Camping Together We Grow Together.

A few years ago when my husband and I first started dating we wanted a nice weekend getaway to sort of get to know each other better and spent time outdoors beyond going to a pool or amusement park.  So we decided to go camping for a weekend, and we wanted somewhere that wasn't in our own backyard..  What is better than camping with you dog, so we needed to find a place with not only a cabin but was also dog friendly.  That is when I stumbled across Abrams Creek in Elk Garden, WV, which is about 3 hours away from Morgantown, WV, on the edge of Maryland.  They have a variety of cabins to choose from, but we choose cabin B because it was small enough for just us, but big enough that we weren't on top of each other and the dog.  We picked up some wood from the office as they do not allow outside wood, and headed out our cabin.  It is in such a cute secluded area that we saw maybe 2 other people the whole weekend and that was because they were hiking.  Our only issue was the grill and small camping stove they provided didn't work. But we didn't plan on using them anyway, I wanted to try my hand at campfire cooking.  Hint....it didn't go so well.

The beauty of this weekend away was that there was not cell phone service or wifi, so all we had was each other and nature.  Too often we as a whole are too consumed by devices: ipads, tablets, kindles, cellphones, ipods, computers etc that we don't know what to do with ourselves once one or more of those things are taken away.  We are at a loss of how to entertain ourselves or how to appreciate what there is to offer beyond modern luxuries.  When you are alone in nature a bird's song becomes your music, a couple of chimunks playing are now your sports, and the person sitting beside you becomes your favorite celebrity.  Being surrounded by flora and fauna you realize the need to slow down, the need to put electronics away and smell the fresh air.  There were times when I just sat and watched my now husband, not in a creepy way, but how he did things, how he carried himself when no one else was around.  I paid attention to how he reacted when frustrated when the fire wouldn't start or when what I cooked got burnt.  I also learned more of what I want in life and a partner.  When you are cut off from distractions, you learn so much about yourself and those you are with.

This is probably one of my favorite trips because we spent the time really talking and getting to know one another, and also realized how comfortable we were with each other in silence.  We discovered things about each other we may not have known otherwise such as how we differ in what we think a campfire should look like, and that I am HORRIBLE at campfire cooking. There was a beautiful stream behind the cabin.  The sound of the rushing water luled me to sleep.  The weekend not onle strengthened my appreciation for nature, but also strengthened my appreciation for the man who became my husband two years later.  While the weekend was intended to be a weekend to relax and decompress, we also grew together and had intimate moments that do not involved being physical.

Camping has always been something I loved.  It gives you the ability to escape the craziness that life can hold.  There is so much spirituality you can sense while sitting and listening to the sounds of the earth that goes beyond a religion.  There is always something to learn and appreciate that it feels new every time I spend a good amount of time in nature regardless of if it is in the forest, oceans, mountains etc.  I want to experience it all and I am so happy that West Virginia has so many beautiful spots to find some hidden treasure.

If you want to find more information on Abrams Creek for your own camping trip check out their website at: www.abramscreek.com