Do you wanna know a secret? I have been living in America for 4 1/2 years now but I have never really gone camping. I am not a wilderness girl but I’m in for travel and adventures. I went camping with Mikey and the family (not blood-related but I feel like they’re my own) two weeks ago. Work has been really hectic and I needed a time off.
We went to Lake Perris in Perris, CA and camped there for 3 days and 2 nights. This California state park offers camping, swimming, biking, hiking, fishing, boating, and horseback-riding, among others. The park fee was cheap, too, and you’re guaranteed to make the most out of your money’s worth. The camping trip made me feel like I was gone for a week! I recommend that anyone feeling the city woes to grab some spinning reels and go fishing here! It felt so great! Here are a few pictures I took while camping.
(I haven’t explored Photoshop yet, so I owe it to Instagram for post-processing.)
I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
~ John Muir, 1913, in L.M. Wolfe, ed.,John Muir, John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, 1938
I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.
~ Henry David Thoreau
I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don’t know what’s on the other end. Your imagination is under there.
~ Robert Altman
Gathering Books 
Fats, I didn’t realize you lived in the states. Lovely post with beautiful photos. Looks like you had a relaxing and fun camping experience — even though the mountain heights got to you. 🙂 I think everyone should experience camping — in your youthful days. I loved six week camping trips (pop-up trailer) my father took use on to all of the National Parks as a child. It was exciting and fun. With age, my aching back and body doesn’t handle the hard beds, unless I was in a fancy RV. I’m glad I had that chance as a child and teen, but prefer a lodge instead.
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Hi Pat!! 🙂 I moved to California in 2007 and lived here since. I enjoy nature trips and hiking, but I am not a survivalist. After that camping trip we took, I was excited to look for other places where we can go to. It doesn’t have to be a camp site but that sure adds to the fun. I actually brought an air mattress with a built-in pump because I didn’t want to spend a dime on sleeping bags. It was only slightly more comfortable than the sleeping bags because the air would escape over time, so I’d eventually feel myself sinking. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. I would love to have an RV. Makes out of state trips easier. And yes, a lodge would be nice, too. 🙂
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I love the picture from the back of your campsite. I’m glad you gave it a try! My husband & I go camping but as we have gotten older, having the right equipment to insure our comfort has become more important. I sprung for a good therm-a-rest self-inflating pad, but you know what works for my husband? He got a super cheapo pool float (the kind that looks like an air mattress). Just sayin’.
We took a super cheap fun vacation last summer: packed his little car with camping stuff & supplies & clothes for a variety of conditions, got in the car, & flipped a coin. We ended up heading east through Arizona to New Mexico, Colorado, Utah & home through Nevada — one of our best vacations ever!
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I’ve already seen these pictures on Facebook, but they seem to have a different quality to them when they’re up here on GatheringBooks along with all those beautiful quotes. Lovely, Fats. Thanks for posting this.
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Thank you, my love! They do look different with quotes, don’t they? Maybe when you plan your vacation again next year Mikey and I will be able to take you there! There’s already so much you can do in a 3 day-2 night stay! 🙂
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it’s for THIS year, dahlin! I will see you in a few months’ time! 🙂
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Haha! I know! But I don’t think I’ll be able to take you and the fambam THIS year. That’s why I said NEXT year. Can’t wait to see youuuu!!! 🙂
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Can’t take us THIS year? Booooo!!! *sobbing*
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HAHA! I’ll take you to a bunch of other places!!! 😀
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