Camping Trip from Hell

Several years ago, when our kids were young, we went camping and discovered that Murphy's Law is very real, indeed. Here are some suggestions to keep you from having the same problems we faced.

1. Make sure your vehicle is up to the trip. We took my old pick-up and towed our little camp trailer. When the transmission froze up, we were in a fix!

2. Choose your camp site carefully... in the daylight. We didn't want to be in a regular campground and found what seemed to be a perfect spot. It was beside a little creek, just off the road (dirt road), with a nicely sheltered place for the trailer. In the morning, we discovered the heavy equipment across the road and got to watch them working on Monday. We found that our nice location was along a quad trail and got to meet plenty of weekend quad riders as they rode through our camp.

3. If you let your kids take a walk, be sure they know where they're going. Ours took of with the dog to follow the little creek and got lost. It took several hours to find them.

4. When you go swimming in a beautiful mountain lake, make sure you don't go barefoot. I found a really nice lure, with the hook attached, with my bare foot. The wife had an awful time getting it out. First aid kits are a good idea, too.

5. Make sure you have a reliable back-up plan. When the transmission went out, I called a friend of mine to come and tow the trailer home first and my truck second. We got about 15 feet before his engine blew a rod.

6. Be careful to have enough provisions, just in case. We were stranded for five days on our two day trip. Graham crackers aren't terrific for dinner, trust me!

7. Cell phones are great! We didn't have one back then, so I had to walk ten miles to the nearest little store to use their outside payphone. It would have been nice if they'd been open for business.

8. Campgrounds may be crowded, but they do have many advantages that you don't think about until it's too late. Give serious thought to paying the small price and dealing with strangers when you go out to enjoy Nature.

9. If you have a trailer for your camping trips, be careful to check the wheels before using it. They can freeze up at the most inconvenient times. Ours locked up when we finally had another friend come to tow it home. About half way, the wheel locked up and caught fire, almost turning our little trailer into a torch. Fire extinguishers are really good to have...

10. Don't forget your camera so you can prove to your boss why you couldn't get to work. Mine wasn't very understanding.

In closing, planning ahead, making sure your equipment is in good shape and having a sense of humor can turn even a disastrous trip into fun.