Brain’s Family Discovers The Beauty Of Decorah During Camping Trip

I'll admit it. I'm more of an indoors kind of guy. Holly and I don't often go camping. But some friends of ours really wanted to us to head with them to their favorite spot near Decorah and the upper Iowa River. They promised us a great time. They didn't disappoint.

As you travel north towards Decorah you notice the scenery begins to change. It's almost as if you're not in Iowa. The large bluff formations really look cool. It's what lined the upper Iowa River as we floated on Saturday. What we didn't count on that day was the water being so high and the current being so strong. We witnessed countless kayaks and canoes fly into tree branches and overturn in the water. Couple that with the rapid current and it could get scary quick. Just ask Holly. She and Chase, along with one of his friends, ended up overturning their canoe trying to wait for friends. She got the boys to safety but then watched her canoe rocket off in the current and get wedged under a tree. Fortunately, someone was able to row over and help get her back on her way. She was shaken up for quite awhile. You don't mess around with the river. ALL of the kids had on life jackets for the trip.

The canoe trip itself was beautiful. The weather was perfect. It was ideal for camping too. Our little campsite consisted of five tents, our campfire, and plenty of room for the kids to run and play. We enjoyed some football, badminton, and of course plenty of smores!  It got nice and cool at night, which made it perfect for sitting around the campfire. It was also a nice chance to disconnect from our mobile devices too. The kids were not allowed to have tablets, phones, or iPods. Adults lived by those rules too....most of the time. And you know what? We all lived! Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat got along without us!

Yes, we are a bit sore from the weekend, and yes, we're still doing laundry and putting things away. But the memories we made this past weekend will last so much longer. Yes, me in a small tent is not the best fit. But this camping thing just might grow on me.