PART I of Camping

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Well, we have returned from our camping trip safe and sound. Boooo-hooooo!!!!!

Where to begin...well, aside from only one day of rain, the weather was absolutely gorgeous! We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful week.

Our one fateful day of rain, well, it must have started raining at about 3:00am on Friday morning. One of those steady rains that could last for what seems like days. We awoke at about 7:45am, still steadily raining, to very little wetness inside the tent because of all those tedious hours we put into waterproofing and seam sealing up both tents. Work well worth it the week before. Our son was less fortunate as he had buried himself into a corner of the tent and his pillow and bag were pretty soaked. Ironically, that morning was the latest that he slept all week, until about 9:30am. I couldn't figure that one out.

To make a long story short, well, it stopped raining, we made breakfast, dried out our camping chairs, hung out the wet stuff that we did have, I took a shower to warm up and get some dry clothes, and the minute I stepped foot onto our campsite soil, it started to downpour again. This cycle went on for about 6 hours and about the time I was ready to say, lets just go home, Patrick came to the rescue with the suggestion that we go drive somewhere and quit playing this game with the weather.

Of course, we make a decision to go somewhere and what should greet us about 1/2 hour into our drive but sun light. We felt that we had fooled the weather...hehehehe. By about 3:45 in the afternoon, we were finally able to settle down and begin the work of drying out.

We had a few visitors as well. We brought our dogs with us. What a roller coaster that was. We have 'Reggie the Retriever' and 'Brooks the Beagle' (named after the late great 1980 US Olymipic Hockey Team Coach, Herb Brooks).

On the first night Reggie decided he was going to get out of our tent and go for a stroll. He visited a few other campers at about 6:00am and thank God they were happy to have him and our dog is friendly.

Anyway, on the second night, Pat and I took a stroll to the bathroom at about 10:00pm. We had forgotten to put the dog food in the van and had completely forgot that we forgot. Our oldest daughter starts yelling across the campground, "Mom, Mom, there's racoons eating the dog food and they're figting over it". Pat and I chuckled, said 'oh sh**, we forgot about the dogfood' and picked up the pace a little. We got there, the coons scrambled up the tree, Pat snuck in for the dog food, put it in the van and we took the flashlight for a peek at the little critters.

All told, there was a mama and 3 babies staring down at us. I am not too keen on wild animals. They do scare me, especially racoons as I have been within feet of them when they fight and it is not a pretty sound. Anyway, this particular family had found a regular hangout once the kids and dogs were in their beds at night and Pat and I sat by the fire playing cribbage.

On one night, we had the dogs out with us and boy, what 'wonderful protectors' they were. They slept right through all the noise. I had to actually pull Reggie from his slumber and point his head towards the animals in order for him to see them. But in the act of doing so, the clanking of his tags proved to be of great assistance. The racoons did not like that and took off for the woods. Of course only about 5 feet in in order to await their next attack. The next time I clanked the tags though, well, the coons could've cared less. They kept right on getting closer to us.

We also had our long time friend Tom come for an afternoon. I believe it was on Monday or Tuesday? We have never had guests come to our camping ventures before so this was a great treat! I would have to say that he probably got a much clearer picture of what kind of a family we are when we are all relaxed and carefree thanks to our kids. Him and Pat took the kids and one dog to this great sandbar on the St. Croix River to go fishing and swimming. The deepest water was roughly 3 feet deep. Of course, there is a pathetic side to this story.

Reggie, the Retriever. One would think that a Golden Retriever, bred from hunting lines, would be able to swim like nothing. HA, what a funny thought when it comes to our dog. I have NEVER seen a more clumsy dog in the water than my dear Reggie. He swims with only his front paws and anyone not wanting to get wet best stay clear. It is as if he's drowning or something. Our kids were trying to teach him to swim and wound up with a few claw marks on them.

All in all, it is a great sight to see and worth many laughs and much sympathy. But they all had fun. We had lunch and dinner with Tom, him and Pat talked guy talk while I did my crossword book and chimed in here and there, they had a couple of beers and he left.

But if you read this Tom, Thanks for coming up. It was a great day and really nice to share that part of us with you. Glad you enjoyed the burgers too. Oh, and thanks for all the candy and beef jerky. Everyone enjoyed it greatly!!!!!!!

I will stop at this point and start a new entry as this will get too long. But that is just part of the trip.

Hope you enjoyed this segment.

Written by louie0768 .