’t bore you with the trials and tribulations of setting up camp and figuring out what poles go where. It’s not exactly something I enjoy reliving.  I will also not bore you with the details of would follow that evening…. Oh but I will give a teaser with a brief timeline of events.

7:00pm Baby Dylan falls asleep.. ahhh

8:00pm We are too loud and baby wakes up…

8:30pm My mom who happened to visiting us at the camp site says she locked her keys in her car.

9:00pm I finally break into her car only to find they aren’t there. Keys were sitting on the table J

9:15 From being over tired.. Dylan decided to puke all over me.. and my only warm clothing.

9:30 I am wearing my wifes spare outfit.. not a pretty site.

10:00pm We hear sirens. A pepper spray bomb goes off 5 sites away from us. We aren’t bothered by any smell.. we are too far away.

10:15pm  Nosey Neighbors in the site next to us tell us that we should get our baby indoors and that her kids are coughing terribly from the fumes… What fumes?

10:30pm Paramedics arrive at our site “looking for a very sick baby, throwing up and running fever with very young parents.”

10:35pm Paramedics recognize me and bid farewell knowing that my babys grandpa just retired from being the fire chief.. jokes on Nosey Neighbors!

12:00am Dylan still won’t fall asleep…..

12:15am Dylan is asleep in his own crib, Chandelle and I in our own bed J

7:00am We drive back and pack up camp.