Off to the Beach for Another Camping Trip
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (124131)
Gainesville, Florida
December 16, 2019 12:00pm CST
This past weekend, my son and I took off to Anastasia Island in St. Augustine for another beach camping trip. For those that may recall, several weeks ago we camped on the beach at Amelia Island. We loved it so much we thought we'd try again at a different location.
Friday started off on a negative note (it was Friday the 13th after all), as it was pouring down rain the entire day. However, by the time I picked up my son from school that afternoon, the rains had tapered off. So at least we had missed most of the day's heavy rains.
Upon arriving at our campsite on the beach, we quickly noted that most of the area had standing water from all the rain. We talked to the ranger and he told us that the sandy soil would soak up the water quickly. We went ahead and identified the highest ground in our camping spot and set up the tents, as daylight was fading fast! We managed to get everything set up and a nice fire going pretty quickly, and soon we were relaxing by the campfire roasting marshmallows and eating s'mores.
How many of you enjoy sitting around a campfire relaxing, roasting marshmallows, or eating s'mores?
17 people like this
16 responses
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
The weather was only cooperative for a little while, but little did we know that at the time. It cooperated enough for us to enjoy our evening around the campfire, but things took a turn for the worst later that night. I'll write another post about it in a little while.
My son and I try to go camping 5-6 times a year, or more, if we can. Due to the heat and humidity of Florida summers, we tend to do most of our camping in the cooler months.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
16 Dec 19
@moffittjc I know about heat and humidity, one reason I am in TN! But we had a heat wave this summer.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
@CarolDM We have heatwaves every summer in Florida! Our heatwaves last about 9 months long! haha
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (187980)
• United States
16 Dec 19
I'm glad everything worked out OK. I like the campfire part...just not the camping.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
Everything turned out okay temporarily. We enjoyed a great night around the fire, and then even some night hiking on the beach, but soon things turned for the worst! I'll write about it soon!
But yes, sitting around a campfire is one of my favorite things to do...whether it's on a camping trip, or in my back yard.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (187980)
• United States
16 Dec 19
@moffittjc Oh, no. More bad luck. I thought I was the only one! I look forward to hearing about it...but not in a good way.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
@LindaOHio It's okay, because at the end of the day, I can say we had a pretty memorable experience!
Or, as my best friend used to say, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
There were a lot of challenges we faced this weekend, but we survived. Overall, we had a good time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Dec 19
Saturday and Sunday were picture-perfect days, once the cold front finally pushed through in the wee hours of Saturday morning (or late Friday night, depending on how you look at it).
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Dec 19
@JudyEv But there was some drama? excitement? in between that I will write a post about. Mother Nature always has to have the last laugh.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
I think we established that fact in a comment on my last camping discussion! I admit, camping is not for everyone! But it is something my son and I love doing together, so I figured this is a great way for us to bond together!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
@NJChicaa We had a few moments throughout the weekend where we were questioning our sanity, but yeah we had a pretty good time! At least we have some interesting stories to tell.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (122717)
• United States
16 Dec 19
@moffittjc As long as you guys enjoy yourselves, that's all that matters. It is 31 degrees F and drizzling here at the moment. Camping sounds horrid. 
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
22 Dec 19
Great it all worked out for you. Yes, not enjoying toasting marshmallows and smores around a campfire would be just plain wrong 
2 people like this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Dec 19
I agree! Camping is not camping if you don't have marshmallows and s'mores!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
It was a crazy weekend, let's just say that! But we survived!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (115601)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Dec 19
I like to do it in the backyard. Easy access to the house if it rains or gets cold
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
Haha, yeah that's one way of looking at it! I used to do that with the kids when they were little! And for just the same reasons as you stated!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
There's nothing wrong with that Dianne! There's been many nights I've sat around a fire in my backyard, and then gone in afterward to my nice, cozy bed!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Dec 19
@DianneN Do you have room behind your condo for one? I'm surprised they don't have one there for you already, by the pool.That would make for some beautiful nights sitting out by a fire with the intracoastal waterway as the backdrop.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
16 Dec 19
I am happy that the rain did not totally ruin your camping trip. I have camped on many beaches in my lifetime and it's wonderful. The memories I am sure you and your son will never forget.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
Not many people get to experience the joys of camping on a beach, so I'm glad you had the opportunity to do it many times! I'm sure your outings were very memorable as well!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
@whiteream That's great that you got to experience so much travel and so many beach trips. I'm sure those memories are great ones! Do you ever get to go camping or swimming on the beach these days?
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
16 Dec 19
@moffittjc They were most of them were during my much younger days. My father loved to go camping and enjoyed seeing the country by car travel. Many of those short trips were spent on beaches across the country. Happy memories for me, as I loved to go swimming.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118753)
• Anniston, Alabama
16 Dec 19
Me! I love a good burnt marshmallow!
I am the outdoor lover.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
I am definitely an outdoor lover too! Put me in a tent or hammock out in the woods somewhere, or sit me next to a campfire, and I am in absolute heaven!
It's funny, because historically I have liked my marshmallows not burnt. But lately I have been enjoying them more burnt than what I have in the past. I guess my taste preferences are changing!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
@andriaperry I can agree with that! I used to be such an avid fisherman. But it's been years since I've last gone fishing.
@andriaperry (118753)
• Anniston, Alabama
16 Dec 19
@moffittjc Add the fishing pole to my hand and I am in heaven.
1 person likes this
@porwest (99528)
• United States
7 Nov 23
One of these days I want to get the camper to Florida, but it would be a rather long trip, and quite grueling, in part considering I am pulling with a gas truck and need to fuel up every 150 miles or so, and getting that thing into gas stations can be quite the task—moreso finding one that I can fit through.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Nov 23
It’s definitely something you need to do at least once. Hell, since you’re retired now, you can take your sweet time getting here to Florida!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Nov 23
@porwest I love when pet owners have to plan their lives around their pets. It shows who is really boss in the family! Lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (99528)
• United States
9 Nov 23
@moffittjc This is very true. And plenty of campgrounds to stop along the way and spend a few days at each before the final destination. I suspect it would be a very long trip though. And...well...we have the cats and we've discussed about that and have decided its impractical to take them along on trips.
They can survive on their own for a few days. But not weeks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Dec 19
Fishing is something that takes a lot of patience. There's been times when I would fish for hours and never catch anything. Some days you have luck, and some days you don't!
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
We did have a great time, even though some unfortunate things happened along the way. But we made it through with smiles on our faces.
2 people like this
@porwest (99528)
• United States
7 Nov 23
@moffittjc What would a trip be if it went perfectly? As I always say, the things you remember and talk about for years to come are when things went awry. lol
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Dec 19
From a soggy start, you had a successful weekend.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
It got soggier, but overall it was a successful weekend.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124131)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Dec 19
It started off as a nice trip. We had a few ups and downs, but in the end it was a fun time.
1 person likes this
