From Marshmallows to Moonshine: My Unexpected Camping Adventure

Last Friday, September 13th (Friday the 13th!!! 👻👻👻), my coworker Derek invited me to join him and his friends for a camping trip the following weekend. I thought it was going to be a classic KOA-style getaway—marshmallow s’mores and quiet nights. 🙈 But boy, was I wrong!

Packing and Getting There

Hey everyone! 🌟 I just had the most wild weekend ever, and I have to spill the beans about it! 🍂🌄

First things first, I had to figure out child care. Huge thanks to @badgirl.barbie for stepping in with the kiddos! 😘 I spent the morning debating what to pack. Should I bring all-weather gear, or just stick with the basics? And what about accessories—was a fancy lantern necessary, or would a simple flashlight do? I called Derek to get a clearer picture of what tools and necessities I’d need, and he assured me that basic camping gear would be fine, but suggested a few extras for comfort.

Before diving into the adventure, let me introduce you to the rest of the crew:

• Derek: My coworker and the mastermind behind this wild camping trip. He’s got a knack for organizing unforgettable adventures. 🏞️

• Ryan: An incredible acoustic musician who covered John Mayer and Led Zeppelin songs by the fire. 🎸 His guitar skills were truly something to behold.

• Jake: Another talented musician who joined Ryan in serenading us with some epic acoustic tunes. 🎶

• Tom: Tom was a bit of a quiet recluse. We never really spoke over the duration of the trip... _{(Despite his unkempt appearance, Tom turned out to be a surprisingly great kisser. 💋)}

• Sam: The guy who was scared of everything throughout the trip, from bugs to heights. His nervous energy was endearing, though. 🦟

• Brad: The one I initially didn’t like. He was a bit abrasive, but you’ll see how things turned out...

Day 1

We arrived at the campsite on September 20th, and let me tell you, this was no ordinary spot. Derek’s family owns a vast piece of wild land up in the mountains near Colorado. We were camping on a remote piece of the mountain where we could make noise and stay up all night without bothering anyone. 🏕️

Setting up camp was a breeze with the guys’ help, and we quickly got the fire started. I was the only girl there, which was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but the guys were absolute gentlemen, making me feel at ease. 🙌

The real adventure began in the evening when Derek took us on a hike across his property. We descended into a natural cavern where Derek showed us an old rustic still made almost entirely of cold-hammered copper (Derek’s words, not mine!). According to family legend, his great-great-grandfather had built this still with his own hands! There was a massive collection of old moonshine bottles, still completely sealed...one of the guys suggested that we should all take a sip in honor of Derek's great-great-grandfather...which led to things getting a little out of hand there in the cavern 🔥 As evening fell, the cavern became a stage for shadows dancing in the flickering torchlight, where forgotten inhibitions and untold pleasures wove together into an unforgettable tapestry...we woke up on the floor of the cave and had to put ourselves back together before ascending back to our open-air campsite. 🌌

Despite my initial dislike of abrasive Brad, he definitely won me over during that wild night in the cavern. Against all odds and my own general repulsion, I found myself drawn to him in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Sometimes, the unexpected happens in the wildest of places. 🌟💫

Day 2

The next morning, we woke up groggy and hungover. After ascending back to our open-air campsite, we huddled by the fire, barely able to muster up the energy to speak. The occasional random quote from the night before had us chuckling despite our headaches. 🤣

The rest of the day was much more relaxed. We cooked bacon and steaks on a hot rock and enjoyed a few casual beers. No one ventured back to the cavern; instead, we spent the day soaking up the mountain air and reminiscing about the night before. 🥓🍺

As the trip came to a close, I felt a renewed sense of youthfulness and a strong yearning to return to my kiddos and my normal routine. It was a wild ride (no pun intended), but I’m grateful for friends who can share such exhilarating experiences without making things weird. 🌟✨

Closing Thoughts

I was a bit concerned about returning to work today (September 23rd) but Derek was an absolute legendary gentleman, and everything went smoothly. I couldn’t have asked for a better end to an unforgettable adventure - and next time I will know what I'm getting into before I go!

Xoxo,
💋 Barbie Mama