Our Camping Trip

In my opinion, I think that this camping trip was a good break for the grown-ups. It was definitely the largest camping trip that I've been to. There were about 8 families all camping together. The van was stuffed with more camping stuff than ever before, and it suddenly reminded me of something. "Papa, did we get the list for things we have to buy for school yet?"It was then that I realized with a bang that school was only a week away! Only a week before I got to go to a new campus, meet old friends, and-skip this part if you are homeworkophobic- do homework. And of course, our "organized" family hadn't bought anything school related. I've gotten of topic, haven't I? Back to camping. First, when we got there, we had to check in 6 "reserved" camping spots. There was a little confusion over how close and where the campsites were, but papa figured it out. One by one, 5 families came.

Immediately, we set up and had dinner, which was amazingly dry and stiff rotis with paneer and stuff like that. After that we had a typical campfire and roasted marshmallows. Then I got to help set up 3 campsites when another family drove in. The next morning at around 7:00, papa, 4 other grown-ups, and I went on a strenuous 6 mile hike up to the top of the hill. When we got there, there were lots of little manzanita bushes. We look over the top and could barely see the ocean. We hiked back down and saw a sign that told about the Sudden Oak Death. Apparently, Oak trees in that area are dying with a sort of disease and is affecting the environment.

Anyway, after we got back down at about 10:00, we had a breakfast of a mixture of modth, chole, and sprouts. There was also cereal too. Then we went on another, smaller hike. Maybe I shouldn't have gone, since my feet were aching. (I had to cut my nails and my shoes were too small.) I stopped after about 3/4ths of the way and went back with a few others who were also tired. After that I rested for a bit in my tent. Lunch was a burrito/taco/enchilada meal. Never have I seen so many things in 1 taco. There was onion, tomato, salsa, sour cream, jalepenos, lettuce, olives, mint or parsley or something like that, and beans. It was delicious.

After lunch Saachi wanted to play in the creek nearby, so we went over there for a bit. Before we went back, everybody else came and played. I didn't want to go in, so I rode my scooter around for a while. Then I went down too. They had found a little inlet which was sandy and calm, like a miniature beach in Hawaii. The weird thing was that under the normal white sand at one part, (and only one part), of the beach, there was black sand too. At least it acted just like sand other than the fact that it was heavier and held together better.

After the creek, we went back to the main campsite. We-the kids I mean(the grown-ups were performing)-got to watch a play of Sholay by the parents! My mom organized the whole thing and, ironically, my dad was Gabbar Singh. Amusing, no? Saachi and I sang Yeh Dosthi. While we watched, we were served the best paneer, mushrooms, vegetables, and salad ever eaten. And of course, we did full justice to the spread. Mmm... One thing I must say about camping with Charu Prakash, Rohan's mom: The meals get better everyday in an odd similarity to Mona Bu's cakes. First dry roti, then vegetable sprout mixtures, next came a Mexican feast, and finally, a salad banquet fit for the president! Boy was it yummy. After dinner, we made a fire and roasted more marshmallows and chocolate. Eventually we slept.

In the morning, we had a breakfast of pancakes and played a little. We were one of the last to leave. Saachi and I watched with amazement as my dad packed and my mom said farewells. All of a sudden, bluejays and squirrels came up and started eating our scraps, almost totally unaware of us unless we moved. Maybe we were done with our fun, but for the animals, the party had just begun... :)