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RE: Thank goodness this trip is over, sort of- Long Reort!

Started by AustinBoston, May 12, 2003, 02:58 PM

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fivegonefishing

Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM
 Trip No. 2
 Sandbanks Provincial Park
 
 Wow, this was our worst trip and our best trip!  I?ll report on the ?bad? parts first. We had blown our power steering pump and it was a little tense getting the family to the site in one piece.  It ended up taking us 2 days, about 200 km and $400 to get the pump replaced.  We had three private parks picked out however, because we were there the weekend before the parks officially opened, we didn?t get in.  Luckily, there was a Provincial park, Sandbanks nearby so we stayed there.
 
 We hadn?t been to this park in about 10 years and things were very different.  We pulled up to the main trailer filling station of the park and the water was shut off!  Turns out, the electrical site portion of the park is in a completely separate section of the park, where the filling stations are turned on.  It?s after 9pm by the time we get the tank filled and it?s now very dark.  The hubby just wants to be by a shower house so he can cool off with a shower and shave.  There is only one other family in the park and they are parked next to the shower house so we being the folks we are, pull in just 3 sites over!
 
 It?s pitch dark, the hubby can not see a thing so we are using our FRS radios to get the trailer backed in; keep in mind, this is only our second time out in this trailer.  Well, I wasn?t paying attention to all four corners of the trailer and ended up ripping off one of the orange traveling lights.  We finally get the trailer onto the site, leveled front to back, unhooked, stabilizers down, everything set up and then I realize, we didn?t level side to side!  We put up with the tilt but what a p.i.t.a.
 
 Hubby finally has a chance to for a bathroom brake only to find out the shower house is closed for renovations!  No showers!  He?s not totally upset because we do have a shower in the trailer but we are both rather large people and only really thought our children would be using the indoor shower.  I spent most of Saturday trying to get the van fix and hubby finished on Sunday getting the silly thing fixed.
 
 The rest of the time, this was a great trip.  Son A and I watched a fox cross the field right in front of us, both son?s caught a crappie fish for the first time pretty much all by them selves.  Also, we saw lots of animal tracks, different birds (including an owl), bugs and deer.  Saturday?s dinner (steak cooked over the open fire) was awesome and clean up with the hot water tank is a breeze.  The children were very keen on learning why certain tracks were where and they spent at least 2 hours building a pretty neat stick teepee.
 
 Both hubby and I were able to use the shower (at different times) in the trailer and the kids had a bath Saturday night and loved it.  I was able to use most of the features of the trailer and it did not fail me at all.  We are very glad we made this purchase.  It does take a little longer to get where we want to but we have more freedom and time to enjoy the park and our family more.
 

AustinBoston

#1
May 12, 2003, 02:58 PM
 fivegonefishingCongratulations!
 
 I know I would not want to tow without power steering!
 
 Austin

tlhdoc

#2
May 12, 2003, 09:30 PM
 fivegonefishingTammy it sounds like you had a good trip even though it was rough getting there.  I am glad you had such a good time.

Camping Coxes

#3
May 13, 2003, 05:30 PM
 fivegonefishingTammy --
 
 One of the most important parts of camping -- planning.  You need to know where you re going and what to expect (for the most part.  The unexpected can be fun sometimes, too, as your kids discovered).  Automobile difficulties are impossible to plan for, so I m glad you guys didn t let it ruin your trip.  We ve BTDT, and it s very frustrating.
 
 Something to help the stress level, if you re able to do it, is leave work early on Friday and be ready to head out as soon as you get home (packing Thursday night).  That way you miss some of the traffic and get to your CG early enough to set up in the daylight hours, and you have some relaxation time Friday night.  We ve found this to be the only way to travel.  I realize it s not possible for everyone to do that, but my DH works a little overtime the Mon-Thurs. so he can cut out early on Friday.  We re on the road by 1:00 and usually at our CG by 4:00, set up by 5:00 and relaxing in the lawn chairs.

ForestCreature

#4
May 15, 2003, 10:32 AM
 fivegonefishingDriving with no power steering is not fun....sounds like you got thru the trip  just fine after all!!  A good example of how attitude can either make or break an outing....
 
 I m so glad the Bunkhouse has met all your expectations so far....you ll get many years of enjoyment out of it.
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