Camping Next to the Shire

This past weekend, Doug and I went camping at a site that I picked out, which meant it was quite the interesting place. On the west side of Gathland State Park in Maryland, is The Tree House Camp, featuring treehouses (misleading because they are on stilts rather than actually in trees), and a Hobbit House!  Doug and I set up our tent on what looked like a raised moss bed. 

 

 

It had been raining all week (and continued to rain all weekend too) so everything was very green.  I think the rain was making all the animals crazy.  The insects were really loud, and we found Neville's toad, Trever, trying to jump into our campfire!  He stuck around for most of Friday night, before running/hopping off.

 

 

I have to say, ever since Caitlin gave us the Girl Scout Camping Cookbook, and a cast iron pot, our camp cooking has really jumped up a few levels! The meals were so tasty!

 

Saturday was very rainy, but since the Appalachian Trail cuts through Gathland, we still went hiking and puddle/large pond jumping.  We hiked to Annapolis Rock, which had a really gorgeous overlook.  Unfortunately because of the rain, it was all fogged in.  I guess it normally looks like this:

 

 

Inspired by the misty surroundings (and the Hobbit House next door to our tent), Doug busted out a rendition of Misty Mountains that sounded exactly like this:

 

 

 

Sunday, the rain decided to stop, so we checked out some Civil War buildings and a battlefield that were also in Gathland.  Doug was trying to climb to the top for a better view, but it was quite tall.

 

 

On our way home we stopped at Craker Barrel for lunch and some more of the yummy pancake mix that Caitlin had introduced us to!  Mom, this is a restaurant after your own heart.  They had a porch full of rocking chairs to use while waiting for your table!

 

 

Hopefully the next time we go, we can rent the Hobbit House!  Who wants to come with?