Under funs: The Trifecta has been an elusive goal these many years. 2008 has been the lucky year when the fates have smiled and the members of the Ultimate Fun Club finally made it!!! For the rest of you who do not know what the Trifecta is, it is the achievement of all the fun activities ---slumming at the beach, canoeing and camping --- in one summer season. Slumming at the beach is the easy part. We like going to Island Beach State Park because the beach there is usually less crowded, more pristine, and of course, furs are allowed. Unfortunately, as with most NJ beaches, horse flies can be a problem. Good thing we went late in the season, and it was pretty clear. 
"I know I look good!" (Babams)
Canoeing was possible this year for two reasons. First, DJKung now has a trusty truck to conduct official club activities with. We also took the plunge this year and got a canoe, which we have christened "The Mighty Miss[issippi]." (Can you tell that we have grand ambitions for her?)
In any event, The Mighty Miss' maiden voyage began in Barnegat Bay, which is within Island Beach. All members of the Ultimate Fun Club were accounted for. Unfortunately, we have no photos to commemorate the event, which was just as well. Despite her heroic efforts, the Mighty Miss succumbed to the elements within five minutes of her lauch (dang dogs!).
To the aspiring canoer, the Ultimate Fun Club has two pieces of advice. First, make sure your furs have their sea legs before launching on saltwater. Chibby had not been in a canoe for so long, and was never able to calm down. Essentially, he entered into this feedback loop where he became anxious --> tried to stand/lean on one side of the canoe which led to tipping-->making him more anxious--> resulting in a death grip on that side of the canoe, which led to more tipping, etc. Babams was surprisingly calm, but being a puppy, could not help but be affected by Chibs.
The second piece of advice we have is to do your research. Our canoe was designed for flat waters. Barnegat Bay, with its calm-appearing waters, looked like a good first choice. This was deceiving. Parts of the area we covered had choppy waves from motorized boat traffic; the currents were swift at certain crossroads; and, there were lot of low-lying areas where you can run aground. Suffice to say that we tipped over twice and ran aground countless times. The furs had more fun off the boat than in, and it was hard lifting heavy wet dogs back on the canoe. Overall, the trip was an unqualified success.
This is The Mighty Miss sailing off at North South Lake, Catskills, NY (see below). Note Chibby leaning to the right of the boat.
Camping this year was excellent. DJKung had heard of this fantastic park in the Catskills that reputedly had the best camping in the area. North South Lake (that's not a typo) used to be two separate lakes: one private (North Lake), and one public (South Lake). The government ended up buying the former and connecting both bodies of water together. The park attendant explicitly told us that we were so lucky to end up with the best camping spot in the entire park. She was right.
Grilling chicken for dinner. Our menu that evening consisted of grilled spicy chicken (chili paste, paprika, cumin, tons of garlic, salt, olive oil), vegetarian chili and rice. We had an Entemann's cake for dessert.
Furs looking out into the water. It's silly how they kept crying for their papa (DJ Kung was out fishing), when they hated being in the canoe anyway. Notice (in background) how close the camp site is to the ledge, which overlooks the water.
Wake up, furry face!
Yup, this campsite was awesome. It is pretty large, with over 100 campsites, although only a few border the water. There are toilets, bathing and dishwashing facilities (with electricity, woo hoo!) and potable water. The camp sites are drive-in, which is convenient if you have a lot of gear. The camp grounds have fireplaces, and wood cannot be brought from the outside. They have: fishing, canoeing (on site rentals), trails galore and swimming (two bathing beaches). There is a supply store roughly a mile before the entrance, where you can stock up on food, supplies and beer (allowed in the campsites). Most importantly, furs are welcome in North South Lake. Yippee!!!!
Hope 2009 will also be a great year!
(On left) Entrance to the shop. Note the two-car garage, which is full of mostly country-style and handmade furniture. When the weather is nice, they have an assortment of furniture and garden decor displayed in the driveway. Do not be deceived by the simple exterior... this place is awesome!
"I don't really think this is the look I'm going for..."
A Hora De Estrela
