52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 27 (THE GREAT OUTDOORS)
Our kids are adults who like the outdoors.
I would like to believe we created this enjoyment with our early camping trips.
Our oldest was 6 months old when he went on his first camping trip.
It was a May Long Weekend family trip that had about 6 families and about 20 people.
My parents were staying in their travel trailer. They were not pleased when Chris and I would not let them take their firstborn grandchild into the trailer with them. They were worried because, as was typical, the weather was cold and wet.
My parents weren't happy when we said he would be fine in our tent, and had to toughen up because we were not delicate campers.
I don't remember it, but Chris says there was actual snow falling over that weekend. Regardless if there was actual snow it was very cold & wet. Our little one was fine snuggled with his parents in the tent.
These annual trips always resulted in tarp town where several tarps were constructed together to keep the entire area mostly free from falling rain.
There was an unofficial fishing derby - Chris won that first year with this one!
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| 1996, Pregnant with our second - we were still camping in a tent |
Our youngest was only 2 months old for his first camping trip in a tent.
Several years later we bought that travel trailer from my parents.
As the years passed we became delicate campers looking for comfort.
That trailer traveled across BC and Alberta, and I took great delight in having my own bathroom on the road.
One of the highlights from those years was our trip to Drumheller.
We stayed in a very nice campground by the river.
Later we sold the trailer to buy a motorhome so we could tow our boat.
We were a one vehicle family, and it didn't take me long to realize that the motorhome was insured all year round because of our fair weather on the WEsT Coast, and I could use if for errand running.
I certainly never thought a motorhome would become my ride of choice, but it shockingly worked well once I learned how to navigate the size.
One year I took it to the end of homeschool year Sports Meet. The pop-up coffee shop was a hit with the parents, and the kids loved the frozen treats.
Finding a parking spot for errand running wasn't always easy, but the grocery store was never a challenge.
Chris worked 4 on/4 off - which left us able to go away for all of his days off.
When we arrived home from one trip I restocked for the next trip.
We enjoyed 'boon docking' with the comforts the motorhome provided, and tried to convince ourselves we were roughing it.
Our oldest believed we were because he couldn't find consistent cell coverage.
One year we put the motorhome away for winter, and in the spring never woke it up.
Over that winter our kids developed interests that left them unable to go away
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| Back left with sunglasses and beige shirt Expedition Instructor, Cadet Camp, Vernon |
The motorhome became an eyesore in our driveway.
Last year we had it towed to the dump.
It was nice to see the broken down motorhome depart the driveway.
We will fondly remember our outdoor adventures that built a foundation of outdoor love in our kids.
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Photos:
Personal
Sources:
BOONDOCKING 101, Tips from Cortni Armstrong, The Flipping Nomad. Keystone RV. Retrieved July 1st 2023 from
https://www.keystonerv.com/keystone-life/boondocking-101
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/
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