Canjilon Lake Camping

The kids have been dying to camp with our whole family all summer.  Since most of New Mexico was on fire until the end of July, we really couldn't do much.  But, finally, the generous monsoon season put out all the flames and all the fire restrictions were lifted, so that we not only could go camping, we could have a camp fire too!  We had our friend Whitney and his son Elijah tag along with us too.  What a great time we had... after it took us 4 hours to drive there... 6 stops... an exploding sunscreen can... the loss of about $200 worth of equipment... and one last rainstorm to try to scare us away.  (Apparently we missed "hurricane night" in Albuquerque.  Glad it didn't come our way!)

David promised this would be a gorgeous spot and I have to give him credit.  It was worth the drive up there.  Yes, you can find spots like these in the dry NM desert if you look hard enough!  It looks like Utah or Oregon, but it's just good ol' New Mexico - Carson National Forest.

(yep, got it.  don't pack pressurized cans in bins on the outside of the car.)

hanging out in the tent, waiting for the rain to quit

middle Canjilon lake

my favorite hikers - this is always my view, I'm always way behind.

like, best roasted marshmallow ever!!!  check out how puffy that thing is!

 If you look really closely, you can see Grace fishing on the end of the peninsula in the lake.

Super cool foggy morning... the kids haven't seen fog since we left MA.  They were so happy!

My gorgeous Harriet among the wildflowers.  I wish I could freeze her and keep her like this forever.

Whitney trying to teach the girls a thing or two about fishing.

He and Elijah had better luck and caught 2.

Doggies, out on a hike around the lake.  They still love camping and hiking so much.

This totally cute otter hung out with us for a while!

We saw and heard all kinds of wildlife, from the otter to pretty butterflies, hawks, and this great little frog who let the kids catch him about a dozen times. Plus, lots of elk bugles.  

After the morning hike, I took the dogs back to camp to rest.  Velvet collapsed on the ground and had a nap in the sun, completely satisfied and happy.

And, then everyone else collapsed in the car for the ride home.