To celebrate our 4-year anniversary, we decided to go camping! We went to Crystal Cove State Park, located between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach off of the PCH. Crystal Cove Beach had always been a favorite of mine growing up, and it has made it's way into our lives, as "our spot." The place we go when we can't think of anything else to do, the place we go when we want to get away, rest, and have some quality time. And then they opened a campground - yay!
Last Christmas we got a tent from my parents and deemed this year as the year of camping. However, camping items add up (you need so many!). We had a tent, but that was about it. So during this last year, every few weeks or so we would buy some kind of camping equipment. If you recall one of my past posts on building an Emergency kit, we were able to buy items that counted for both. So here we are in October, and finally got to go... on our own! We both grew-up camping in various degrees with our families. So to camp by ourselves, it was another one of those "yes, we are adult moments." Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Here's Ken our first night - with our new Coleman Stove!
We came on a Wednesday night, and the whole day it had been raining. So we ended up being the only ones there with a tent (I guess everyone else canceled). But here I am freezing and a little wind-blown :) Didn't sleep very much due to the crazy wind, but it was worth it being there early in the morning.
The next day, the deserted campground we had to ourselves, and might I add gorgeous weather! :)
The view out of our tent...
Making coffee...
Day 1: At the beach
Again, there were barely any people - so fun!
I made Ken a "fish" apron - here he is sporting it!
We were having so much fun, we actually stayed an additional night. But we weren't prepared for it, so we went to the nearest store (5 minutes away, Trader Joes lol, just seems ironic to me for camping to be surrounded by ritzy OC. People were staring at our hiking boots and scrubby look, oh well we weren't there to impress :). We got some frozen Chinese food and wine. We laughed as we said, well this isn't how our parents used to do it :)
Maybe it's our new era of camping...
A camping must... hot chocolate!
Me by our tent... Ken was laughing about how many layers and colors I had on - hey, it was cold!
Day 2: At the beach. We saw so many different animals this trip: Pelicans, seagulls, a bobcat, dolphins, seals, squirrels, and others :)
3 dolphins kept swimming back and forth along the coast, and they were so close to the wave-breaks!
Our "sexy," silly poses at the beach :)
Photo shoot time :)
We got matching hats for the occasion... it looks like Ken has a lil' spider monster on his chest :) or maybe a snake eating something, jk!
We read so much this trip, it was awesome!
The sunsets were beautiful, and in this picture Catalina was so clear!
Back at camp, roasting marshmallows, without a "fire"
Gotta have the chocolate!
Day 3: Hike and Beach
But first, Ken had to look for more animals :)
Dancing by the tent, excited for our hike!
And we are off... El Moro Canyon
Beach time!
Our first camping trip was almost a success, it was a good thing we had a grocery store and hardware store near-by! But we will get there :) It was a nice way to celebrate our anniversary - reflect on our marriage, set "relationship goals" for the next year, read love-poems, and really just celebrate our life together and the blessings God has bestowed on us. I am so thankful to be married to my best-friend!
