:(
Trip Start
Jul 15, 2010
1
8
15
Trip End
Jul 28, 2010
Where I stayed
pikes peak state park
Marquette, Iowa
Sunday, July 18, 2010
We had just hiked around Effigy and went to dinner and it was around 93 degrees and humid. We arrived at our campground and literally our spot was isolated from the whole camp and we were in a large meadow. We were all looking forward to a nice cool shower after our sticky day but we found out from campers that the well was broken! Great! Then one of our adult advisors told us about the bad weather that was coming our way. He sounded serious and when the adults started to huddle up in a group to talk alone and then went to the lodge, we knew it would be bad.
Josie and I began to freak out. As we set up our tent the mosquitoes ate us alive. We were tired, sticky, and now had to prepare for a bad night. We hatched down the tent and kept only our sleeping bags and a change of clothes inside. We piled emergency supplies like water and stakes near the door. And we waited. It was still hot so that made it worse. The lightning began at 11 and it started to rain at 1. I can handle thunderstorms. But I could not handle the harsh winds and hail that started to come at us. Our tent was one of three that stayed intact and dry. Many people ran for the bus. I volunteered to keep watch and make sure our tent stayed down and dry while Monica and Josie slept. It was the scariest night of my life. The sound of the birds crying half a mile away on the Mississippi and the roar of the winds coming through the forest were deafening. Campers even told us this morning that a small tornado went through. I was not the least surprised. It was awful. The storm calmed at 3 AM.
We awoke with slighty more optimistic views. The water was back on, and we got in a quick shower before we packed up camp and it started to rain again.
Currently we're going to a small town 30 miles away to ride out on the Mississippi with three guides from the Northern Mississippi wildlife and bird refuge. We're going out on pool 9 ( the river is dammed and each water area between dams is called a pool and numbered). Hopefully it will stay dry. Then we have a 7 hour drive to Minnesota later today.
Hopefully tonight we can wash a few things and get cleaned up and charge all our devices up.
Definately a bit rougher than we hoped.
Bugs.
Amanda
Comments
Hi,
Sounded like a wild night. Glad all is well. When do you get to SD? Enjoy reading the blog. Stay safe.
The very last night I ever camped in a tent was during a rainstorm (not as bad as the one you describe tho). Kids & I went to a motel & when we got home we gave the tent away & bought a camper :) .
Sounds pretty scary, Amanda! Glad you made it through the storm. Better days are ahead, I'm sure!
Amanda! That sounds SO scary! Are these kind of storms common there? I am sure all Michigan storms will seem like nothing now though.
And this is why my idea of camping is a broken color TV at the Ritz Carleton! Good Luck, Amanda! and HURRY BACK! We all miss you!