Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Camping Trip Malfunction

Although we picked the hottest, most humid weekend to camp, we went.  Even though the air conditioning wasn't working in the truck, and it was to be 90°F.

It was our first time to go camping at this beautiful, scenic campground.  Waterfalls, long hikes, horse riding - the works.


Meals were super simple this time, and hiking shoes were donned.  Two took off work, one taking the entire weekend off, and two were taken out of school for a day.

We packed up coolers, bicycles, chairs, and tables.

Two hours or so into our 3 hour drive, and we stopped at a gas station.  A guy starts waving at us.  Hubby says, "now what?"

Hubby gets out and then shakes his head.
  That was the end of the trip.  We spent hours driving around, calling around and we could not find a truck to haul the camper back.  The hitch broke. We were lucky we stopped.  We called friends and family, but they all work.  It was Friday.  No luck there either.


We didn't have a jack to get the darn thing unhooked, so Hubby walked to a nearby store (3 times) to get straps to hold the hitch to the truck, just to get it to a nearby parking lot to un-hitch (if we could locate a jack).

We ran into a few men who helped, but I suggested we put the front camper jacks up to lift it up enough, and it worked.  Then we ran around unpacking what we needed from the camper, letting the store know the camper would be sitting there for a few more hours.

Once we were back on the road again, one of the girls said, "did someone crank the camper back down?"

Back we went.  Sweaty, hot, upset and moody.  Very moody. I'm glad she said something.  The camper was not only cranked up enough to open the door, but she left the door wide open.  We cranked it down and took both the jack and camper cranks with us.

On the way home, we finally get a hold of someone to take Hubby back and fetch the camper. By this time it was rounding 4pm, and I had already called and cancelled the reservations.      

Hubby hollers out the truck window, "hey, he's says we can borrow his truck if you want to go back and camp."  It was another 3 to 3 1/2 hours to go back.  I said no.  I was tired, exhausted and horse riding closed at 4pm anyway.  Yeah, we didn't try and get another camping site and go back.  The kids were upset, but at that point my head ached, my stomach churned.  We unpacked everything, and everyone sulked for the next few hours. 

It was the vacation from h-e-double hockey sticks that wasn't a vacation.  

Hubby returned with the camper around 7:30pm.  I gifted the driver, which happened to be Hubby's nephew, a bottle of wine for his help.  

We unloaded all the food and bedding.  We were starving.  Half of the food to make the meals had still been in the camper. We were packed like sardines coming home, so we had to leave it behind.   

The kids bounced back.  They all went to Cosmic bowling at 9pm.  It's where you bowl with a strobe light and black lights.  I guess they had a good time.  
  

5 comments:

Mama Pea said...

A big disappoint for everyone, I know, but it could have turned out worse. What if the camper had come loose while going down the highway? Ugh, that could have been nasty in so many ways. Glad there was no serious damage . . . other than upset kids . . . and parents.

RB said...

Thank God everyone got back home safe and sound.
Last vacation I took, about 20 minutes after getting to the campground, I got the trots and in my haste to get to the campground restroom, I fell down the camper steps and broke a foot. Shortest (and most painful) vacation ever...
Prayers you have a better weekend, and a safe one too.
God bless.
RB
<><

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea you are so right.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Thank you RB, your short vacation sounds painful too.

Sam I Am...... said...

It could have been much worse if that trailer had let loose and hit someone behind you. Glad everyone got home safe and sound and there will always be another time.