Windy Nights, Stunning Sunsets: A Camping Trip to Wilson Lake

Lights at Camp Site

Carrie, Erin, Greg, and I made a trip to Wilson Lake to camp June 27 - 29. We had been wanting to go to Wilson Lake to camp for a few years and we were finally able to do so. We had our spot reserved June 27 - 30, but looking at the weather for Sunday, we decided we would head back a day early.

We arrived early evening on June 27. A windy evening but we were all able to set up our tents, fix dinner, and enjoy the evening. It turned out to be the only night that we cooked with us having reservations for dinner Friday night in Wilson town. We cooked fried potatoes and Kielbasa on the Firedisc. However, the high winds of 20-25 mph made cooking a challenge. We had the wind protector on the Firedisc, but it was too much wind for the fire to work. We also thought about doing a fire Thursday night, but again, the wind was too much and thought better of it. 

Beautiful Sunset at Camp Site

Our first night camping, we had amazing views of the sunset. We were slightly blocked by trees, but the orange glow was incredible and lit up the whole sky. Credit to Greg for the picture to the left. The sunset was not as vivid Friday night but still a pretty night. 

The campsites at Wilson Lake are a little closer together than what we are accustom to at other sites. Thursday night there were not many people camping although by Friday night just about every spot was filled.

Hiking on the Dakota Trail

Saturday morning we had a slow morning. Ate cereal and drank orange juice before heading out of the day. We decided we would drive around the lake and find a spot to walk a trail. We chose the Dakota Trail which was listed as .70 miles. We were .3 miles into the hike when I said it aloud and everyone was shocked to hear we were not farther along than .3 miles. The Dakota Trail was overgrown and mainly uphill. It about kicked all of our rears. We finally made it to the peak but then the walk down was through overgrown vegitation with large steps. We were thankful to make it out of the Dakota Trail without falling or getting bit by a snake.

Following the hike, we wanted to find a beach so we could do some swimming before having lunch. We found a nice spot with another couple nearby that were kayaking. We swam for a while before getting out to make some sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and I had a few beers before we went back into the water. 

We had made reservations at The Sample Room Tavern which is at the Midland Railroad Hotel. Our dinner was good with me having pot roast, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Greg had the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, Carrie had spaghetti and meatballs. Erin had a Cesar salad with chicken. All very good! We had heard they were slow and were expecting slowness, but our drinks and food came out quickly. We were pleased with the food, service, and the restaurant. Following dinner, we went out to The Barn for a drink before heading back to our campsite.

Lake Wilson and Our Camp Site

We had a great time at Lake Wilson from the tent camping, sitting around the fire, enjoying drinks, to the dinner at The Sample Room Tavern, we enjoyed every part of our trip to western Kansas. The picture to the left is from our hiking on the Dakota Trail looking across the lake to our camp site. We did find some other camp sites we might like to get in the future.

I enjoy the whole process from sitting around relaxing at our site to hiking on trails that kick our butts. The whole process is fun and we started talking about other camping trips we will make this year. We are looking at a trip in September although nothing scheduled at this time.

Until next time, enjoy your Sunday. Have a great week! I hope to bring more camping adventures to you soon.

Thinking of Future Camping for 2024 and Thinking Back to Past Camping Trips to When We Started in 2021

Camping in 2021

Carrie and I have been camping one time so far this year (see Big Bend Post) and it was great. We are wanting to go camping so bad many more times while it is nice this spring, summer, and fall. Right now, we have one spot reserved for the summer, but we are keeping our eyes open for other dates we can camp. The places we camp over the next few months will probably be located in Kansas. Our trip to Big Bend was our first camping trip outside the state of Kansas. Yes, we want to do more camping trips outside Kansas, but I am not sure those will happen this year.

One spot I am hoping we are able to fit in this year is Wilson State Park. I hear only good things from those that have been to this location about how beautiful it is with amazing views. Wilson State Park has been on our list to visit for a few years, but it has not worked out for us to get out there to this point. I am hoping this will be the year that we are able to make it out to this beautiful spot in Kansas.

Thinking back to when we started camping back in May 2021. Little did I know that it would become a passion for both Carrie and me. We love the whole experience of camping so much and cannot wait until our next camping trip. As I review past trips, I wondered where we were at with our count of locations and camping trips.

We have been multiple times to Eisenhower State Park which we love. There is a good chance we will be back to Eisenhower State Park at some point this summer. We have a favorite spot there and really enjoy the trails and location. Other locations in Kansas that we have been included (links are to blog posts) Crawford State Park, Lake Milford near Junction City, HipCamp on the Saline River by Hays, KS, Council Grove, and finally Big Bend National Park in Texas.

A rough guess on number of times we have been camping would be ten times. Hoping to increase our camping number throughout the next few months. In 2022 and 2023, we had busy spring, summer, and fall seasons, so camping was difficult to work in during those years, but hoping get some more dates scheduled for this year.

Camping Trip in June 2021

Finding sites to camp near lakes is the best as it is so beautiful and brings back memories of being a kid hanging out at Lone Star Lake or Clinton Lake. Plus, Carrie and I are getting into trails, so we want to keep that trend going from our Big Bend trip. We are planning to do some trails in Kansas City, or even around Topeka, that look interesting. Just to keep what we started in Texas going and might even play a role in where we pick to do our camping trips for this year. Still, I am sure we will end up at some of our usual spots but also hoping to visit some new locations this year.

Until next time, have a great week. I hope you are able to find your next camping spot or do what makes you happy.

Let the Camping Adventure Begin -- All Set for Our First Adventure

 

Carrie and I are ready for our first camping adventure. Carrie has spent the past few weeks since our initial test of putting up our tent (see Tent Set up and Happy Dog) back in April. Carrie has done a lot of research, we have our location selected, and our dates are set, she has ordered us air mattresses, pots, pans, and other odds and ends. We even have a lantern and lamps to wear on our heads.

I plan to document each of our camping trips taking pictures, posting updates, etc., upon our return. We are hoping to make this an experience that we do multiple times each spring. Eventually, we want to expand from doing camp sites in Kansas to camping in other locations and as a way to see the country and for the most part doing so rather cheaply. 

For our first camping trip, we are planning on a spot about 45 minutes from Topeka. We are doing two nights as it almost does not seem worth it to put up a tent and spend one night at a spot, so we are doing two on this first time. We are taking Oliver and I am not sure if he knows how excited he will be on this trip. All the new smells and all the places he can pee. The first site we have selected, as I am sure all sites, require pets to be kept on a leash. I am concerned about Oliver getting ticks or other insect bites, but he is current on his medication, so hopefully he will be alright. I think he will lose his mind as we explore our new camp site and process.

Any tips or recommendations that you have for camping?

Plans for Carrie and I are to play games, do a lot of reading, disconnect from technology (except for pictures), and exercise around the camp site taking long walks with Oliver. I think Carrie is excited for the cooking experience. I know we are both looking forward to the mornings and waking up to have a cup of coffee (which she bought camping coffee maker) and enjoying the mornings around our camp site.

Watch for future updates regarding our camping experiences and hopefully you will see more updates yet this year with other camping adventures. If you love to camp, where are your favorite camp sites? Any tips or recommendations that you have for camping?

Tent Set up with Happy Dog and Happy Tent Owners #Camping #Adventure

Carrie and I are going to try camping. Sure, we have both been camping a few times in our lives, but not with our own gear. For Christmas, we got a tent and we spent Saturday, April 3 in the afternoon attempting to put it together in our back yard. You know, so we test out the process before we get to a camp site and realize we have not idea what we are doing. The process went well!

We did the test run of putting it up in our back yard, but did not spend the night in the back yard. We are old and want to get some comfortable items so we can sleep on them when we are at the camp site. After getting the tent put together, we spent a while reviewing cots, mats, etc., for items that can make the camp site comfortable. Of course, we do not want to spend a lot on items in the event we go and camp and do not like it, so trying to keep costs down but also find items that will make the stay comfortable.

Carrie had the great idea to record us putting the tent together, so I set it up as time-lapse. It worked out great! If you watch carefully, you can see us put it up once and then take it down as we used the shorter poles instead of the long poles for the center section. The process went well and we now know how to put it together and which poles to use.

 

We are making plans to find our first camp site. Carrie has done the research and make a selection of Pomona, KS. Our plan is to do a test run of two night stay at this first camp site. See how it goes, what other items we might need, and whether we like the process. We plan to take Oliver with us, so that will be interesting. I think he will have a lot of fun at a camp site with us, visiting other campers, and smelling or hearing the noises that come with being away from home. The next phase of our plan would be to camp with Greg and Erin at another location. We need to do so before it gets hot, so trying to determine the best time to do the second camping date.

Oliver had a great time after we set up the tent. He thought it was fun to hear his paws on the tent floor. As you can see, he was jumping and running around like it was a big game. Carrie and I both laughing at him. Finally, he flew out the front of the tent and did two running laps around the tent before settling in the grass to rest. He spent Sunday sleeping most of the day as he had a fun Saturday helping us with the tent.

More pictures, or video, later this month as we begin our camping experience. We both can hardly wait and looking forward to taking Oliver with us on our adventures.