Evie and I had an enjoyable visit with Christian. As we got twenty or so miles down the road I realized that we missed taking a picture of Christian with Evie, and Evie with his two frisky but enjoyable dogs. Thank you Christian for allowing us to spend the night with you.
Today, July 4th, when we pulled into our campsite at the Delaware Water Gap the weather reminded me our 1992 trip to Newfoundland and our 2000 trip to Kentucky. The first night on the road in 1992 we arrived in the pouring rain. As the boys and Jen remained in the car Evie and I struggled to get the trailer off the hitch followed by blocking the tires and putting down the support legs. By the time Jonathan helped to crank up the trailer I was already soaked to the skin. We carefully pulled the ends out so as to protect the beds and linen from getting wet. I do not think we worried about putting up the awning as our plans were to be on the road early the next morning.
In 2000 we stopped in Missouri for our last night. About four in the morning I awoke as the wind had really picked up. A flash in the distance told us what was coming. The last thing we wanted to have was wet canvass when we returned to Iowa City. Everyone was awoken and commanded to pack. The packing did not need to be orderly, just quick. We no sooner got the top down a half-hour later when the rain started. Ten minutes later the trailer was hooked up and we were on the road without checking the lights, but the canvas was dry.
Today, we arrived and it was just starting to rain. We pulled into our site, found a level spot, quickly went outside, drew the awning down, hooked up the electric and water, got back inside to put the front drapes over the window, turn on the refrigerator and hot water heater, draw down the back blind, open a window that was under the awning and start the front and then back vents. As I sat down with a soda I noticed the alarm was blinking “12:06”…it had been six minutes since the power was turned on which was about three minutes after pulling into the site, if that. Within ten minutes of pulling into the site I was drinking a diet coke. In 1997, ten minutes would have been used up just getting the trailer off the hitch and leveled.
Our two pop-ups were great for us and I loved having them. We traveled far and wide in them. Do I miss them….what do you think? Damp cool rainy weather puts it all into perspective.
Reflective Wanderings - Reflections on various topics that arise out of my personal, life and professional experiences. There are also are some family related news, travels and pictures.
3 comments:
There was also the morning we had to leave Niagara Falls in a hurry with the Coleman pop-up. We packed down in less than 20 minutes and jumped into the car just as the rain started
I've just taken the time to catch up your latest blogs - what an amazing, disciplined experience for Joshua!
I hope that the Crossmen will settle down and, as you say, be a little more consistent. It certainly can be discouraging when you put out 110% and the score do not reflect the effort.
We have had our encounters along the way when it comes to camping and storms. Only once did we pack down semi-wet. Not a bad record for the amount of camping we have done over the years.
What is camping without some rain while either setting up or taking down?!
I am still a tenter so rain is just par for the course sometimes. Nothing is better than sitting in a tent trailer or tent and listening to the rain hitting the roof. The only problem is that when there is a lot of rain there is often a leak...
Enjoy your time away traveling and visitng.
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