The Maiden Voyage

As some of you may know, at the beginning of March, we purchased ourselves a little pop up camper.
To call it new would be a joke...it is a 1993 Jayco - but in great shape. Seriously, it only has one thing that needed repaired and that was a seam on a seat cushion.

We had been debating when we were going to take our first trip. We knew we needed a trial run before the week long vacation we are taking this coming summer.

So - we packed up this past Friday and took her to a local lake and state park about 30 minutes from our home.

When I said packed, I mean stuffed to the gills. I wanted to open up the camper and store the items that would stay in the camper while we were home. Hubbs said no. So we shoved EVERYTHING in the Durango - including the kids and the dog - and set off. We were so stuffed, John IV had to cross his legs in his seat and not move.

On the way there, John IV watched the sky the entire time. He didn't want it to rain. He was begging for it not to rain - really WILLING it not to rain.

Once we got on the site we were allowed to pick our own spot. No one had reservations - so we were pointed in the right direction, given a map, and told to come back and let them know what site we had.
So we got to the site and were stoked it was directly across from the playground and the bath-house. When you have a kid who needs to use the bathroom every 30 minutes when his meds wear off - he was happy to!

We get pulled in and get the most important things unpacked...the kids and the dog. John IV took his brother over to the swings and swung him for at least 30 minutes. Sparky - well - he took a different stand on things....

We have no idea why he felt the need to STAND on the table - but he did. We told him to get down numerous times...but he liked it up there. I can only think that the ground was a bit wet - and he was displeased. He was very anxious, and not sure what was going on.

But he was happy as soon as Andrew and John started eating dinner - and Andrew's 'uh-oh' hot dogs made it to Sparky's dinner plate.

Going to Scales lake was a good choice. As we were coming in, we were surprised by a stampede of mini horses and goats. Literally, they came bursting out of the woods as we were driving by. Apparently, the animals they have in the petting zoo are allowed to run free. Who knew!

After we set up camp, and allowed the children to
play to their hearts content, we convinced them to go on a walk with us. Now we didn't have room for bikes or ride on toys, but we should next time. So John IV had to walk - and heaven forbid - not be carried. We made our way to the petting zoo to see the mini horses, ducks, goats, donkeys, peacocks, chickens and rabbits. To say the animals didn't like Sparky is an understatement. The loathed him. Sparky wanted a taste....


Andrew was very unsure - as he had never seen the animals up close. John IV was sure that no one liked him and the world was out to get him - a very common statement from him these days.



This picture really doesn't do the scene justice. What you are missing are the sound effects from the kid - the high pitched wail of fear coming from around the paci....PACI?? Now many of you know my theory on paci's - they are given at bedtime, at nap time or any time my child goes to the doctor. Andrew was running on a one hour nap - and he normally gets about 4.5 hours of a nap a day. To say he had a short fuse - well that would be correct. What made Andrew even more angry was the way this beast was following him. He was not happy with it at all.....we as parents thought it was priceless....a 1 year old being stalked by a mini - horse....film at 11...

When we got back to the camp site, it was decided that we needed to make a fire. By this time, it had started to sprinkle, but it had been doing that all day.

Since Scales Lake has primative campsites - you are allowed to go gather wood. So we went to gather. Me, being the cheap person I am, couldn't see myself spending $4 on wood when there was perfectly good wood just sitting there...and it wasn't like we had anything else to do, right?
(side note - I just read the rules again - apparently you AREN'T allowed to collect firewood...um....oops...)

It started out as my oldest son being told to go gather wood. He picked up sickly weedy looking sticks and promptly asked if he was done. My husband would get irriated with him, push him into the woods and tell him to go gather logs.

He still didn't seem to get the idea of what he needed, so as hubbs started the fire, John IV and I took off into the woods. I explained what the difference between branches, logs, rotted wood, green wood, and wood that we really wanted. He understood, but got bored quickly. I think he would have been more motivated if I would have had some marshmallows to roast at a later time in the evening. But he did good - we had more than enough wood gathered to have ourselves a fire for roasting hot dogs. The kids were amazingly hungry and wanted hot dogs NOW....so out came the roasting sticks and the hot dogs....

And something I learned - don't ever let your 7 year old roast your hot dog. I took the two he was roasting for his brother and himself, and started to prepare it. When I got my hot dog back - I realized it had been rubbed across the logs....and while I was expecting a nice crispy hot dog, I was not expecting ashes with that first bite. Yea...lets just say that was a one bite meal. I quickly went and got the hamburger to fix burgers for me and hubbs....and was shocked to see my older son eat one as well.

While I was frustrated we couldn't bring bikes and ride on toys due to the space issue, the kids found plenty of things to do. Right past the Durango in this picture is the playground. John IV was there with all the other kids - digging in the sand and playing pirates. Andrew, seemed to have fun with all of the sticks and rocks and the endless possibility to bang them on the table. I should have kept count of how many times we said 'No, we don't eat rocks.' I know he tasted quite a few, even tried to put some in his ears....but hey, it is dirt that makes a strong immune system, right? He was also told at least 100 times that the fire was hot...and to stay away. He did stay away from the fire pit, as he understands the word hot.

The night was winding down for us....you can read that as it was 5:30 and the kids were fed and tired. But the outside world does not stop simply because your kids are tired. We took the kids in the camper and convinced them it was bed time....yea right.

For starters, it was cold. During the day, it was chilly. Not so chilly that your nose is running chilly, but enough for you to wish the sun was out. But with night falling, it was getting pretty cold. But thanks to my wonderful planning, we had a space heater that actually kept us pretty warm that night.

We got the boys changed into PJ's and got Andrew into bed. He was very hard to get to sleep, as this wasn't home, this wasn't his bed and he could hear kids outside playing. But once he laid down with daddy for a minute, he was out.

John IV thought that I had brought the DVD player - and I didn't. He was bummed, but decided to go out and hang out with his dad at the camp fire. All the noise, the traffic in and out, caused Andrew to wake up....

And then the real fun started.

The real fun involved us not knowing that we had taken someone's spot. Remember back at the beginning of the story when the lady told us that there were no reserved spots, what was open, was open. But apparently, there was an un-written rule that we didn't know. That spot 75 was 'Bob's spot.' Well, Bob didn't get there until 7pm. We were there at 1. Sorry Bob.

With us taking that spot, I guess that gave Bob the right to be a total jackass. He would have fit right in with the petting zoo.

Bob preceeded to get REALLY DRUNK. And in getting drunk, he got his friends, all of the campers on the OTHER side of us, to get really drunk to.
He turned his radio very loud - and blared his music for as long as he wanted to.

Now I am sure you are thinking - why didn't any one do anything? Well, people did. People called the conservation officer numerous times. And he came by numersous times. And they would turn it down....until he left. And then Bob would yell and scream and curse and say that he had until 10:59:59 to be as loud as he wanted, as quiet hours went into effect at 11pm.

Now - he is right - quiet hours go into effect at 11pm. HOWEVER, the rule of common sense tells someone that if you are occupying public space together, you are respectful of how your actions effect their space. Bob lacked common sense. Scratch that - Bob did NOT HAVE COMMON SENSE. And Bob was RUDE....plain and simple - RUDE.

The night was filled with us waking many times. Andrew could not sleep due to the noise outside, and he was happy to sit and play peek-a-boo by himself....it was adorable. He would cover his head up, shake his head no a few times, giggle, and pull it off...and do the whole thing over again. He did this for about 45 minutes, while we giggle silently in the dark. One time we woke was due to Andrew falling out of bed....the good thing - it was about 5 after Midnight - and his scream was soooo loud that I am sure it woke Bob next door....hehehehehehehee....

I woke every time someone moved. Much like a boat, when 1 person moves in the camper, the entire camper moves.

The dog did not understand the point of laying still....

Morning came early....John's meds wore off, Andrew woke when John got up to go to the bathroom a few times....and I finally gave in. I got up, walked the dog, and came back to start breakfast. I had the fore-thought to get all the pancake mix together and premeasured....with the help of an electric skillet, we had some of the best home made pancakes this side of the Mississippi.

We were stuck in the camper that morning due to the rain. After a quick peek on the internet (on our phones) we decided to pack it in. We loaded up in the pouring rain and came home....to nice dry digs...with microwaves and couches. Andrew slept most of the morning away.

It was a great first run. We realized everything we forgot, but could do with out on this trip. We are looking forward to being able to go again in a few weeks, hopefully with better weather this time....

And with out further ado - pictures that are just too cute not to post!



Andrew had just seen the playground and was sooo excited. His face says it all!

Andrew and his new skill - Pointing...and asking 'DIS??'

He was playing peek -a- boo with us through the fence. Granted this was the duck pen, and not the horses...for good reason....

We had a great time....and we will have an even better time next time...hopefully with out the rain!