Congaree National Park = BUST!!!!!!

I have been looking forward to taking the kids to the Congaree National Park for a while now. We decided to go yesterday because they weren't calling for any rain. I stepped outside and it was SOOOOOOOO HOT! I came inside and checked the weather and it was 85 degrees. This was around noon. I was dreading the heat but I packed up a soda bottle full of nice cold water and we headed out.

The car ride their was intense because we hade to get on the interstate and I am just like my mom, I HATE IT. The interstate we had to get on was I-77 and there have been ALOT of accidents on this interstate lately. Fortunately we didn't encounter any traffic accidents, and got there safely after a few whining sessions about the mileage and how further we had to go from Cayce.

We got to the entrance sign and we had to go another mile to the parking lots, yea, Cayce complained AGAIN! When we found a parking space and opened the door, our first red flag popped up. We started getting bit by a million mosquitoes. We had to get the stroller out and the diaper bag and sippy cups and water into the strollers first and then we strapped in Ariana and Adalyn. By this time my patience started wearing then because it was scorching hot and the mosquitoes were getting on my nerves.

We got into the visitor's center where the light air conditioner didn't help at all and the smell of citronella nauseated me. We took some photos and walked around. We went back outside and passed the bathrooms where I should have looked to begin with. They have a mosquito meter. the levels are 1-6 with 1 being All Clear and 6 being WAR ZONE. Guess what the meter was on. 6!!!!!!!! I noticed this after walking 1.4 miles in the sun and being bit 70+ times and trying to keep the kids from being dehydrated and bit.

I have 71 mosquito bites on the back of my arms. Samantha got bit 17 times on arms and legs. Ariana got bit 7 times on her legs and back and Adalyn got bit once on the face. Cayce didn't get 1 single mosquito bite. When we were heading to the car, we went back into the visitor center, we got Samantha a junior ranger booklet to work on, so when we go back un late November-early December, she can be recruited.

Now after my little story, here are some pictures.

Right when we started walking. See how happy Cayce was. This didn't last very long.

Not happy after this picture. Next time, I will leave my shirt sleeves rolled DOWN!

One of the humongous trees in this park. They are called the Bald Cypress Trees.

Right before we left home.

This was in the visitor center. I don't know if this tree was real or fake.

The girls inside the tree.

 

Next time we go, I will pack more water, tons of bug spray, sunscreen lotion, and hats with pants and long sleeved shirts. My goal is to complete the 2.4 mile boardwalk trail that we didn't complete yesterday. We did 1.4 miles. .7 from the visitor center and .7 going back.