Thanksgiving 2011

We decided to do something different this year, since the family who's still around had other plans. Camping for Thanksgiving is "different," right? But is it possible to still have turkey and stuffing and the usual Thanksgiving foods while camping? For my wife, nothing is impossible, and we invited the Jorgenson's to camp with us since we like them so much.

We had planned to go camping at Big Basin State Park in the Redwoods, but the forecast called for rain... and camping in the rain doesn't sound like much fun (neither did the 6 or 7 hour drive). But luckily a couple of spots opened up at Carpinteria. Camping on the beach. For Thanksgiving. With good friends. Can it get any better?

We had hobo (foil) dinners of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, ambrosia, rolls, and cranberry sauce. Jamie also made her delicious pumpkin cake which even the raccoons loved. (Just after I'd gone to bed I heard a lot of noise and looked out with a flashlight. The raccoon had somehow opened the cooler and gotten the plastic top off the cake. He was standing several feet away and just stared at me for a moment before picking up his piece of cake and leaving. The rangers told me the raccoons can even unzip tents!)

Of course Jamie sets the table even when we're camping

Thanksgiving dinner at sunset

Bringing the bikes was definitely a GOOD idea!

AP Calculus homework never takes a vacation!

Very low tide at the tidepools

The waves were crashing pretty big against the rocks