Camping, Campfires, and Backyard Inspiration
Our camping trip to Long Beach was exactly what I needed - a chance to step away from the computer, put down the pencil for a few days, and simply enjoy the outdoors.
Every night, our campsite welcomed a familiar visitor. A curious raccoon would, not so quietly, wander through, hoping someone had left behind an easy meal. Thankfully, he always left empty-handed, but he certainly made his nightly rounds. During the day, we were treated to an orchestra of birds, each singing their own beautiful songs from the trees above. Squirrels raced from branch to branch, chipmunks darted between campsites, and one particularly chunky little mole seemed to think our campsite belonged to him. He visited so often that we started looking for him every day.
Mother Nature made sure we experienced just about everything she had to offer. We watched gentle rain fall through the trees, listened to powerful thunderstorms rumble across the sky, and even had a few moments where the lightning and thunder made us all stop and take notice. Then, just as quickly, the clouds would part and the warm sunshine would return, reminding us why we love camping so much.
One of my favourite moments was simply sitting alone by the water. No distractions. No deadlines. Just the sound of the waves, the breeze drifting across the lake, and a quiet moment to think. It’s amazing how peaceful the world can feel when you slow down long enough to really listen.
Of course, no camping trip would be complete without a campfire…although ours certainly tested my patience! The first night, I completely forgot to pack a lighter. Armed with only a box of matches and plenty of determination, I battled the wind for what felt like forever. I think I used almost an entire box of matches trying to convince that fire to cooperate. I eventually won against the elements and we had a very short lived fire, long enough to enjoy a s’more or 2.
Thankfully, on the second night, my other half came to the rescue and brought the lighter I had forgotten at home. One click…and the fire sprang to life immediately. Let’s just say it was a much less frustrating evening!
Those campfires became the heart of our trip. We shared stories, laughed together, roasted marshmallows, and made plenty of s’mores. Those simple moments are the ones that stay with you long after you’ve packed up the tent.
As if the trip wasn’t already memorable enough, just as we decided it was bedtime on our last evening, we turned around to find a little bunny quietly sitting behind us. He didn’t run away. He simply sat there, almost as if he was saying goodnight before we headed home. It was such a simple moment, but somehow it became one of my favourite memories of the entire trip.
Trips like this remind me exactly why I created Our Backyard. Nature has a way of slowing us down, filling our minds with wonder, and reminding us that the best adventures don’t always happen far from home. Sometimes, all it takes is a campsite, a campfire, and the creatures quietly sharing the world around us.
Until next time…
Keep Exploring.
R.A. Wallace
P.S. I have so many photos and stories from this trip that I can’t wait to share over the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the website as I am still trying to figure things out here - and on social media too - because there are plenty more backyard adventures still to come!