Finally back camping

[BARDENL]

The last time we camped was in April, but this weekend we finally got to go for Friday night only.  DH had to attend a church session meeting on Sunday for the second week in a row (new pastor).  Anyway, we went to the KOA in Antietam.  It is small for a KOA and very homey.  There are sites on Conacheague Creek, but we were a couple back which was fine.  We took advantage of their $5 hot breakfast buffet, mostly to save time, and enjoyed it.  Saturday morning we went biking a bit in the countryside and then back along the entrance road to an old mill.  We popped down to check out by 1:00.  Then I pumped up my Bali inflatable kayak and paddled from the campground down to the mill dam where Luther was waiting with Poppy.  There was a nice fast current in the stream, but no rapids.  I like a little whitewater, but this was a fine trip.  The Bali is a one-person $99 inflatable from Sevylor.  Luther has a larger Tahiti, but he didn't bring it this trip.

Then we went over to Fort Frederick - a stone star fort built during the French and Indian War.  It was a beautiful day, and they had re-enacters portraying soldiers and Indians from that time.  It was totally uncrowded and when we checked out the campground, maybe half the spaces were empty at 5:00 on Saturday.  No hookups, but nice level sites.  We may go there this weekend, depending on what the weather does.

[brainpause]

Sounds like a fun trip, and I'm glad you came to us to tell us about the trip.

You've raised my curiosity about the inflatable kayak.

Larry

[Cheryl]

Hi BardenL,
It sounds like you found one of our favorite close-to-home campgrounds. If I read your notice correctly it sounds like you were describing Snug Harbor KOA just outside of Williamsport, MD. We love this campground, and the Sunday morning breakfast is good. The owners are very nice and we camp here quite frequently (possibly even this coming weekend!).
Happy camping,
Cheryl

[tlhdoc]

I am glad you had a good trip.  I wish you could have joined us at Hickory Run, but I know it is a long drive for you.  It sounds like a nice campground.

[BARDENL]

Tracy,  sorry, we would have enjoyed Hickory Run, but it is way to far for a one night trip and that's all the time we had.  

Cheryl, the KOA we went to is known for it flower gardens and is near Williamsport, but it's named the Antietam/Hagerstown KOA, and it's on Snug Harbor Lane!  Clearly  the same one.  Their river edge sites are going to be muddy after all this rain.  If the weather seems even possible, we are planning to try the Fort Frederick State Park campground in Big Pool on Friday and Saturday night.

Larry, any particular questions about the kayak?  My single person Bali can hold up to 250 pounds, the Tahiti can hold 400.  They take a fixed rudder ($15) on the back called a skeg, that provides good straight tracking performance.  With the foot pump ($20) I can inflate the 3 chambers in under 10 minutes.  The Boston valves have two levels.  You remove the top to inflate and the valve prevents any lost air.  You remove the lower to deflate and the air whoofs out because the opening is an inch wide, no squeezing to get the air out.  REI sells them for $99.  The two person Tahiti is $139.