Red River Gorge Camping Trip

We hadn't been camping since before Inga was born, over 1 year ago. That was technically Inga's first camping trip, but she didn't really get to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Despite our (i.e. Sam's) busy schedule, I really wanted to go camping this year and fall is my favorite time for a camping trip.

We went to the Red River Gorge area in Kentucky, which is only 4 hours away. Sam hadn't been there in years. I went there a few years ago on a girls camping trip, but there is so much to do in the area I knew it was worth another visit. We camped at the Natural Bridge Resort State Park in the Whittleton campground. The campground was very worse for wear with a lot of deferred maintenance. It was a classic case of a campground built in the 50s or 60s during the hey-day of camping and hasn't had much upkeep since then. However, it met our needs of a place to pitch a tent, picnic table, fire ring, and plumbing. 

Our campsite right next to a creek, which bothered my well trained backpacker sensibilities.

It was a long drive for Inga and she was super excited to run around outside and play. She still crawls a lot so she got DIRTY. It was awesome.

First camping meal: beans and rice.

The first night was really cold, but Inga did really well sleeping in the tent in between Mommy and Daddy. We bundled her up really well with warm blankets and she slept on her travel crib mattress. It worked out quite well. She did better with the bedtime routine than a neighboring toddler who cried for about 30 minutes, "I don't wanna go to bed." She woke up once that night pretty scared because she didn't know where she was, but she just snuggled with Mommy and went back to sleep.

The next morning Sam began cooking breakfast like normal. After changing out an empty propane cylinder on the stove, he couldn't get flow from the new cylinder. He messed with it for a long time while Inga got fussier and fussier. He finally gave up, built a fire, and finished cooking breakfast on the fire ring grate. Now I need to take apart the stove and decide if it is worth fixing or upgrade to a better stove.

Breakfast after many technical difficulties. Inga was very happy to finally eat a hot meal.

Cuddling with Daddy and Ornery by the morning fire.

 We took a hike after breakfast on a really short trail that started in our campground. It went up the side of the valley we were in and ended at a sink called Henson's Arch. I don't know why it was called an arch because it was really a sink.

Sam getting a serious quad workout.

Henson's arch. See? It's really a sink.

We then went to the main part of the state park. We hiked up to the natural bridge. Sam carried her all the way up. We got lots of comments on the carrier with many moms saying, "I wish I had one of those when mine were young." The Ergo is that awesome.

Climbing the last steps to the top of the bridge.

View from the bridge.

Inga was in desperate need of a nap at this point.

View of the bridge from a point I can't remember the name of.

At Lover's Leap overlooking the rock climber camping field behind Miguel's Pizza.

She finally fell asleep. 

She was really tired and napped while we ate lunch.

Lover's Leap

 I carried Inga back down to the parking lot. We took the "Balanced Rock" trail back down. It was a lot of work not slipping down the wet path covered with leaves. My ankles and calves were sore the next morning.

Balanced Rock

 We then drove along the Red River Gorge. It was really beautiful. Part of the road goes through an old railroad tunnel called the Nada Tunnel. It is a long, one car only tunnel. Very cool, but I didn't think to take pictures. There are so many great trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest around the gorge. You could spend a whole week just hiking in the area. Inga was not up for another hike, though, so we just stopped by all the overlooks.

Grumpy face Inga, happy Daddy, and amazing view

Smiles with Mommy

Red River Gorge

 The next morning Inga ate a cold breakfast consisting of applesauce and cereal bars while we packed up camp. Inga was super worn out by the past 2 days' adventures and took a great morning nap in the car. I have heard many horror stories of camping with babies and toddlers, but I think it went better than expected. Yes, Inga got filthy since we let her crawl around camp in toddler heaven. Yes, she was a normal toddler and fussed about going to bed. No one got burned in the fire or hot chocolate dumped on their laps. Diaper changes just weren't a big deal. Inga loved seeing the big "ra, ra" (rocks) and saying hi to all the fellow hikers. Camping win.

On the way home, we decided to stop by the famed Pottery Barn Outlet store that's off I-71 south of Columbus to see what they had. We bought a coffee table (the one I had been eyeing for awhile) and a dining table at great deals. Sam said it was the most expensive camping trip he has taken.