Camp Backyard and Other Failures

After having Dennis, the previous owner walk me through every step of putting the PUP up and breaking it down, I felt somewhat confident in my abilities. Heck, as a Flight Attendant, if I can evacuate a burning aircraft in 90 seconds or less a tent trailer should be a piece of cake, right?

Ha!

It started with a small victory (which I am thankful for). I towed the trailer by myself. All by my fucking self! I've never towed anything! The drive home I rolled the windows down and gave out a few "yahoo's" and maybe even a "fuck yeah!" Did I back it into the car park? Nope. That is a task I will need to work on.

That night after Huxley was in bed, I set the trailer up. I put up my hanging pantry, stocked the linens, stored my totes, and then had a glass of wine in it. The entire time something felt off. I went out to do a walk around and realized I had a tire on the low end of the parking pad lifted right up. My poor stabilizers were supporting my PUP. This is bad.

Yeah it's a little uneven, buddy.

I turned to my saviour, the Pop Up Portal (http://www.popupportal.com) for advice. Disaster averted, but there would be no Camp Driveway until my levelling issue was fixed. I resigned to break down the trailer the next day until I could level properly... If scrap wood and a cement block can be called proper. I've also bit the financial bullet and purchased a BAL leveller. I'm hoping it will make my life much easier when it comes to a low side tire.

Lessons learned from unsuccessful Camp Driveway:

• Level. Then level again.
• When breaking down your PUP, make sure you have the keys in your pocket. Guess where mine are? In the PUP. Still.
• Close your ceiling vent. Guess how mine is? Open. Still.
• No matter how flat the item is, do not store it on one of your sliding bunks. I figured, "Hey, a table top. No big deal. It's flat. Guess which corner won't latch? That one. Still.

Tonight after Hux is in bed I plan on getting back out there if there's enough daylight. It will be my second time setting it all up solo. I'll be having a beer or four and checking my step by step list. Here's to hoping there is a few less failures and a couple more successes.

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A Pop Up Momma is Born

I'm not exactly sure of where the idea came from, or how the spark of it ignited into a wildfire. I do know that sometime in mid April I started thinking about camping. I started walking through the memories of childhood trips to Kananaskis with my mom, who up until I was eleven years old, was a single parent.

She would pack the two of us up and head out of town on a few of her very select days off and I would spend two or three days playing in the dirt and trees. I would set up booby traps, catch bugs, collect rocks and twigs, and lose myself in imagination the way only a young, solo girl can. It was magical.

As a young, single, childless adult, camping trips of course are much different than those of a child. Beer replaces sticks and rocks, guitar by the fire replaces booby traps, and of course, there isn't much I was imagining about other than boys and smokey tent make outs. Still, the magic was still there for me in its own way.

My son is now over three years old and with summer around the corner, I want nothing more than to give him the experiences camping that I was privileged to. However, I'm not so much into sharing a tent with him, and as a single parent now, the hassle of packing up prior to every trip and going through the tribulations of typical car camping with a tent didn't seem too appealing. My mind started trying to figure out the puzzle of how I would make it work so that it would be enjoyable for the both of us.

I started looking at Kijiji.ca on a whim to daydream about owning a trailer. Purely in good fun I thought. I drive a Mazda 3 hatchback so obviously a trailer would NEVER work... Then I saw tent trailers. I saw their affordability and their size. I saw that you are up off the ground, covered, with a table and chairs and TWO beds! My mind raced and the thought of owning something like this strangely, and quite absolutely solidified.

I've always been the girl who goes after what she wants. Twelve years ago I wanted a dog. Despite having a good job I was laid off in Vancouver, drove back to Calgary and started the search. While still transient and living with my dad, I got Daisy, who is still with us today. Last year I wanted to stop renting and get my son and I into a home I owned. A home with a yard and a neighbourhood to grow in. This year I am in that home and we are slowly making it ours. I wanted a tent trailer and dammit, I was going to get one!

And get one, I did. My Kijiji search lasted less than two weeks and involved seeing 5 trailers. I brought my significant other (who has two girls ages 5&9 from his previous marriage) with me to view the last one, and he too was hooked.

I bought the last trailer I saw from a wonderful family who lovingly used it. I am now the proud owner of a 2004 Flagstaff 208. She's a light and good lookin' gal that can sleep up to 8 (6 comfortably) which will come in handy when my guy and his girls are with us. She's not too big for just my son and I and she is easily towed with my mom's 2006 equinox.

I've already reserved campsites at three different campgrounds for 4 different trips through July and August. I'm excited.

Let the new memories begin!

 

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