Camping With the Kids

September 29, 2002, Sunday.  The weather turned out great for our long-planned camping outing with the grandkids. We left the scene of the wedding and headed to French Creek State Park about 20 or 30 miles from West Chester, near Birdsboro, PA. The park is adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.

We found a couple adjacent campsites and set up.

Soon the girls were playing Yahtzee and the boys were playing with fire. Jake couldn't wait to light the campfire. Look how happy he is to have a roaring fire to appreciate. Later it came in handy for s'mores, not to mention roasting hot dogs and steaks.

Hopewell Furnace

 Hopewell Furnace produced iron ore and products from pre-Revolutionary War times through the mid-1800's. Today it has been restored to roughly its 1820's condition and is a picturesque and peaceful place to visit.

On the left is Jake in a collier's hut. A collier is a guy who made charcoal for a living. I hope there is a better way to make charcoal now. On the left is the water wheel that powered the bellows that blew air into the blast furnace.

Here are Lorri and Malarie  well into a hot game of wagonwheel.