Maiden Trip - 2008

We took our first trip this weekend - FINALLY! Last year we had been at least 3 times by Memorial Day weekend. Had a little excitement - some major storms rolled through our area. In fact, there were several tornadoes and at least 6 fatalities. We were fortunate - neither our home nor where we were camping had anything major. We did see some marble sized hail though - a little daunting when you are in a camper!

Other than that - it was a very relaxing weekend. My sister and I had a new spot to camp in! Last year we camped across the way from my parents but there was no water or electricity handy. This year, to our surprise, new hookups were ready and waiting when we pulled in. MUCH handier! :)

On the menu:
Friday night - chicken fajitas, Saturday noon - brat patties, Saturday night - spaghetti and french bread, Sunday morning - Pop Tarts, Sunday noon - pizza pockets, Sunday night - leftovers!, Monday morning - baggie omelets.

I also did something I swore I wouldn't do - took a TV and DVD player camping. Last year we brought the portable DVD player in from the car a time or two but never had to make room for a TV. I decided it would be nice if we got bad weather and MAN was I right on that one! We also got a toaster oven which came in very handy when we had spaghetti. Of course Saturday morning found me fashioning a TV stand out of scrap wood. I wound up moving the fridge on top of the end table, putting the DVD player on top of the fridge and setting the new stand over the DVD player. Worked out quite nicely! I'll have to take pictures on our next trip out. Forgot the camera at home this weekend.

Things forgot: Kleenex, cooking spray, dish soap and hand soap. Nothing too traumatic. Borrowed dish soap from my Mom and sister and found a bar of soap in the toiletries kit that worked almost as good as liquid hand soap (which I prefer because it doesn't leave a gloppy mess on the counter top).

And finally - Hunter proved himself to be an AMAZING helper! The two of us put the camper down at home, set it up at the campground and put it back down again. We actually have it down to somewhat of a science!

Soooo Ready

I am ready ready ready to go camping but the weather just isn't cooperating. We were going to try to go this weekend but it's supposed to be cold and rainy...yuck! Given the fact that it's rained for weeks on end and the ground is already muddy, it doesn't sound like much fun.

Next weekend we have a graduation reception 4 hours away, so that's out. Looks like Memorial Day will be our first weekend out!

Eep!

Funny how I went the whole summer without updating this anymore...Guess we got so busy camping, I didn't have time to write about it!

In all, we camped 15 nights in 2007. Shooting for many more in 2008! We spent time at Clayton Hills, Backbone and Vinton. Our final trip for the year was Boomtown USA - a fireworks show and campout in Vinton, Iowa. The show was AMAZING and the weather was just right.

Memorial Day!

Our family enjoyed another great weekend of camping over Memorial Day (and who doesn't love those extended weekends!)

After some initial confusion as to where our campsite was, we got setup fairly quickly. My sister camped with us and it was her first time setting up her new camper, so we helped her out some. Nothing major - just working out some kinks. We discovered early on that our neighbors had FOUR dogs with them, but Cooper for the most part ignored them. We were pretty worried that we were going to have a weekend full of barking!

Friday night we completely and totally cheated - we ran into town for pizza! It was almost 8:00 by the time we got everything set-up and no one felt like cooking. I tell you what...it was delicious!

Saturday, we woke up to cloudy skies. We got a little rain off and on during the day, but nothing unbearable. We did make a quick trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a grate for the fire ring. Unfortunately, Clayton Hills doesn't have grates over their fires and we like to do most of our cooking on the fire. We bought a $10.00 grill replacement grate and propped it up. It worked fairly good!

Saturday night brought karaoke! My sisters and I even wound up singing! (We had a little liquid courage in the form of some Busch Light). It was probably one of the more redneck events I have been to, but also one of the funner things I have participated in. My Dad and Uncle Rod sang (beautiful voices) and a lot of people sang that probably shouldn't have (my sisters and I most likely in that group.) I tell ya - if you have never sang karaoke while camping, you're missing out.

Merry and Sid (aunt and uncle from Texas) were camping this weekend. They left Sunday morning for the next leg of their journey. They are a retired couple that spent a few years traveling and have now settled in Texas. Was nice to see them again!

Sunday, we made our best score yet! The people across the way from us were selling their grilling system. We got the grill, post arm, carrying case and carrying tube for $30.00! Toby, Hunter and I went fishing and we used the new system to fry our fish for supper. It worked awesome! Emily went shopping with my sister Jessie. She just isn't into fishing!

Monday morning looked a little gray and rainy, so we decided to get around fairly early and come home. Can't wait for the next trip!

Menu:

Friday
supper - pizza!
Saturday
breakfast - cereal
lunch - hot dogs and brats
supper - chicken fajitas
Sunday
breakfast - pancakes and sausage
lunch - hot dogs and brats
supper - fresh fish
Monday
breakfast - whatever anyone scrounged up!

Mods Completed:

Moved the stacking shelves into the cupboard (put them side by side) and used them to stack dishes.
Bought a shelf for a $1.00 at a garage sale on the way home from Prairie. Put in on the counter top.
Hung a 3-tier basket from the door track.

I'll try to get pictures taken of these things and post them soon...
Also maybe some karaoke pictures. :)

Mods Continued

Finished up on the mods this weekend.

• Added S-hooks to the awning to hang the tacky lights from. While we had the awning out, I replaced the cords as they were getting old and grungy.


• Made a second shelf for the other bunk.

Pictures are in my Webshots album. I was going to put the pictures here, but Webshots wasn't playing nice! :)

I think we are all ready for Memorial Day!

Mods Completed

Last night I was in the mood to be "handy" so I went out and worked on the camper a bit.

• Installed a power bar under the table. There is only one plug in there and we are continually having to crawl underneath and switch things around.
• Ran an extension cord under the bench seats to the end table. I have wanted to set the radio there the last few trips, but haven't had power. I clipped the cord up so it won't get in the way.
• Made a shelf for the bunk end. (I'll post pics).
• Installed two shelves over the kitchen sink. (Installed is being a little generous - all I did was clip the shelves together and stick them up!)
• Installed a bullseye level on the roof of the camper.

I'll try to get some pictures of everything tonight. I would like to make another shelf for the other bunk, but I ran out of hooks.

Clayton Hills

Took another trip this weekend - this time to Clayton Hills (formerly known as J-Wood). It was so neat being there again as this was the campground my family ALWAYS went to when I was a kid. I can't believe how much it's changed though. They took out the swimming pool (a long time ago due to insurance reasons) and have made a lot more permanent spots. The area that we always camped in is now all permanent. In a way it's too bad because it really takes away from the weekend people but I can see in the long run where the campground is coming from - the money is guaranteed from the permanents.

But back to the trip! We all went in one vehicle this time and Emily brought a friend. We got to the campground around 6:30 and were all setup by 7 or so. We made chicken fajitas for supper (again - so yummy and so easy!) then Toby started a fire. I ran to Wal-Mart and got the rest of the groceries we needed for the weekend. Came back, cleaned up and went to bed!

Saturday, Toby and his Grandpa went fishing. The kid's and I just hung out at the campground. The girls spent a lot of time walking around and Hunter did a lot of bike riding and exploring! We had hot dogs and brats on the grill for lunch. I don't know why, but those ALWAYS taste sooo much better when they are cooked and eaten outside! When Toby got back from fishing, he ran Vanessa home. We had a "community supper" meaning us and three other campers ate together. We did chicken breasts on the grill, hashbrowns, corn and rolls. It was all so good!

Cooper provided us with a repair opportunity. He was in the camper and decided the best way to get out was through the side! We wound up tearing a zipper open. The zipper went back together with no problem but the bottom that slides into the pull fell off. We sewed it together with some upholstery thread. (Thank God for repair kits!)

Got a surprise thunderstorm in the middle of the night! Woke up to thunder and lightening! Thankfully, it didn't last all that long. We did learn that our camper has NO leaks! Yay!

Sunday morning, Toby and I made a quick trip to the river for some fishing. We caught 30 Blue Gill and came back home. The kids had been snacking while we were gone so they didn't want any lunch. We started the process of packing up and before long we were ready to head home.

Another fun weekend camping!