Lessons and Tales: First Camping Trip of the Year

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Now that I’ve camped a few times, I thought I had figured it all out–that I was an expert. HAHAHAHAHA. Not so. My first trip of 2017 taught me many things.

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  1. Mary Rauch says:

    I felt as though I was right there with you guys. I am NOT a camping fan. I grew up back in West Virginia with “4 rooms and a path”, if you get my drift. I figure that after living a partial lifetime with NO COMFORTS, why on earth would I continue that lifestyle and call it “vacation and pleasure”?

    • Rebecca M. says:

      Loved this post….I felt like I was there. I think I’ve experienced all the mis-steps of this camping trip, except the car trouble….hope I never have that one. My husband and I still camp with a tent. We bought a new, bigger and improved one to use on our last camping trip. Lesson 1: Always set it up at home first. We didn’t, so when we tried at the campground we noticed out neighbor campers watching us from their 30 foot home on wheels. They finally took pity on us and offered to help. Good thing, because we probably would have ended up sleeping in the truck. Lesson 2: Keep fire starters, kindling and some firewood in heavy duty totes from Home Depot. And we always find a campsite with electricity. Even with a tent, you still need coffee.

  2. Denise Ross says:

    Gosh want a camping adventure! Definitely one for the camping tales campfire times.
    Phew. Well done to you for your persistence and stoic ness, dint know if that’s a proper word, but works for me here.
    I had been wondering how’d you go this time with the weather forecast you’d posted. Your camper and truck are really cool. Love your camp setup, with your pretty lights and rugs and things. Third time lucky?
    All in all its a definitely a memory making trip and I’m so sure your hubby would’ve even more glad he’d not gone with you.
    Love reading your adventures, always interesting and fun.
    Keep smiling, life’s always better, oh and a smile only uses 18 facial muscles and makes us look younger too
    These are the days

  3. Brenda Towsley says:

    Oh I loved this read. Brought back memories of camping with my 3 daughters. Almost always rained but there was always enough fun in between the rain to make it worth the trip. Always packed a small Rubbermaid tub with Uno, Yahtzee, and cards for playing war. Those kind of games that take a long time to play but do not drive you nuts. Word find books were usually the puzzle books we took and yes an umbrella and flashlights are always needed. Ditto on the power, coffee without waiting for water to heat over campfire sure starts the morning out easier! Good for you not giving up!

  4. Deborah McClure says:

    I grew up camping a lot. We went to the Chimney Tops in the Smokies. No words for all the memories. You will get it all together now after your first fun trip. And make remember when that will last a life time! Sounded so fun just reading this, love it❤️❤️❤️

  5. Krista says:

    Love your post! I can totally relate to your situation since it has happened to me a couple of times. With our worst camping rainstorm the whole family was in tents. Many of those tents flooded. Luckily our flooding was very minimal. But there is nothing better to put you to sleep then hearing some rain. One of my favorite parts about camping is waking up to the cool fresh air in the morning. I’m glad you decided to stick it out and not give up. This trip will be one of those trips you remember for years to come!

  6. Carol Cunningham says:

    Love this!!! And so glad you journeyed anyway!! For the best fire starters, use a cardboard dozen egg carton, fill each egg slot with non-chemical hamster bedding (real shavings and has no epoxy) and pour melted wax in each. This travels well and you will need only two “eggs” for each fire. Great for both charcoal and wood fires!

  7. Deborah says:

    Your writing is eloquent and engrossing–thank you for sharing this story. I long for such trips w my granddaughter!

  8. Sylvia Jacobus says:

    I realized this year, we’ve never cooked anything on an open fire since we started camping with the grandkids. I do live in the Northwest. We do camp on the coast–rain, wind, hail, did I say wind! We had a fire last long enough that we did a round of smores. That’s it. We’re heading inland this year, wish us luck. I am dying to use my cast iron stuff on an open fire.
    I truly felt your pain…..

  9. Judy from Maine says:

    Camping memories is what it is all about. I could share so many “rainy camp stories”…they’d include worms in our shoes and make do garbage bag porta potties! Oh for a map to the outhouses that night…as to fire starters, an old Girl Scout trick works every time, just cut old taper candles into one inch chunks and wrap them taffy style in wax paper. Light the wax paper ( a cinch even in the rain) and you’ll have a nice warm fire going in no time. The upside, no residue is left from the starter and you are “recycling” your worn out tapers.
    Thanks for sharing your adventure, it got me remembering all my “good” times camping.

  10. Ruth says:

    Love the story and absolutely LOVE camping! You have got to read “A Fine and Pleasant Misery” by Patrick McManus. We read it on just such a trip (trying to find campground in a deep fog on a winding, one-lane mountain road, dog vomited in the car, heavy rains), and nearly split our guts laughing. While we were camping in our back yard, which is where we ended up.

  11. Rene Marie Foust says:

    I love your stick to itness and your strength and will!!! Sounds to me like you made wonderful memories with your daughter, ones she will never forget. Im so happy that the sun did shine at times.

  12. My hat is off to you! I never would have made it through that trip without a major meltdown. My idea of camping these days is renting a cabin!

  13. Joan says:

    Love the story! and that is why my idea of camping is a nice cabin or a nice motel, ok I know I will miss out on somethings but glad you get to CAMP and share your experience with us. God bless

  14. Lorrie MacKenzie says:

    Your story made me want to go camping again. I haven’t gone in a long time but you reminded me of all the good times I had. I laughed out loud several times reading your post. You and your daughter are an awesome pair of adventurers and so smart to spend the time together. And you’re right, crossword puzzles make people (me) feel stupid. 🙂

  15. Vivian Monroe says:

    Been there, lived through it, the only advice is we learn as we go. My sweetie and I have been camping now for almost 30 yrs together and we started out the same way. ughhh. But now we only have 3 states left to camp in of the inter cont, US. We love camping and I am so glad yall didnt give in to the frustration. Although I am sure it didnt seem like it while it was all happening, you learned alot to be prepared for future trips. KEEP CAMPING.

  16. Linda says:

    Rejoice! It’ll be all the things that went wrong that you and especially your daughter will always remember…fondly. Like the bear outside your tent as a child!

  17. Marlene Capelle says:

    What a perfect camping trip. Rain on a tin roof is one of the best sounds ever.

  18. Will Elliott says:

    Beka, Glad we were unaware of all this.

    Alias,

    (Will Elliott)

  19. Rowena Philbeck says:

    Awesome story but sounds like you did have a wonderful memorable camping trip. I have never been on one that was perfect but they are the most fun I have had..trouble and all. Love your lights too. Very cool. Thanks for the tips about the food too. Have to check in to those.

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