Sunday, August 26, 2007

Do we know how to pick 'em?

...or do we know how to pick 'em?

Day 1: We pulled up Saturday evening and the clouds were looming overhead in preparation for rain. My mom, dad, and brothers were out at the conference grounds, and we thought it would be a fun family week to camp as it has been at least ten years since my last adventure.

After a short walk, the sky opened and buckets of water started drenching us. Our enthusiasm got the better of us, however, and we decided to go exploring anyway- finding the candy store, pool, playground, beach, tennis courts, basketball- lots of fun things to do when the rain cleared. Walking back to the campsite, the general concensus was that camping is just not camping without a fire- rain or not. Sitting under an umbrella (all of us now soaked clear through), we pulled out the starter wood and sticks to roast marshmellows, smores, hot dogs, etc. Isn't camping so much fun?

Day 2: Sleep did not go well last night. Josh, Jamie, Kayden, two dogs, lightening, thunder, and a plastic sheet on a full size bed led to lots of looking at the ceiling hoping for sleep to come. Ready to face a new day of God's nature, we set off to the showers and came out to...more rain.

Day 3: Raining again. Supposed to clear up soon. Might as well go home until it stops.

Day 4-5: Woke up to rain. Drive back to Grand Haven in the hopes it will be a nice day only to find the worse thunderstorm of the season on the horizon. Thinking it is better to be at home than in a trailer park in case of tornado, head home. In the rain.

Day 6: Officially the worst week for camping ever. Cursing the trailer, the fire, even the little spotted dog that runs by dripping wet. Trailer accomodations are tight, and we are all crabby. And wet.

Day 7: End of camping. You guessed it....more rain. Ended camping as we began. Sitting in the rain by the campfire.

Day 8: The rain finally clears... just as the trailer pulls out of the park.

Could possibly have ruined camping for me for life. My dad said that this was one way to make his single week of vacation feel like two.

4 comments:

Laurie said...

So sorry Jamie! We got over 5 inches of rain last week. Great for the grass, not so great for camping. This should make you feel better - our friends rented a cottage for big bucks and were there Sat.-Sat. too. At least you didn't spend too much money? :(

Anonymous said...

What a bummer....I had made the comment this weekend on what a miserable week it was for anyone that picked that week for camping :)

(My idea of roughing it is a 3 star hotel)

Joan

Anonymous said...

oh Jamie, how crappy! I can attest that every year we've camped, with the exception of this year, it had rained...every...stinkin ....day.

I laughed when I pictured your whole family laying there willing sleep to come....too funny!

Unknown said...

And I thought it was bad not being able to send the boys outside because of the rain. You had it much worst and I don't think I would have stuck with it all week - good for you.

It does make you appreciate your bed at home much more LOL