Uma's First Camping Trip - Day 2...

DAY 2…Fourth of July started sunny and beautiful! The sun was shining; the birds were singing; and the campground was blissfully quiet. Dad says coffee by the river at sunrise is a wonderful thing.  I don't drink coffee but sunrise by the river was pretty pissa!

After breakfast we drove to Dixville Notch to do a little hiking. We cannot do long hikes – my parents aren’t in as good shape as I am. Me, I could walk all day! We did a short, but very steep hike up to Table Rock. Table Rock is just what you think it is - a big, flat rock that sticks out the side of a mountain. You can walk out onto Table Rock but we didn’t. The last part of the trail was too steep for me. Mom was going to try it but another hiker said it was quite windy out there. Mom is not the most graceful person so she decided to take a picture from the viewing area instead!

Mom used the hike as an opportunity to practice her compass reading skills. This is really hysterical because she has the worst sense of direction! Mom says she is geographically challenged. The good thing is, if you ask her which direction to go, she is completely wrong about 99% of the time! So, if you are ever lost with my mom, ask her which way to go. Turn 180; and head in the opposite direction. You’ll be at your destination in no time!

After hiking we went back to camp. On the drive we passed this. Yup, Errol Int’l Airport is what it says. Hilarious! We had a little lunch, and took a nap in the sun. Dad can’t sit still for long so we took a walk around the campground. What a nice place! (If you are a tent camper, site 42 is the one for you!) Everyone is so friendly! We met people from all over New England. We even met 2 guys who rode motorcycles all the way from Connecticut! Lots of people who camp have dogs. I noticed that because I don’t really like other dogs. I had a very lonely childhood and don’t know how to relate. Mom and Dad try so hard to help me but it’s difficult. Too bad because I would get to go to so many more places. I’ll keep trying!

Uma's First Camping Trip - Day 1...

DAY 1…Dad brought home a little house on wheels. He said it was an RV. He said we were going to hook it up to the truck and take it on a vacation. I’m skeptical but what the heck! Dad borrowed the RV from a friend. Unfortunately, it had been sitting for about a year and needed some work. It took days for Mom to clean it and for Dad to fix all the broken parts. Seems like a lot of work just for a weekend getaway. Actually, it probably was not. Dad is always looking for something to fix and Mom is always looking for something to clean! Anyway, Dad said the hard work was our gift to the family who loaned the RV to us.

Of course, Mom and Dad decided to take this trip at the last minute, so there was lots of rushing around. Mom made list after list of things to bring; clothing, food, cooking stuff. Don’t forget my things Mom! Since this was so last-minute (typical!) AND July 4th weekend, my parents couldn’t find a campground with any openings. Finally they found a state park waaay up in NH with 1 RV site left. The reason they had an opening was because the largest RV site was for a 20 footer – good thing that’s what we had! The park is called a primitive campground. Basically a patch of grass, a firepit, and a picnic table; no hookups (that means no electricity or water but we brought our own), no showers (brought our own) and pit toilets (brought our own, thank goodness! It was a long drive but I didn’t mind. I slept most of the way. Mom did too. If it’s moving, we are sleeping. Makes a long drive for poor Dad! Good thing he likes to drive!

The campsite was great! It was right on the Androscoggin River and there was no one else in our section. It was like we had the whole place to ourselves! There were a few moments of panic when Dad realized there was no electricity in the camper (it has a battery for power). No electricity means no pump; no pump means no water; no water means no washing or flushing! In a 20’ tin can on a hot summer weekend that would have been a bad thing!! Thank goodness it was just a loose connection and disaster was averted.

After setting up we had some lunch and took a little nap. We missed the parade in Errol but went into town for fireworks at sunset. I had never been to fireworks before and did not like them at all! Between fireworks and other dogs (I don’t like dogs either) I was pretty stressed so Mom and Dad had to take me back to the truck. At least they could still see the fireworks while I sat safely inside.

Back at camp 10pm is quiet time. We all had a long day so we got ready for bed. I wanted to sleep on the bed with my Dad but that got vetoed immediately! Dad packed my favorite dog bed so it was OK. I settled down quickly. I needed my sleep so I would be ready for hiking (a.k.a. squirrel chasing) in the morning.