Family Travel Story: Camping With Bugs
A STORY OF CAMPING WITH A TODDLER IN JULY
It seemed like a great idea. I know plenty of people that camp with their toddlers and babies. Fresh air, sunshine, woods, a large body of water close by. It seemed like a wonderful escape.
So we went to Costco, bought a big family-sized tent (we would be doing LOTS of camping in the years to come), called a bunch of friends, and booked several campsites in Elk Island National Park.
Overall, everyone had a lot of fun. We did all the camping things: chop wood, build a campfire, sleep outdoors, play with sticks, get dirty, and just hang out.
We saw wildlife. The interpretive centre even had a program on where the kids could go pond dipping, or more accurately, lake dipping.
The sun began to set.
The mosqitoes came out.
I had forgotten what mosquitoes were like out here on the Praries. I still look at this photograph and half-think I am looking at a dragonfly. I had forgotten that July was the middle of mosquito season.
Mosquitoes and I, we have a love-hate relationship. I hate them. No, I HATE them. My skin swells up and turns sunburn red, and I itch so badly it hurts into the muscles. In fact, when the bite has abated, I am often left with a tan coloured burn mark around the site. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, LOVE me. To add to my usual attractive taste during this camping trip was my delicious pregnant blood. And my daughter? Turns out mosquitoes love her too! Aren’t we a lucky pair?
What with all the excitement of a first time camping trip and all the itching, Alisha wasn’t at all interested in sleeping until well, well after dark. Now, Ken, the technofile that he is, had acquired LED flashlights for our trip. Bright lights, low energy consumption, what’s not to like, right? Now, I admit I am a little squeamish when it comes to bugs. But when all the bugs off the lake …
…see a beacon of light inland and, not being able to resist its call, coming swarming by the hundreds (thousands?), plumetting to their death all around said flashlights, among your food, belongings, and hair (IT’S RAINING BUUUUUGGGGS!!!!) I think it is safe to say that it is time to turn off said flashlights!
So, we were up until about one o’clock. Alisha awoke at sunrise (around 4 am) and was too itchy to get back to sleep. What with the torturous mosquito bites I already had, I decided we really needed to go home. We haven’t camped since. Ethan is two this year. I’m thinking we should make a camping trip. But not in July. And with our regular, run-of-the-mill old flashlights.
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