So it's July in PA, and the weather was nice. But it got cold. I'll give you the highlights, and the funny bits.
(Pics will be forthcoming.)
I got out of work early Friday. The PUP had been loaded earlier in the week, but we had to load the food, clothes, and doggie into the SUV and hitch up.
The DW had gotten most of the gear out on the back porch, out of the rain, but real easy to load into the TV. Took a little longer, I think I was slow cause of the rain, but we got it all loaded. Then I put the bike rack on the back, and loaded the bikes. Nothing left to do but hitch up the PUP.
(Funny bit) I usually store the ball hitch and pin in the storage under the trunk of the SUV. Guess where it was at this point?!?! Yup, safe and sound, under all our gear.
I quickly pulled off the bikes (leaving the rack), and pulled out just enough gear so I could lift the floor of the trunk and get the hitch. (I keep it in a bag with the pin so it doesn't grease up anything.) Less than 10 minutes to fix, thankfully, and we were ready to hitch.
I found out the DW is very good at getting me lined up to hitch up.
So, it's wet, I'm soaked, but we're loaded and ready to go. A quick change out of my soaking jeans, and we're on the road.
The rain was lightening up, but I'd never towed while loaded with the gear before. I was pretty nervous at every bump, and any time we kicked up a rock I was sure the PUP was falling off the hitch, but everything was fine. (Triple check is sooo important.)
By the time we pull into the CG, the clouds are parting, and we've got a bit of sun. We pull around the loop, and my wife says, 'Is that So-and-so's camper?' (Names changed to protect the innocent. )
(Funny bit) The DW wanted this trip to finally be a camping trip with just us. Sure enough, right behind our site, was the camper of some friends of ours. They had heard where we were camping, and decided to check it out too. It turned out fine, but every morning (we're late risers) we got 'Hey, come on over for coffee' called over to us so everybody around could hear.
I was very careful backing into the site, and with DW's help (she's good at this part too) I got lined up nice and straight on the first try.
(Funny bit) So, it's July, and we're in shorts. We set up in about an hour, and go to chat w/ the friends. We turn in early, since it's getting a bit chilly. And proceed to wake up about every hour as the temp drops about 5 degrees an hour. (I'm guessing. I have to put a thermometer on our gear list.) Musta been in the 50s!!! We had one blanket on the bed, and no sweat shirts packed!!!
We managed to make due, we dug out some throw blankets, and the DW bundled in her jacket and 2 sets of socks the next night. (It was cold then too.)
Our packing up routine needs a little work, but I didn't worry a bit about the PUP on the way home, it handle's great. We even saw another Hyundai Santa Fe pulling a Coleman like ours with bikes in our CG, so I knew our rig would be fine too.
I realized too, that this was my first time ever camping in a trailer!!! And only our fourth camping trip in our 7 years of marriage. But we're planning on 2 more trips this year.
(We'll definitely stock a space heater and blanketS before our October trip!!!)
So, a nice story about our first time. I'll try to think of any other funny anecdotes. Hope you enjoy it.
Again, pics will be forthcoming.
* This post was
edited 07/20/09 12:32pm by mkenyon2 *
MK out of PA, My Wifey, and the queen Chloe, our little Shih Tzu
TV: 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe V6
Trailer: 2000 Coleman Santa Fe
(How about that, 2 Santa Fe's!!!)
Only 1 state? Quick, pack the trailer we have to CAMP!
We didnt have a heater in our last trailer and we got one of those propane Little buddy heaters from Mr. Heater since we do alot of dry camping and that REALLY helped and its safe to use inside and doesnt use to much propane
Congratulations on your first time out. Sounds like you didn't have any "learning opportunities". Well, they WILL come ;-)
I don't know why, but I'm always surprised to find PUPs that don't have furnaces in them. I could see the case for A/C, especially in the northern climates, but ah well.
You might also consider electric mattress heaters (not heating pads). These are full-size mattress covers with heating elements in them designed to go between the mattress and you. Heating pads are not designed that way and can be dangerous when used like that. I would check out the 120v versions found at Walmart/Bed-Bath-Beyond, etc. Of course, this requires shore power.
The twelve volt versions would drain your battery too quickly to be useful and leave you dead in the water when you didn't have shore power.
Keep on camping and enjoy. The Ghosts of Backing Up will teach you some lessons, eventually.
Myself, The Boss, and two wanna-be Bosses
2006 Jayco 1007 Yum...nature is tasty.
Funny about the cold! By day three of freezing weather, our dog decided last Thanksgiving that he would stay in the camper!
Our dog prefers to be outside (obviously) but he had had enough cold temps. It was rather amusing to see him snuggled in blankets and REFUSING to come out.
Thanks for posting the photos! Good stuff!
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
Welcome. If you are camping where there is shore power, don't under estimate the value of an electric blanket. They will keep you warm like no heater can. Have a Wonder Year, and one question Just two more trips ????? Why not 5 or 6
Offline
)
)
