What a nightmare

I can't remember if I mentioned that we were taking the kids camping or not. What a disaster! Not ever going camping again unless we get a camper.

Well we left on Thursday, the campground we stayed at was only 1 town over from us so it was a short 20 minute ride. Thursday wasn't bad weather but was exhausted from getting the tent. canopy, tarps and everything else set up. Also didn't help that the restrooms were up over a big hill. I said to hubby that I'd like a catheter than go up the hill anymore. lol

Woke up to rain Friday morning. Not a drizzle but pouring cats and dogs. To the right of our camp site it looked like niagara falls coming through. Also found out our canopy had a small leak. The kids weren't happy campers and neither was the dog. Hubby left and went home and got more tarps. Came back and those tarps were old and had holes in them. I ended up having to drive down to the store and pick up new ones.

Still cold and wet and everything was damp and raining too hard to get a fire going. Pain went through the roof and thought I was going to die other than the fact it hurt too much. I would have liked to pf had used my heating pad Friday night but hubby only brought 1 extension cord and his CPAP was more inmportant.

Sun was out the rest of the weekend but I got up Saturday and almost every bone in my body hurt. That damp and cold hurt. But managed to get our christmas stuff out before Santa made his appearance. Kids all had a reat time and enjoyed the little gifts they got. Went to the pot luck Christmas dinner and ate way too much. lol

Did manage to get some pretty pics of the sun rising this morning over the mountains and lakes. Lake was covered in a mist seeing as though at 5:30 this morning it was 54 degrees out. We started packing up by 6 this morning. Had breakfast when the campground snack shack opened at 8. Went to leave and my car wouldn't start. Apparently our oldest had been charging her iPod in my car most this weekend and didn't say anything. Had to find some jumper cables so hubby could use his van to get my van started. But still home by 10. I gave up and let the kids and hubby unpack everything. Our youngest laid down and fell back to sleep for an hour and I fell asleep until 3. Woke up to a raging headache on top of everything else.

After camping I guess I have no reason to complain anymore about having to sit at the racetrack on Friday nights so the kids can watch car wars. At least that's only a couple of hours and its not raining.

So my lesson learned is don't be stupid thinking you can still do everything you did in the past. I have to accept that I have limitations and not to push myself and make it worse.

Wow, I must say, that was the worse camping story I have ever heard before. Sorry it was mostly a disaster for you, and a painful one at that.

I joke with people about tent camping (definitely not into that), that why would you want to work hard all week, and live like a homeless person on the weekend, lol.

We have a small travel trailer (23'). We go camping at the lake perhaps 4-6 times a year, and I consider that roughing it with central a/c, heat, microwave, real bathroom and a queen sized bed, and HD TV. Even then, I would prefer to be at a hotel.

Too much work in my condition for the hooking up part to the truck, the leveling part on the other end, and all the connections, etc. And then fighting an awning is another nightmare.

Hope it goes better next time you go.

david

Well I'm seriously hoping it was like a "Christmas in July " or rather August at the campground? Or I'm in worse shape than I thought! Lol

Camping is certainly one of the things I use to love, unfortunately not one I can handle anymore. I've spent a few miserable weekends that sounds much like yours! My 5 at one time didn't seem to be bothered by the rain and mud as I was!! You reminded me of a weekend once that I got so frustrated with the wet muddy campsite I literally dropped the tent on top of itself, loaded kids in the car and went to the nearest motel! Went back Monday and retrieved all our wet camping gear.

At least you ended up with some sun and enjoyed parts of it.

Yes after what you described and what I remember I believe I would shop for a camper or find another recreation since the cold and dampness wreck havoc with our pain.