AO: The Bridge
Q: r2d2 , Machuman (Machu Picchu), Greek
PAX: stash, Brian martin (PushPop), Machuman (Machu Picchu), Pennywise, Greek, r2d2
FNGs: None
COUNT: 18
Our Annual F3 Dad’s camping trip was a complete DRY success. Not only were we overly prepared for rain that did not come, was visited by Beast, avoided a potential kidnapping charge, and caught several tadpoles and fish, but we also made a “no campfire allowed” camping trip into a complete success.

There are many stories to share, but we will start with the basics: everyone arrived Friday night with great enthusiasm and joy. We woke to a delicious breakfast cooked by Pennywise and Machu (The premade french toast tray was so good I got the recipe) and had to fend off some very bold squirrels to keep it to ourselves.

The beatdown at the field went extremely well after Greek suggested breaking down into 3 rotating groups. A light drizzle kept us cool and was the only real weather we had the entire trip. Bartolito cheated several times in my waterbottle running games, Chasqui, cruella quinoa and spirit figured out how to do partner Star jumps, Greek was awarded “the hardest beatdown”, and Machu gave the kids a taste of a true Tradition style workout. We then broke up into boys V girls (and their fathers) for a large game of soccer. Pennywise’ 2.0 / FNG “Yoshi” was definitely the MVP although Push Pop and Pennywise themselves had some excellent passes and goals. There was some disputes over who actually won but that can be settled later.

We named three new FNG’s: Dallas (14?) AKA Floppy pants, Maria (11) AKA Spirit and Gabriel (9) AKA Yoshi.

We thanked God for F3, for 250 years of an excellent country, and a wonderful life.

Greek provided a easy and kid friendly lunch (more squirrel attacks) and we headed to the zoo. Many of them took a turn on the merrygo round, a few dads took naps while the 2.0’s played on the enormous playground, and Greek and Firehose played an insane amount of putt putt golf.

Balloon animals, pinatas (Dale Dale Dale!!!!), and a hot dog/brautworst dinner by Stash finished out an excellent day.

Oh wait, theres the detail about the attempted kidnapping…

Rather than sit around our non existent campfire (stupid statewide ban from the drought) we decided to go on a night hike. Well prepared we were, yet FNG “Deer boy” flipped the entire event upside down. As we walked to the trail a boy about 9 years old kept passing us on his scooter longingly watching the fun and comraderie. I hollered out “come join us” and thought nothing more of it as he rolled past for the 5th time, seemingly ingoring the invite.

We started hiking and the sun went down.

After 45 minutes of hiking in the pitch black I suddenly realized there was a little gray hoodie that i didn’t recognize. FNG Deer Boy as the kids would soon name him had slipped in amongst us without telling his parents. Stash, distracted by Bartolito falling asleep, was apparently the only one who saw him join us but Deer Boy was fairly disrespectful and rushed past him ignoring his inquiry about his parents permission to wander into the woods in the dark with a group of strangers.

A debate amongst the dads ensued. Do we continue with the hike? Do we turn around immediately and return him? Have the police already been notified for a kidnapped/missing child? Are we more than halfway through the loop as it is? WILL R2D2 LOSE HIS FOSTER CARE LICENSE FOR THIS???

We turned it around and returned to camp. Deer boy earned his name by running randomly into the woods without a light as swift as…. well, a deer. Before we got back to his scooter the kids demanded he receive a name and so Deer Boy was born.

As you would infer by these details he was a rather… disrespectful and troubled boy. He refused to answer basic questions and tried to run away on his scooter despite being advised that we should, as a group, talk with his parents and avail any wrongdoing on our part. Mirabel and I frequently reminisced how he held up one finger to dismiss me as he took off on his scooter. Firehose and I had to run to keep sight of him as he zoomed through the camp.

His dad had been out looking for him and his mother was understandably furious for him. I explained the situation, promised he had been safe the entire time, and walked away wondering if the boy would be unable to sit down for a while (and would we be getting a visit from the local sheriff later on about a attempted kidnapping charge).

Luckily that was the last we heard of him and the night continued with great gaeity and joy.

The pack up went well, the kids were a great help in tearing down and picking up trash, and we left the campsite cleaner than when we left it (an important part of camping).

We look forward to many more F3 Dad’s camping trips in the future!