Slate and Wild Roses

Campground Review: I used the Reservation System on TheDyrt.com to secure a night here during the holiday weekend when may other campgrounds were booked solid. I had no problems using the system and was pleased to know I had a spot on one of the busiest weekends in May. The campground hosts, Brian and Kristina were awesome. I emailed them to give an arrival time and ended up having a phone conversation to get specific directions and info. They couldn't have been more helpful or nice. They were on site when I arrived and spent time showing me the property and possible campsites. Due to recent rains and expected heavy rains, I picked a site along the tree line on top of an open hilltop. They brought me a huge fire pit as well as dry wood and pointed out where I could find even more wood if I needed it. As the evening wore on I heard barred owls and coyotes, as well as the nearby cows. The fireflies came out at dark and gave me an impressive show. Because this is true dispersed camping currently, you can set up camp anywhere on the property. Just know that rain will affect your ability to navigate the farm road which is gravel to a point and then a dirt two track that disappears and reappears in between the wild roses and grasses. If you are familiar with "gumbo" dirt, you will understand that it will be tricky to bring anything but four wheel drive if it might rain. We had some crazy hard rain overnight and Brian and Kristina thoughtfully checked in via phone in the morning. There is lots to explore on the property and nearby: there are 80 wild acres of treed and logged land to bushwhack and explore that eventually will have some trails to hike, including a pretty creek to dip your toes in. Nearby are state parks, conservation areas, and national forests. Brian and Kristina are working on developing relationships with nearby outfitters for floating, canoeing, and kayaking on local rivers as well. 

Product Review: From time to time I get to test out new products as a Dyrt Ranger. This trip I got to test out Grub Stick's Deluxe Kit https://grubstick.com. After this trip I can confidently say I have a new cooking tool to keep in my camp kitchen. The telescoping handle works great with all of the attachments, easily screwing in and staying secure while cooking (even while turning to cook various items over the fire). I used the Grub Forks to cook Italian sausages and the Grub Cage to cook veggies for dinner as well as the forks for cooking bacon for breakfast. I liked how the bacon grease dripped off the forks right into the fire, reducing cleanup. I also used the GrubTube to bake crescent rolls over the fire for breakfast. I was concerned the bread wouldn't cook all the way through, but everything cooked completely and without me needing to char the outside to get results. The Grub Stick tools cleaned up easily with the help of the Release Tool, and having the silicone trivet was handy when the telescoping stick was still hot from the fire. The Deluxe kit comes in a sturdy carrying bag that easily fits in my camp kitchen tote.