Cub Scout Campout at Inks Lake and Sweet Berry Farms

This weekend we all went to Inks Lake for Davis' cub scout campout. I used to love to camp very much but we tried when the kids were little and it was a disaster. This was a big test to see if we could have a successful campout and learn to love camping again.
We took the scenic route up to Inks Lake and it was gorgeous. The weather was perfect- upper sixties and low seventies and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. We didn't get the best of camp sites, but it was okay. We were surrounded on three sides with cactus. Most of the Tiger Cubs were already there when we arrived. We set up our tent and then Michael and Davis attended a pack meeting while I explored the camp ground with Sam and Dean.
Later in the afternoon we all went on a two mile hike that was very challenging for the kids. Sam really struggled and all the Tiger cubs were exhausted at the end. So were we! It took us two hours and I can't believe it was really only two miles.
After the hike I poured myself a very against the rules gin and grapefruit juice and opened a bag of pistachios and we sat in front of the campsite while the den leaders made dinner. It was nice. Very nice. I could get used to lying around while the menfolk do the camp cooking.
After supper we played for a while and then went to the amphitheater after dark for a campfire show. Each den did a skit and then we went back to the camp to go to bed. The kids were exhausted, especially Sam.
It was around 8:30PM and getting very, very cold by this time. I went ahead and went to bed with the kids while Michael hung with the other dads. Sam fell asleep very quickly, but Davis wouldn't fall asleep until it was all quiet out. After Michael came to bed, the temperature continued to drop. We used all our sleeping bags and blankets, but we still froze all night long.
We woke this morning with the sun and ate the breakfast the den leaders made. Then we had a very quick church service in the amphitheater and packed up camp. We left around 11 and drove into Marble Falls. We had a great lunch with white wine and fish tacos on a deck over looking the river. It was pretty perfect.
After lunch we drove to Sweet Berry Farms which is a great pumpkin patch. The kids each painted a pumpkin, rode the barrel train pulled by a tractor and conquered the kids maze without the grownups. We got there right when it opened and only stayed an hour so we avoided some of the crowds and we all had a good time. We picked up a pumpkin on our way out and made plans for carving when we got home.
We got home this afternoon and carved our pumpkins. Then we showered off and curled up in the Lounge to watch Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin and wait for the pumpkin seeds to roast.
I think I can happily say that I like to camp again! The only tricky part was getting Davis to go to sleep, but I didn't mind going to bed with him last night. We had a lovely weekend with some really wonderful weather. I can't say that I bonded with any of the fellow tiger parents, but we got along just fine. I think I'm just a wee bit too liberal and the gap seems a little wide for deep conversation. It's okay though. The kids all love each other.