Planning and setting up a day camp at Blue River can be one of the most enjoyable and efficient outings we can expect. With an early start we can expect to enjoy an overall outdoor experience by packing just a few simple things for our journey. Recently, my sweetheart Carol along with myself and our faithful companion Smokey decided to make a day of it at Blue. Speaking of faithful companions... day camps can be a perfect opportunity to let our furry friends stretch their legs and enjoy nature alongside us. Although our primary purpose was to fish we also wanted to make it a well-rounded outdoor experience so we made plans to cook a special recipe, which we will provide later in this report, do some hiking, and since both Carol and I are camera bugs do some picture taking. Carol and I had everything packed and ready to go in less than an hour for our day camp and that is one part of the beauty of day camps period. If we had decided to we could have made it an over-nighter by simply sleeping under the stars. How long has it been or how often do most of us do that anymore?

As far as what you will need to make a day camp the list doesn't have to be a long one. A few cooking utensils such as pots, pans, a Dutch oven, or a grill if you prefer will suffice for the cooking needs. Of course you will need silverware and plates. A good sturdy preparation table is always a good idea and chairs for the number of people in your party. To keep food longer and to cut down on the cost of ice freeze as much of your meal as you can. To further cut down on ice costs save one and two liter bottles, fill with tap water and freeze. Not only do the bottles full of water stay frozen longer, once they thaw you have instant drinking water. With the cost of gasoline at all time record highs Carol and I found ourselves looking for other ways to cut down on the costs of our day camps. Using what mother nature provides us for campfire fuel is one good way to save money. A bag of charcoal can cost five bucks easy but kindling and firewood is readily available and starting a campfire with nature's gifts is actually more rewarding. The silverware and plates mentioned earlier...well Carol and I use the real deal instead of plastic-ware which is another couple of dollars saved.

At our last day camp the fishing was great but the catching was a little slow. Blue River has been murky and muddy for the better part of two months now due to an abundance of rain. However, no one is complaining about the much need rainfall and everyone in this area is proud to say that they are "No stranger to the rain". Carol and I took some wonderful pictures of the surroundings being blessed by an overcast sky early in the morning that seem to make the hue of the greenery almost surreal. Around noon the sun made it's appearance and at about the time we were ready to cook the temperature started to heat up. A note in hindsight...set your cooking area up in the shade folks. We fixed Blue River Pork Loin with Spring Vegetables and I have to tell you this is an absolutely wonderful dish. Not only will it entice the taste buds it is a visual delight. Just because you are cooking on the river bank doesn't mean you can't set a plate worthy of a five star restaurant and with this recipe you can do just that. In our recipe link we will also provide you with plating instructions and promise you that everyone you serve this dish to will be impressed. So if you are looking for a quick, economical, and fun getaway then plan on a day camp at Blue River. A day at the camp is always better than a day at the office.