Camping with Callan

Originally we were going to go backpacking in early October. When our trip was delayed until early November, we decided to go camping instead. It was cold at night and I wanted my camper van!

We stayed at Sunny Flats campground, which is only a short distance from the trail I had chosen for backpacking; the South Fork trail in the eastern Chiricahuas, near the border of Arizona and New Mexico. It was a beautiful campground.

Pro tip: If you’re coming from the west, do not follow Google maps and do not take the Hwy 10 exit to Portal. Both Google maps and the freeway signs direct you onto an interminably long, gravel road towards Portal that is heavily washboarded and absolutely bone rattling and miserable. It’s completely unnecessary. Just go a few miles farther east on the freeway, cross the New Mexico border and then exit going south on Hwy 80 towards Rodeo. Then take Portal Hwy west to Portal. It’s faster, and paved all the way!

We figured that out last time we went, and I can’t believe I forgot and made the same mistake twice. My old mind is letting me down. I won’t forget again. Even though I’m going to Portal, don’t take the Portal exit!!!

Instead of backpacking the South Fork trail, we went for a day hike. The weather was perfect and the fall color was beautiful.

We brought our lunch and a couple decks of cards on our hike. We found a nice stopping point about an hour in, and enjoyed the afternoon playing an epic game of canasta.

We were eating lunch and playing canasta within sight of the trail, and when people went by they would peer at us. What are those people doing sitting over there? LOL. Playing cards in the woods, why not? Luckily there were only a few other people on the trail.

The nights did get cold, but Callan was fine in the tent. Callan doesn’t get cold very easily and had plenty of gear. Biska and I were toasty warm in the van.

Here’s a funny story. Biska’s dog food contains two different sizes and colors of kibble. It’s mostly regular light brown kibbles, but there are also small round kibbles that are almost dark green in color. She tends to pick around the little dark green round ones, so we jokingly call them spinach balls.

Shortly before our hike, I spilled some of her dog food on the cement. I picked most of it up, but I didn’t bother with every little bit. I figured the squirrels would clean it up. Well, when we got back from the hike, sure enough, the squirrels had eaten all the spilled dog food – except they left the little spinach balls! Apparently even squirrels don’t like them.

One final funny thing from Callan’s trip. You don’t have to know anything about the game of canasta to see that this was one darn close game. The hands varied wildly, but the final score was so close it could have been a counting error.

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