Melanie’s Decade Trip Part 3 : McCormick’s Creek State Park
overlooking McCormick’s Creek
Seams Like a Story is taking a break from sewing to go on some summer adventures. We are taking our special needs granddaughter on an RV trip to Southern Indiana state parks. We’ve been to Brown County http://seamslikeastory.com/the-adventure-begins/ and Spring Mill http://seamslikeastory.com/more-rv-adventures/
On day three of Melanie’s Decade trip we visit McCormick’s Creek State Park where we hike, have a cookout, and are “bugged” by some noisy neighbors.
McCormick’s Creek State Park
I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, close to McCormick’s Creek (Indiana’s first state park) and have many fond memories of family picnics here. I love the historic Canyon Inn with its cozy lodge interior. It’s a great place for a relaxing get-away, but won’t be checking in. Today we have accommodations of the RV sort.
We wind our way down into the dense forest and find our campsite. Ed backs the RV in this time with remarkable ease. He’s getting the hang of this! This is my favorite campsite by far. We are nestled deep into the woods. Our “neighbors” like it, too. In fact, they’ve arrived in droves. This would be a good time to introduce the visitors who’ve been bugging us throughout this trip.
Meet the Cicadas
Yes, it’s their year too. If you live anywhere in the Midwest, you’ve probably seen them. Timed perfectly with Melanie’s decade trip this June, these “Brood X” cicadas are actually 17 years old. They’ve spent their entire life underground, tunneling and feeding beneath the soil. Now they’ve come above ground to mate and die. The rhythmic drone the males emit is a mating call. We’ve had to swat a few away, and we’ve found dead ones on the ground, but mostly, they seem to be in the trees, looking to score and lay their eggs before birds gobble them up. Their chorus has been serenading us from dawn to dusk throughout this trip, but in the dense woods of McCormick’s Creek State Park, the sound is deafening.
The Cicada Serenade doesn’t seem to bother Melanie. After we set up camp, we headed out on a short hike. Then Melanie and I go to the playground.
Cookout
Despite the rain we’ve been having, I was determined to have at least one campfire experience. We’d purchased a bundle of “state approved” firewood at a gas station on our way to the park. Just enough for a small fire. At 6:00, Melanie’s tummy alarm goes off. “Pancakes?” she asks. “No, Poppy is going to cook hot dogs on the fire tonight, let’s go watch!” I say. She’s only mildly interested and comes back inside to help me make microwave mac and cheese.
When the hot dogs are ready, we go outside for a family meal. Melanie gobbles down her meal, first the mac and cheese, then the hot dog, then the bun. Before Ed and I can even get started she wants to go back inside. This isn’t the “hallmark moment” I was expecting. I remind myself that she’s processing many new interactions and experiences on this trip and I’m learning to balance her need for stimulation with her need for down time.
S’more time!
Our little fire is slowly dying. I wish we’d bought 2 bundles of wood, but we have just enough coals for S’mores. “Let’s take our marshmallows outside and make s’mores.” I say as I gather up the roasting sticks, graham crackers, and chocolate. This gets her attention. “Marshmallows?” she asks.
We spear a marshmallow and Ed shows her where to put it so it will toast just right. She’s impatient, and her marshmallow catches fire. No worries. We blow out the flames and mash the charred, melty blob between two graham crackers. She chooses not to include the chocolate. “Would you like to do another one?” Ed asks. “Yes!”
Day is done…
Soon we’re back in the RV washing sticky fingers. Melanie settles into the loft with tonight’s movie feature: “Beauty and the Beast” and Ed and I resume our Gin Rummy tournament at the dinette. This time I won. Five games to four.
Tomorrow we’re on the move again. Our last stop on the Decade Trip RV tour is Versailles State Park where more adventures await…
Threads of thought:
How do you like your s’mores?
Classic: Marshmallows (roasted over a fire), Graham Crackers, Hershey’s chocolate
Gourmet: have you discovered a unique recipe?
Besides being Melanie’s grandmother, I’m a traveler, sewist, blogger, retired teacher, and author! Read about my transition from teaching to the world “outside of the Crayon Box”http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer
My daughter doesn’t like graham crackers so instead we use cookies! Oatmeal s’mores and many more options!
That sounds yummy! I once tried Girl Scout Cookie Samoas! Samoa S’mores. LOL
Something about the food on a camping trip… It just taste so much better..
I agree!
I don’t eat s’mores. I prefer Jiffy pop over the fire, totally disregarding the package’s warnings.
Sounds deliciously dangerous!
Seems like Melanie is really thriving!
We are so glad we took this trip!
I felt like I was on the road trip along with you, Deb, and your family. At first I thought the “neighbors” would be mosquitoes. Were there many mosquies?
Once it stopped raining on our third-fourth day, the mosquitoes came out, but we weren’t bothered by them as much as I though we would be.
Love the camping pictures included in each episode. Makes the trip “real.”
Thanks! It’s my version of photo journaling.