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We got in the first night, set up camp and promptly went out to dinner. I have spent a lot of time in San Clemente and knew just where to get some good Thai food.
Day two Mark and Audrey were up at 6:30 for an "adventure" - a hike that ended at the freeway. (Mark and I were also up at midnight, 2 am, 4 am and 6 am). Claire and I rolled out of bed at 8 am. Mark cooked us a breakfast of bacon, fried potatoes and onions and fried eggs.
After cleaning up we collected the many items we needed to enjoy the beach and made our descent. The only bad thing about San Clemente State Park is the cliff between the campsites and the beach, but it muffles the noise of the Surfliner train, so we are grateful and hardly complain about the hike. Well, the adults hardly complain about the hike. Audrey just kept repeating, Why don't they put in an elevator? They really need and elevator, etc.
The beach was gorgeous. The kids played in the sand; Mark tried out his new skim board and did not break his arm, per my request; and I read a silly but enjoyable book called "From High Heels to Tractor Wheels." Two hours in Audrey had to go to the bathroom and since nothing could convince her to go in the ocean we all hiked back up the trail to the bathrooms and took the opportunity to eat a few sandwiches, watermelon and chips.
We spent several more hours at the beach before returning to camp where we plugged our quarters into the shower, but did not get any hot water. Cold and clean is better than sticky and sandy. Pasta for dinner and a few stories at bedtime. Audrey and Claire love being in the tent at night with the lantern on. They go crazy making shadows on the walls and doing their funky little dances and laughing at each other.
This was the night Mark and I spoke with the camp host, situated right next to us, about the floodlight shining over his campsite. He agreed to point it away from our tent and then filled us in on the lore of SCSP. I could have done without his stories of people dying and going stiff in their motor homes; cleaning unmentionable things out of the showers; and driving a group of insanely drunk "LA people" away from a little tent full of terrified Middle Easterners. Mark and I thought it was hilarious that he kept using the phrase "LA people," scoffing and rolling his eyes like we would absolutely know what he was talking about - we didn't tell him WE are LA people - we just don't drink alcohol excessively and terrorize minority campers.
It was not a good night for sleeping, just one of those things about camping. In the morning I was an angry version of myself so Mark kindly took the girls on a hike and a couple of errands. I felt human again after a short nap and a sandwich from my favorite San Clemente deli. The woman who owns it is so mean to the customers it's almost like that Seinfeld episode with the Soup Nazi. But I know how to order so she was nice to me.
We spent the rest of the day at the beach. Audrey and Claire made some friends and they barely spoke to us for hours. It is strange and fun to watch them socialize. All of a sudden we are not so interesting - I didn't think we would be phased out so early, but it was good to watch them reach out and then obviously feel so excited by the new experience. They came back eventually for food and water and then left us again. Mark went out on the boogie board and he got smaller and smaller until he was farther out than anybody else - just bobbing along comfortably.
I was watching him closely because the waves are huge and the currents are strong, but he seemed fine. Then all of a sudden the lifeguard behind me leaps of his tower, tears down the beach, dives in and heads out in Mark's direction. He made good time, I have to say.
I'm wondering if Moon Doggie is going in after my husband and what am I supposed to do if he is? I could tell Mark was OK and I've reminded him repeatedly of what to do in a rip current, but sure enough the lifeguard goes right to him. Then I'm really worried because I see the lifeguard boat zipping across the horizon and I don't know what I am supposed to do to retrieve Mark if they load him on the boat and take him elsewhere. Then I am even more scared because in his effort to save Mark, the lifeguard pulls both of them into the path of three huge waves and it looks like they are both going to drown.
But they move in and the crisis is over and red shorts jumps back out of the water and sprints to his tower. As David Hasselhoff passes me I tell him "that was my husband and thanks, but is he OK?" and he says "yes he's fine" and he is still running, but not at all out of breath. I walk over to Mark, trying to watch my kids at the same time, and he looks fine, but a little confused and recounts the conversation he had with the lifeguard who almost drowned him:
Lifeguard: Hey, are you OK?
Mark: Yea.
Lifeguard: Are you having trouble getting back in?
Mark: No, but I wasn't really trying.
Lifeguard: You know you're in a rip current?
Mark: Yea, I thought I might be.
Lifeguard: Well, they want me to bring you in. You might want to take this one.
Huge wave crashes over both of them.
Lifeguard: Try this one.
Huge wave crashes over both of them.
Lifeguard: Look out, there's another.
Huge wave crashes over both of them.
Anyway, I was relieved and Mark was curious about why he'd been saved when he wasn't drowning, but all's well that ends well, and now we can tease each other about our hero, the San Clemente lifeguard who got bored, saw the sunlight bouncing off Mark's glowing white skin and decided there was no way anybody that white could handle a riptide.
We stayed out until it got chilly and then finally had our hot showers. We cooked our big camping dinner that night: hot dogs, beans, canned peaches and s'mores - very original. So far Mark is the only pyro in the family, but that's just fine with me.
The next morning we woke up and Claire looked like she had grown whiskers on her chin, but it was fluff from her blanket glued to the leftover marshmallow goo we never washed off. I think that's the sign of a really great camping trip.
Our last morning was mostly uneventful. We took our time packing and Audrey and Claire played with their new best friends. When it was time to go our two girls disintegrated into tears that lasted at least 30 minutes but felt like two hours. They were so devastated to leave Friend A and Friend B - nobody ever got their names - that they cried and cried bitter tears and blamed their mean parents for taking them camping just to have their tender hearts broken. Kids! A slice of pizza calmed them and we drove home swiftly.
I thought this might be my last camping trip ever, but it was so enjoyable I'm sure we'll do it again. The girls are at a great age to enjoy camping and spending time with us. I love being away from home and all the things that distract me. Mark did get me hooked on his Scrabble app, but I only played after the kids went to bed. We keep saying we are going to camp in the mountains - for Mark's sake - so we are on the lookout for a good campsite. I love being at the beach - it's never boring or too hot. I don't want to believe summer is over, but I think it just might be. Can't wait until next year!
