camping at turner falls

When Trager and I were registering for our wedding we decided we needed a tent and camping chairs. Looking back now, this seems sort of odd because neither of us were big campers. I guess it was wishful thinking that one day we would have to be outdoorsy! We've used them a few times over the years and this past weekend was one of them. We'd never been to Turner Falls in Davis, OK so we didn't really know what we were in for but it seriously could not have been more fun! There are rivers and pools everywhere and lots of hiking trails. It was the first day of the summer season so when we first got there the woman who gave us our car tag told us to walk down to the falls before we set up camp since it might get more crowded as the day went on. It wasn't a very far off the road and it was so worth seeing! The water was a pretty teal color and was so clear. It was a little too cold for swimming, even though that didn't stop the 63 teenage boys who were literally swimming everywhere.

 

^^^This is me testing the water...and this is also me deciding there was no way we were swimming even though we brought out suits! Way too cold! ^^^

 ^^^Cutest prisoner I've ever seen^^

 

On our way back to the car from walking to the falls, we stopped at this old castle that was up in the trees off  the walking trail. Turns out we ended up crashing a birthday party at the same, but there were so many levels to the castle they didn't seem to mind. It was the summer home of a professor that worked at the University of Oklahoma back in the 1930s. It's made of super steep, narrow stairways and lots of little rooms that really just look like dungeons. {Kind of creepy for a "summer home!"}

 It was really neat to walk around such an old and unique structure in the middle of all the overgrown trees! After that we headed deeper into the park to pick our campsite. We wanted something by the river, but everywhere close to the main offices {bathrooms} were occupied so we ended up in the heart of the park next to a tiny bend of the river. Since it's been so rainy this spring everything was green and blooming. It was really, really lovely!

 ^^^We were definitely cozy with our blow up mattress and quilt!^^^

 ^^^Am I the only one who could eat hobo dinners weekly and never get sick of them? These were especially yummy...recipe to come later this week!^^^

After we gathered firewood for about an hour Trager got our fire going and started working on dinner. While we were waiting for it to cook we listened to music on my bluetooth speaker {thanks Ty and Papa D!} and talked about all sorts of subjects. It was dark before it really got quiet at our camp. Almost as soon as we stopped talking I started to hear something behind me. As I turned around to check out the noise I swear I saw the top of a little kid's head burrowing into our food sack and about jumped out of my chair!!! {Because we should all be terrified of hungry 7 year olds, am I right?} After further investigation, it turned out to be the fattest raccoon alive feasting on the marshmallows we brought for s'mores. Trager ran him off and threw the last of the mallow he was munching on towards the trees across the path from our site.
I guess the chunky little guy still got his feast because the marshmallow was completely gone in the morning!!
  

^^^When we were driving up to our campsite we kept noticing the fields and fields of wild flowers. It was actually pretty sweet because Trager kept pointing out when we saw a new color! 

That guy is my favorite ever. 

After we gathered firewood and Trager started to build the flames, I had to go pick a few. They really brightened up our little spot!^^^

^^^What a nice view to wake up to!^^^

I think my favorite part of camping this time had to be slowing down long enough to take in the magnificent views! Life is busy and hectic; the doing and going demand all attention at all times. It was nice to take a weekend with my man and make a wild flower bouquet and fall asleep to the sound of a river flowing rather than the passing cars. 

We both agree that we're going to have to hit pause like this a little more often this summer!