Two Dads, A Campfire, and Just Enough Chaos
Last weekend, my best friend and I decided to take all our kids, (His three and our four,) and three dogs, on a camping trip.
Two dads. A pack of muddy, bug-bitten kids. Three dogs who monitored every meal like underpaid USDA health inspectors. What could possibly go wrong?
Turns out, everything, in the best way.
From the moment we pitched tents to burnt pancakes, it was nonstop energy: missing shoes, constant “don’t poke the fire” reminders, and enough dirt to make you forget showers even exist. But there were also moments that reminded us why we do this. Moments like still, golden mornings, crisp air, and night skies so full of stars it made you forget about phone screens.
After Bedtime: Stars, Silence, and Shutter Clicks
Once the kids (and dogs) finally crashed, it was just us, the campfire, and the stars. I’d packed my Canon R6 for the trip, hoping for one or two solid night shots, with a tripod and long exposure, I captured skies that looked like they were pulled from a planetarium dome.
Sitting in the quiet, with a camera in hand and stars above, was one of the trip’s most unexpectedly peaceful moments. Just two dads, a camera, and the universe on display.
Fuel for the Dads
Let’s talk survival essentials. At the top of that list: coffee. Specifically, Black Rifle Coffee’s Tactisquatch brew. Percolated over the fire, that first pour each morning hit like a lifeline. Bold, smoky, just enough kick to turn two exhausted dads into semi-functional humans. That brew didn’t just keep us going, it powered us through the beautiful madness of outdoor parenting.
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Three Dogs, Zero Breakfasts Stolen
Let’s be honest, camping with three dogs sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. They not run off and they shockingly didn’t steal any pancakes. That’s growth!
In the End…
We made memories. We didn't lose any kids or dogs. We didn’t burn down the forest. And somehow, we even got some sleep. (Ok not much).
Was it chaotic? Absolutely. Was it worth every muddy footprint and fire-poked stick?
No question.