St. Croix State Park - Memorial Day Weekend 2015

Camping with the Holjes is always an adventure. This year was no different! Sara and Trisha headed up to St. Croix State Park in the morning to set up camp. Ron, Craig and the kids followed after school. We were lucky to be able to get to the campground early because our "reserved" sites were full of gnats and not connected. We high tailed it back to the rangers office to get "better sites" for our crew before they got snapped up. Our trip had both highs and lows! Here are some fun highlights from our 3 day adventure....

1. Successfully setting up camp and "blocking" out our neighbors.



2. Canoeing and kayaking down the famous St. Croix Scenic River as we hunted for turtles sunning on nearby logs and clams along the beach.





3. Mom watching the birds of prey show on her own because everyone else was "comfortable".



4. The kids enjoying the simple pleasures of life without any electronic devices -- playing nukum on the volleyball courts, sumo wrestling, bike riding in the campground, playing cards, all day snacking, etc.





5. Enjoying gourmet meals every day around the campfire. This year's features included grilled shrimp, tasty halibut, marinated flank steak, sangria, fresh donuts, breakfast casseroles, and a special birthday cake for Nathan.





6. A hike along the Kettle river through the fairytale rainforest of ferns (and unfortunately ticks too as we would discover later).




7. Our second climb up to the top of a fire tower. This year, the boys played catch from the top with a tennis ball. Mom and Presley supported each other to the top as they each over came their own fear of heights.



8. An awesome Mom and son 5.5 mile ride out to Lake Clayton followed by some fishing on the beach. The Holje/Pergande clan continued their tradition of not caching anything.



9. And then the rain set in. Pergandes headed to Hinckley to wait out the storm. Our visit included a trip to Tobie's for their famous caramel and cinnamon rolls, as well as a viewing of Tomorrowland at the local movie theater.



10. Staying tough and camping overnight in the constant rain. The crew woke, closed down camp, and headed back to the Twin Cities. Lots of memories for the future!