Camping Trip at Taylor Falls (6th - 7th Sept 2002)

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About a week after my very first semester at the U started, I had the opportunity to go on a camping trip with the Navigators, a Christian group on campus, at Taylor Falls along Interstate Park, which is at the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin, along the River St. Croix. On the way to the campsite, the vehicle I was in actually took a wrong turn and we actually stepped into Wisconsin -- which technically makes that my very first experience in Wisconsin, and only the second state I've ever been to!

The photo on the right shows our campsite. This picture was taken early in the morning, when most of the people were still asleep. I was awake by then because I was really ill-prepared for this trip and was freezing throughout the night! Who brings thick sleeping bags on camping trips anyway? I thought we would just sleep out in the open and enjoy the cool night breeze. =P I assume the river in the background is St. Croix. Don't quote me on that though. As you can see, a few people braved the cold and slept out in the open, in sleeping bags of course! The huge dark mass surrounded by the benches was where our campfire was the previous night. We had a great time that night toasting (??) marshmellows-sandwiched-between-Graham-crackers on branches from the woods (They have a name for it which I don't remember, but they tasted really good!) and just chatting away.

This is just a picture of sunrise taken in the morning. It was really really beautiful (though that didn't show too well due to my poor photographic skills!) I just sat there for a long time, enjoying the serenity of the surroundings. Definitely one of the highlights of the whole camping trip. Such opportunities away from bustling campus life don't come very often. =)

The group at breakfast. What more can I add? This camping trip actually opened my eyes to the cool assortment of neat camping equipment they have. The tents were way cooler than those I've seen (and definitely better than the leaky groundsheets we have in the Army!), and they have all sorts of outdoor cooking stuff, beyond the gas burners and mass tins and canned food I've used for camping. We actually had pancakes and eggs cooked over a portable stove! Maybe I'm just a crazy rambling frog in the well, I dunno. You tell me. =P

After breakfast, we went for a hike through the woods. Nothing too adventurous though; we just followed the man-made trail which took us about half an hour to complete. The photos are kind of the "highlights" of the whole hike. And in case you're wondering, I don't think that tiny "waterfall" is Taylor Falls. They probably have a larger one somewhere. Or maybe they just named the campsite as such for fun. =P

Finally, some photos of the people I went with. Again, pardon my incompetent photography. In my defense, this was taken at the summit of our hike and the sun happened to be behind us. And that was the only clearing in that area. =) I won't start listing all their names, but just a short mention of the 4 people on the right. They have actually completed their college education in various Universities around the US, and are now part of a programme under the Navigators called EDGECorp, which allows students who just graduated from college and are interested in serving in full-time ministry to "try out" serving with the Navs for a year to work with college students. Mind you, these people graduated with excellent results and with degrees in much sought after fields, yet they are willing to forsake all of that for God's work. That is just so awesome and encouraging for me.

And very finally, a nice group photo. It's not a complete photo of everyone who went because some had to leave early in the morning. Looking back, I've become pretty good friends with some of these people, while some others have become merely faces without names. Still, being able to actually head out on a camping trip less than a month upon arriving here is just such a blessing for me. I'm quite certain this will not be the last camping trip, so stay tuned for more! =P

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