Halloween Event at High Cliff State Park in Wisconsin

Wow, we sure got busy this week and I never got around to writing about our Halloween Walk at High Cliff State Park.  We were the camp hosts all week long, and got our site decorated after Wednesday's storm blew through.  We didn't bother putting anything up on the campsite before that, because it would have blown away into the next county.

Steve hauled out all of our totes of decorations from the garage, and set them out for me to start the Halloween Decor efforts.  All of the campsites are reserved 11 months in advance at midnight, with everyone clamoring to get a site.  There are 112 campsites and 8 large group sites that can hold larger numbers of people (I think it's 20 per site now?)   This is a BIG event and people come from all over to walk through the campgrounds and collect treats from the campers.  (I had 1,600 pieces of candy on hand and my nephew contributed more so we started with about 2,000 pieces)  We expect between 4.000 and 5,000 people to attend!

Here is our camphost site, all spiffied up. 

 We added lights and pumpkins and 

silly things, trying to not get too scary for the little ones. 

Less than 40 sites have electricity at High Cliff, but this is the one time of the year that generators are allowed in the non-electric sites too.  So those people could fill up with lights and fun inflatables too.  Believe me, many people did a LOT more to their sites than we did... they put up huge displays with fun electronics, lights, and soundtracks....  even spooky haunted trails leading through their site to get to the candy bowl etc.

  I think our scariest guy is our gargoyle,

and he is kinda cute too. 

This sign was a little icky, 

but the little ones can't read anyhow.  LOL 

Our motorhome even got into the act! 

Frankenstein and Dracula hung out in the front windshield 

with some eerie white LED lights for illumination.

I am glad our camphost site is large and welcoming.

We were having family join us for the celebrations of birthdays as well.

(we later covered the cord with a heavy rubber mat) 

Our kids, Dan and wife Heather, with grandkids Mason and Allegra got to the park on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend as well.  They decorated up their campsite in front of their camping trailer to join in the fun.  We are so glad all of our kids are following in our camping footsteps and show their kids the fun they had when they were younger and went camping with us. 

Our friend Vicky came out to join us, with her shelties Stuart and Tara.  We took the dogs for a walk around the park before the festivities really got underway. That way we could see things and be able to be back at our own campsite when the throngs of people started coming through.  Of course, some of the grandkids had to join us on our doggie walk as well. 

While we were walking, 

the four older grankids decided to serenade (and practice) 

singing Happy Birthday to the littest cousin, Claire. 

Soon the rest of our families came to the campsite, to join in our special gathering. See, it's little Claire's second birthday, and we also celebrate my birthday too (which is ON Halloween!)  It's a fun family time to get together for the big walk at High Cliff and get all of the October Birthdays done too.   Grandmuddah and Granddaughter got piled up with gifts to open..... 

 Then everyone sang to little Claire the Happy Birthday song again...

She seemed to be more interested in the cookie! 

Our daughter Erin arranged to have these special gourmet cookies made for us,

instead of cakes...  it is a great way to serve up a group, and each one is a work of art! 

Mine were all sewing and yarn related....

and Claire's were all about puppies, her favorite animal at the age of 2.

After all of the presents were opened, little Claire and Whitney set about to explore the toys that Claire got for her birthday.  I love this pic of them both being busy busy busy with the Fisher Price Farm that we got for Claire.

Then it was time to change into costumes for the trick or treating walk.  What fun!!!  Little Whitney was an adorable unicorn, and Chelsea was a ghoul with lit up eyes (with a little battery pack)... creepy!

Clayton was some kind of super Ninja guy

and little Claire was Scrappy Doo

Allegra was a unicorn with all over jammies to keep warm

and silly Mason was a Floppy Flamingo! 

Our daughter Erin and husband Waylen love to get dressed up

and take part in the fun.  

They are Velma and Scooby Doo

(danged dog) 

The Choate Family 

I cooked up a crock pot of my calico beans, and Steve grilled up a bunch of brats and hot dogs for the kids.  We fed everyone lunch to get something in their stomachs before all of that candy and beverages for the adults.  Later I had a big crock pot of chili waiting for them after getting treats... and my friend Vicky brought along some of her great rice krispie bars to munch on. 

Our nephew Matt and wife Amanda also joined in

as well as daughter Heather and soninlaw Jesse.  

The youngens did a few jello pudding shots

but Grandfaddah and Grandmuddah were hosts on duty, 

so we didn't imbibe. 

The people started coming down the roads of the campground.  The rangers block off the roads to all automobile traffic, so it's safe and fun.  Soon the crowds increase to a solid flow of people past our campsites.  We tried to remind the kids to only take ONE piece of candy, so there is enough for all.  A few would come through again and again, especially when I refilled with the chocolate bars!

This creepy leprechaun comes year after year. I have no idea what he looks like behind the mask.  Amanda was looking for him and finally found him. He was up on the roof of a camper, squealing and dancing in elfish delight!  I am sure he imbibed in a few beverages as well. 

Soninlaw Waylen brought a smoke machine.  It's harmless smoke made from glycerine and water. The kids had fun playing with it, and by using a remote control it would smoke out into the road when groups came by the campsite.   Grandnephew Lil Matt took care of the candy bucket and the smoke machine as the people came by our site.

The main event was from 4 pm to 8 pm. 

We doled out the candy, and by 8 pm this is ALL we had left! 

Actually a little less than that, I took the pic about quarter to 8.

Our kids who weren't camping, that had just come for the day, had now left 

and headed home with sleepy grandkids full of candy! 

Things calmed down nicely in the campground --- by 11 pm all was pretty quiet.  Being camphosts means we can be called upon to help out or call the rangers or wardens to handle conflicts.  Our only problem was someone dropped a brandy bottle in the men's shower about 10 pm and it shattered into a zillion pieces.  It skittered across under the dividers into all three shower stalls. Steve and I cleaned it up, carefully wiping down every inch of floor to be sure we got any shards, and then rinsing the floors thoroughly to rinse down any tiny pieces. We would hate to have someone step in there to take a shower and cut their feet! 

ON EDIT...  THE COUNT AT THE GATE FOR THE PARK WAS OVER 5,000 PEOPLE ON SATURDAY!  SOME MAY HAVE BEEN THERE TO WALK THE TRAILS OR ENJOY THE PICNIC GROUNDS, BUT MOST WERE FOR THE HALLOWEEN EVENT AT THE CAMPGROUNDS!) 

  

Grandson Mason fell asleep in our camper, so we let him spend the night.  In the morning he helped me create our "Breakfast Bake" casserole.  It's becoming a family tradition and a good way to feed a group of people at the same time with eggs, ham, bread and cheese all rolled into one. 

 (NOTE... I OMIT THE MILK... IT BAKES BETTER) 

also we used ham instead of bacon or sausage.

Now it was time to tear down all of the decorations.  It was due to rain in the afternoon, and also the Packer Game was going to be on tv at noon.  Mason helped Grandpa tear it all down and load it up into the totes.  Another Halloween Event at High Cliff is in the books!

Although we could remain as camphosts for the rest of the month, there is another couple who usually host for a month that missed out in the rotation this summer because they went to Alaska.  So they were more than happy to come and take our place for the rest of the month.  With our brake problem on the motorhome, Steve wanted to get it home in our yard and go over every inch of the system and then test it out. Kinda hard to do that while camphosting and being set up on the site for 30 days.  So they were eager to get moved over and set up on our campsite before noon rolled around as well. 

 I headed on home driving the Tracker about 11 am

while Steve did the Dump Station Conga Line

on a Sunday morning:

As for the brakes, Steve said they were kinda sorta working on the way home, but the front brakes were smoking by the time Steve pulled into the yard~!! Dang they locked up and we hope he didn't warp the rotors or fry the calipers.  Also the pac brake (exhaust or "jake brake" as some call it) was not operating properly either!  Steve ordered some more parts that will be in later this week.  We postponed or possibly cancelled our upcoming trip to Tennessee and Florida.   We are bummed, but we have to have the motorhome working and fully reliable before heading out that far.

Sooooo we are home.  

More on that in tomorrow's blog!