Cameron: Late last week, we dragged ourselves out of bed early, and drove to Austin Creek State Park.

It was a sorely needed vacation for me, and I had a blast. Our story is below in pictures, embellished and told non-chronologically for the sake of vaugely coherent narrative.

Thanks for camping with me, guys.

Orion: I'd never gone backpacking before...I think I strained muscles in my back I didn't even know were there. I also filled a "Titanium Spork" filled hole in my life that I didn't even know was there. Between run-ins with feral pigs, dodging poison oak, treacherous river crossings, and a pants-ripping tumble down a rocky hill, I've never had so much fun in the woods.

Amber: I think that I stumbled and fell over at least five times in the first hour, but it was well worth it. Being the only girl there, I listened to the gentlemen talk of video games, discuss sci fi books, and snore. But, really I got to see the stars (which, I generally never pay attention to), sit in a river, and put my stressful genius tests on back burner. Best part: Josh's gourmet pad thai!


Josh's Temporary Tale of Divinity: On the rock where we ate lunch; we dropped a thick slice of salami into the water. At first, we saw only fish sniffing at it and darting away. We figured that the strong salty meat was not tempting to them, and we soon ignored it. A short while later two California Newts came swimming by; we watched them closely, as they are a vanishing species. I remember them in my youth in great orange-red clots in the beds of rivers, but lately, I have seen few.

We watched the two companions swim towards the salami, sniffing gently at it. The larger wrapped his little hands around it and began to gnaw at the slice. The smaller began to become agitated and dart around, attempting to get a taste of his own, but the big one lashed at him and kept him away. Soon, Small Newt began to attack Big Newt, chewing at his tail and limbs, and soon a fight was underway.

We stood observing this in utter horror. We had introduced this element of luxury into thier perfect newt society, and it was all crumbling. Scenes from "The Gods Must Be Crazy" played in my head.

Would we come back in a year to find warring newt tribes, battling for control of the last bits of cured pork?

Would this be the impetus of some horrible evolution, where the newts learn to hunt the local feral pigs, and build rendering plants and slaughterhouses of sticks and twigs?

What had we done?

Josh took responsibility as giver of the Cured Meats and straddled the river, dipping his arm in to the deep pool.

I can only imagine the divine horror and teleological crisis of those newts as a giant pink thing entered thier world and removed the prize from between them. Thier fighting ceased, and they began to paw at the empty earth where the treasure had once been. In thier frantic search, they fought again, each blaming the other for the divine intervention.

But soon, they were left with nothing. The river was quiet and unttainted by mana from the heavens, and they continued on thier way, peaceful again.



It was a off to a bad start. Orion was angry.


Cam was knifey.


but the fog burned off...


...we began to hike...


...the woods were calming and magnificent.


Ryan, our Navy guide, surveyed the land.


We found a beautiful creek.


And ate lunch.


We finally arrived at a beautiful meadow...


... and set up camp.


Food was prepared, with hi-tech camping gadgets.


Amber was unamused by dehydrated eggs.


Josh brought Shrimp that magically tasted nothing like shirmp. But his backwoods Pad Thai was still marvelous.


Ryan brokered a peace treaty with Posion Oak...


Orion was happy...


Cam was not at all knifey...


And as the sun set, we all slept well under the stars.


Camping is great.