The Trip of Firsts

Our weekend trip to Henry Horton State Park in Tennessee was a fun trip of “firsts”:

• 1st time we have camped with our old tent camping friends (they were still in tents)
• 1st time the Silverado took us to our destination (more room for bikes, trikes, and scooters)
• 1st use of the McKesh mirrors (wish the instructions had listed the mirrors' swivel tightening screws)
• 1st time the Overlander had ever entertained six preschoolers until the rain subsided (DVDs in the front, board games at the center twins)
• 1st time all three burners have been used at once
• and unfortunately, the first equipment breakdown - the A/C quit.
• So, first time we ever had most of the windows open on a camping trip.

Our three-family camping expedition had six adults watching six children – a pretty good ratio since all the kids were five & under. Although the children seemed to enjoy the great outdoors, my RV toilet also seemed to rank high in fascinating events. Between only being at the park for one full day, and it raining for several hours in the afternoon, we did not do much more than hang around the campsites and the playground. But everyone seemed to enjoy just taking a little time off from structured activity.

The rain subsided near dinner time giving the guys a chance to grill steaks, pork tenderloin, hamburgers, and corn on the cob while the ladies steamed fresh vegetables inside the Airstream. Later, I nearly broke my arm patting myself on the back for my selection of sheet vinyl flooring after the kids discovered all the mud holes left by the rain.

Between the evening’s weather turning cooler than expected, and the bathhouse being several sites away, all the parents took us up on our offer to shower the mud off the kids in the Airstream before retiring for the evening. I was impressed that my nine gallon water heater kept pace with the effort.

Although the air conditioner was DOA at the campground, it really was not needed. In fact, I am quick to turn it on because all but one of my windows are the original Corning tempered glass, and I am really scared about breaking one. Normally, if I need more air than just the roof vents & screen door can provide, I will open my one, all-but-bulletproof Lexan window to let more air in. The A/C going out was good in a way since I came to terms with “Enjoy the Airstream. If a window breaks, it breaks. Replace it & move on.”

But, in spite of my newfound serenity, I do believe I will fix the A/C before the next trip!