R & R anyone?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Marley and Me’ then you know all about our dogs. Unruly, high maintenance but very cute and sweet at the same time. Add a toddler to the mix and I had an idea of how our first camping trip in over 3 years would go but being a `glass is half full` kind of gal I hoped for the best... a relaxing, stress-free high inspirational weekend. What I got was a lot of the expected but still some inspiration.



It took me three days of buying things for our new trailer to organize us, the dollar store was a big help. The one thing hubby and I couldn’t seem to get was a 30 amp plug for him to re-do the 15 amp plug that the previous owners put on the 30 amp cord for the 30 amp trailer – a fire hazard. An RV centre and two Canadian Tires didn’t have it which meant no power for the trailer. Also, when we got there the o-ring for the tap to the trailer was no good so this meant we had to go outside each time we needed to use the water to turn it on and off again. The bathroom was good to go, though, so I was happy as a clam about that. That’s all I was really worried about.



My husband works a minimum of 50 hours a week so having the trailer to prepare and move was stressing him out. He was an, um, ‘unhappy camper’ to say the least from Saturday morning until we got home Sunday morning. Which means that I was less than happy, too. Probably the majority of the weekend’s problem right there. The drive there and back was the most joyful part of the trip, for me, since we took separate vehicles.



Our daughter, Willow, was pretty good for us but the dogs... well, I laugh about it now but was mortified at the time... Willow went to sleep with only about 20 minutes of nursing since she was so exhausted and the dogs the same. It was our lab, Winnie, who decided to sleep on her bed for the first time. Our spaniel chose to sleep on our queen-sized bed. Perfect. We actually thought we might get a good nights sleep!



Here’s where the chaos begins. About 2:30 AM I heard the tag jingle on his collar as our lab shook and then our daughter saying, “NOOO” (she must have gotten stepped on or licked) and then, “Mommy I want you” she cried. With no power for the trailer it was pitch black in there. So, I brought her to our room thinking she would nurse and go back to sleep..... oh no. The lab followed, of course. Think about what a lab’s tail looks like – long and strong. It can clear a table. He’s a happy boy and was even happier at the prospect of getting into bed with all of us. The silence of the trailer park was defining but the sound of his tail banging on the metal screen door at 2:30 was enough to wake the dead!! Not just once or a few times but I had to leap out of bed to grab his tail repeatedly and every time I let go it happened again... the panelled walls too.

Winnie

Queen bed, yes, but space for two adults, a toddler, a spaniel and a lab – NO. Not to mention hubby was STILL not too happy. So, my day began then. I took everyone to the kitchen to let hubby sleep.

Willow's first sleeping bag

I did mention inspiration, didn’t I? Seeing how happy Willow was running around the campsite, playing in the dirt, with the pine tree on our site and with her new sleeping bag; reading to her from my Harry Potter book at 3:00 am via flashlight and the beautiful view on the drive home of the rock, trees and deer made it all worth it and hopeful to do it again - with better results.

The way home

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