Last weekend Matt and I joined friends for an overnight canoeing and camping trip—our first time camping since my college study abroad. Matt seemed a bit nervous for me, but I had an amazing time. Here’s the full recap.
We left Friday morning after saying goodbye to the kids (big thanks to Matt’s parents for babysitting) and drove about two hours north to Outback Adventures in Tionesta, Pennsylvania to pick up our canoes.
Here’s the whole crew—six guys and two women including me. Half the group didn’t even realize the photo was being taken!
Ben, who organized the trip, has been running this excursion with childhood friends of Matt’s for years. Matt has gone seven or eight times before; this was my first. I was supposed to join in 2016 but the forecast scared us off, and since then pregnancy and breastfeeding kept me out—so I was thrilled to finally make it.
The outfitter drives you, your canoes, and your gear 34 miles up the Allegheny River to Starbrick, where you put in and paddle back toward Tionesta. We loaded our canoe with two small coolers (one for drinks and one for food), a gear bag with sleeping bags, tent and clothes, and a trash bag holding sleeping pads and pillows. We even brought a guitar so Matt could serenade everyone around the campfire.
Matt and I only joined for the first night because we needed to return to DC before school started Monday. We left our car in Tidioute (where the group usually stops for lunch on day two) and arranged for the outfitter to pick up our canoes there. Over our 24-hour trip we covered about 20 river miles—a solid outing.
We launched around 1 p.m. Friday. Normally the first day includes some floating and relaxed paddling, but a strong headwind (15–20 mph) meant we paddled almost continuously to reach a campsite by about 5 p.m. We did stop for a swim at a rope swing—a proper tree-and-boards setup with knots on the rope. I was nervous about holding on but practiced from the bank and ended up loving the jump.
Back on the river, paddling was steady but peaceful in its own way. Around 5 p.m. we found an unclaimed tiny island and made camp—waterfront real estate for the night.
We borrowed a tent from Matt’s parents and got a fire going. Dinner was simple and satisfying: pre-cooked sausages and a can of baked beans heated in a camping pan (we covered the beans with foil to keep ash out). I also packed pre-cut veggies in the cooler to snack on.
That night the temperature dropped into the 50s and the fire felt cozy; I was grateful for a borrowed sweatshirt. We spent the evening singing, telling stories and laughing—probably more than I had in a long time. Shortly before midnight the clouds parted and the stars burst through—one of the clearest skies I’ve seen in years, and we even spotted a shooting star.
Sleep in a tent wasn’t the most restful—nature sounds and unfamiliar surroundings made it slow to fall asleep—but waking to cool air and water views felt glorious. We stoked another fire to boil water for instant coffee and heated breakfast. I brought blueberry oatmeal bars I found at the grocery store; they were delicious and much better than the original plan of banana bread and peanut butter.
After breaking camp we paddled for about 2.5 hours on a beautiful morning. I was sad when we reached Tidioute and had to retrieve our car—part of me wanted to keep going, though my sore shoulders reminded me it was probably time to stop.
We arrived hungry around 12:30 and grabbed lunch at a local deli/pizza spot. Matt and I shared a huge pizza and I finished the last of our packed veggies. After lunch we drove about two hours to Matt’s parents’ home in Sewickley, while the rest of the group continued downriver for another day and night of camping. I was glad for a real bed but already missing the river.
That evening my father-in-law made Greek-style turkey burgers (a family favorite) served without buns alongside sweet corn and tater tots. For dessert we lit a small fire on the back deck and made s’mores—Riese was ecstatic. The family also set up a very large old tent in the yard, which the kids loved playing in.
We were sad to say goodbye Sunday morning and headed back to DC in time for dinner. Monday the kids started school, which felt like perfect timing since I have a backlog of work after taking most of the last two weeks off.
It was wonderful to disconnect, simplify, and spend focused time outdoors. Being out on the river and camping again—after nearly two decades—felt long overdue. Until next time, canoe trip—thanks for the good memories!
Are you a camping fan? Where is your favorite place you’ve camped?