Man! Mama always told my sisters and I all the cool camping, fishing, and hiking trips she took with Papa, our late Gramma, and my aunt & uncles. We “tried” fishing once with Baba many years ago, but we were allowed to sit in the boat and watch him use our one kid’s fishing pole…so that doesn’t really count. :-/
Anyways, mom found a fishing certification class for us to attend with Papa, and we didn’t want to go because when we asked if anyone in her family were ever “certified” before, she said ‘no’…”so, why do we?”…’it’s free…it says “free gear”…it says free fishing trip”…we LOVE Free! Man! We had a blast…Papa the true fisherman was the only one taking pictures, and he enjoyed teaching us alongside the 3 instructors.
Anyways…long story short–we attended the Fishing Derby on a past Saturday, and WE caught the most & biggest fish of all! We had SO much fun, that we BBQ’ed the fish with our first aunt for dinner (she made us shower right away because we were all sticky, even though we ate outside on the picnic table!) Then, our other aunt came over and we took her family back to the pond on Sunday. AND…WE caught the most and biggest (really the longest) fish of the entire pond!
During the fishing derby, we got to participate in 12 events, even stocking 350 trout ourselves. It was mucky, and gross…but cool & fun at the same time. Anyways, we just learned about this WAY-cool company from our fun blogging friend Liam who wrote this great tips article below introducing us to some pretty AWESOME outdoor gear!
Just by reading this guest post, my sisters and I are reminded of the many hiking trips, deer-watching, star-gazing trails mama took us in Ohio, and the many STEEP mountains we just hiked in Meccah, Saudi Arabia. While Papa puts out his tent in the backyard for us–he promises one “real” camping trip with ocean fishing this summer…can you tell how excited we are!?
How to Enjoy the Great Outdoors without Getting Wet and Dirty
When it comes to enjoying the great outdoors, far too many families are put off by the fear of getting wet and dirty. Whether it’s a weekend camping trip, a morning fishing trip or a Sunday stroll in the woods, it’s no surprise that we’d rather stay warm and dry rather than risk getting cold and wet.
However, your family can actually shield yourselves from the elements if you buy the proper waterproof clothing.
With that in mind, here’s five top outdoor pursuits you can enjoy without worrying about getting mucky and what you should think about buying.
1 – The Camping Trip
If there is one thing that most families hate when going camping, it is the lack of showering facilities. After a day’s activity you’ll get hot and sweaty, and if the weather’s poor you’ll get soaking wet too. This can lead to miserable children and a real dampener on your fun time together.
That’s why you need to buy your family a good waterproof jacket. These kind of jackets are made of a special material to keep the water out and the body dry – and the best part is that they can be rolled up and travel well. If you fancy a good night’s sleep, get yourself a proper jacket – they’ll keep you warm in the evening when the temperature drops too.
2 – The Fishing Trip
If you enjoy the peace and quiet of sitting by the river and fishing for that elusive snapper, then you know how your enjoyment can be ruined if the weather suddenly turns. You are sitting there, getting rained on, and if you don’t have the right waterproofs then you’ll get drenched.
On top of a waterproof jacket, get yourself a waterproof hat. Those with an extended brim will keep the raindrops hitting your eyes and running down your neck. Plus they’ll keep your head warm too – and the sun out of your eyes – leaving you free to fish to your heart’s content!
3 – The Hiking Trip
If you like nothing more than walking through the hills and woodlands, you know how important having the right pair of walking shoes is. However, more important than this is having a decent pair of waterproof hiking socks.
Having the right pair of socks is excellent protection for your feet. From keeping them warm and dry should you accidentally step into a puddle, to making sure they don’t cause blisters and sores, they are made of a material which doesn’t absorb water like a sponge.
If you think you’ll be able to manage with a pair of normal cotton socks think again – you’re only asking for trouble.
4 – The Boat Trip
There’s something really enjoyable about a day out on the river. Cruising along, the sound of the water lapping against the boat, it’s heaven.
However, a peaceful boat trip often descends into chaos – especially with kids. Surrounded by water they often can’t help themselves. A simple splash of water leads to another, and another, and before you know it you have a full-blown water-fight.
If that sounds like your little scamps, you can protect yourself by buying them an all-in-one rain suit. These suits are designed to cover your kids from top to toe, leaving them free to splash about all they like. Some even come with hoods, so no more smelly wet hair!
5 – The Cycling Trip
If you prefer having a pedal with your family, you’ll know how horrible it can be when the weather suddenly changes. Miles from home and with no waterproof clothing, you can quickly become soaked – leaving your journey back a rain-soaked disaster.
Having a roll-up waterproof jacket on hand is a must, but many cyclists overlook cycling gloves. Have you ever tried cycling with wet and cold hands? It’s dangerous. Not only that, with the roads slippery you are more likely to have an accident – and what’s the first thing you do when you fall? You put your hands out. Waterproof cycle gloves will go some way to protecting you and your little ones from having to pick out gravel from their hands should they fall off.So there you have it, five fun outdoor pursuits you can enjoy to the fullest, provided you get the right waterproof kit. Have fun!
We’re going to spend Sunday with our neighbors in a Fun, Fitness run. Their daddy is an Ironman, triathlete, he says he’ll give us pointers to win the foot-race…but, now we’re going to make sure he has the right gear for those rainy days we’ve never asked him about before. As for the all-in-one-rain-gear for kids…dude, the other day was SO sloppy out that Mama’s one umbrella did NOT do the job for a family of five.
Aren’t these great tips? Are you a hiking, fishing, camping, cycling, boating kid? Family? Have tips to share? Are you majorly excited about these cool waterproof products as much as we are? Man…my sisters and I really want to get our hands AND feet on these!
