This was supposed to be an epic weekend. It was Father’s Day, and our family decided at the last minute to head out on a camping trip to explore the great outdoors and simply enjoy some downtime. After a stressful few weeks, we all craved some “camping therapy.” The weather forecast promised perfect temperatures with no rain. Keeping it simple, nothing extravagant. Our master plan involved a quick dash to a nearby park after work on Friday. Easy peasy, right? We’d head to a nearby provincial park on Friday after work and return on Sunday. The trailer was already at the storage yard, and my wife, who had the day off, would stock the fridge and turn on the power in the morning. Then, we’d just need to hook up the trailer to the truck and hit the road. But as with any good plan, things rarely go according to schedule.
On my way home from work, I received a call from my wife – our first hiccup. My wife, bless her multitasking soul, forgot the one crucial ingredient for a happy camper (yours truly): coffee! A quick stop at the nearest store, which happened to be a health food store (because apparently caffeine is a “superfood” there) resulted in a $20 bag of beans that probably tasted like unicorn tears. Hopefully, it was worth the hefty price tag!
Piling into the truck, we headed to pick up the trailer. Hooking it up went smoothly until we reached the weight distribution hitch. For those unfamiliar, there is a long hooked bar-like tool that acts as a lever to position the hitch arms. Without it, attaching the trailer requires significant muscle.
Of course, this magical tool resided comfortably back at home in the garage. After a symphony of grunting and questionable decisions, we managed to connect everything. I couldn’t imagine repeating that struggle at a campground, especially on uneven ground. So, a detour back home to retrieve the tool was necessary.
The Car Sickness Saga (and the Plastic Bag of Doom)
Just when we thought things couldn’t get any more “interesting,” my son decided to channel his inner projectile and declare war on the back seat. Thankfully, my wife, a master of battlefield triage, deployed the trusty plastic bag just in the nick of time. Let’s just say it was a battle won.
With a sigh of relief, we returned home, retrieved the weight distribution tool, and let my son clean up a little. Finally, the Journey Begins
Campground Chaos
The drive to the campsite was uneventful (thankfully!), My wife and son napped while I enjoyed some music of my choice. We arrived with dreams of campfire camadarie and stargazing. Setting up the trailer, however, went about as smoothly as a penguin on roller skates. Turns out, nice soft ground doesn’t exactly play nice with curved levelers and they sank into the soft ground like warm cookies dunked in milk. Once we disconnected the truck, the trailer lurched, the jack screeched, and my son looked like he’d seen a ghost.
Thankfully, the only casualty was the front jack’s foot, easily repaired with a good ole-fashioned hammer (and maybe a few choice words). Lesson learned: sticks and stones may break my bones, but flimsy leveling blocks will send my trailer flying (almost). We ended up reconnecting the trailer to the truck and starting over. This time, we went “old school” by placing 2×6 boards under the tires for a more secure leveling solution. Problem solved!!
Burgers, Relaxation, and a Missing Memory Stick
The rest of the setup went smoothly. As always, my son (the grill master in training) took charge of the first night’s dinner, a tradition that greatly simplifies things. He’d fire up my Coleman stove stationed on the picnic table and start grilling burgers for everyone, usually under the watchful eye of our dog (just in case anything fell off the grill). This allowed my wife and I to handle the rest of the trailer and campsite setup. She tackles the interior, while I take care of the exterior. It’s a system that works well, especially since I stay out of her way when she’s focused on a task.
After everything was set up and our bellies were full, my son, who is notorious for disappearing during dishwashing duty, headed inside the trailer to turn on a movie, claiming exhaustion and needing a break. His plan backfired this time.
You see there is no internet, and our movie archive is stored on a memory stick that usually resides in the trailer. This time it was left at home “accidentally”.
This translated into more time spent helping around the trailer (walking the dog, exploring, playing etc.) and, more importantly, more quality time together on Father’s Day.
The Tasmanian Devil Awakens
The next morning brought a delicious pancake breakfast prepared by my son, who’s turning out to be quite the chef with a little guidance from his mom. It was a delightful treat, but a minor storm was brewing. You see, my son’s superpower is ADHD and he needs his medication every morning to help everyone keep up with his delicious flavour of genius and chaotic whirlwind of energy, like a Tasmanian Devil fueled by Red Bull and espresso which is difficult for him.
This particular morning, he neglected to take his meds, leaving them behind in his bunk as he tends to be time blind so he was convinced he had taken them already and we just didn’t want to risk a double dose. The planned relaxing day morphed into watching him and the dog turn the campsite into their own personal racetrack. Thankfully, most of their synergized zoomies were spent outside, sparing the trailer from further destruction.
The Great Dog Washout
After lunch, seeking refuge from the heat and humidity, we all retreated to the trailer for a much-needed nap. It turned into a full-blown nap marathon, a testament to how exhausted we all were from the week. Thankfully, we woke up feeling refreshed about three hours later. Afterwards, my wife and son decided to take the dog for a swim, while I opted to stay back and supervise my lawn chair (to ensure it wasn’t plotting anything mischievous). Their return to the trailer was a soaking-wet affair. Showers ensued, one after another until it was the dog’s turn. My wife, seeking a quick solution, decided to bathe him in the trailer’s shower. In hindsight, this wasn’t the wisest decision. While the bath itself went smoothly, the post-bath shake involved a complete drenching of the bathroom, including an unintended shower for my wife.
The chaos continued as the dog, released from the bathroom, attempted another full-body shake in the main area of the trailer. Thankfully, my heroic intervention by performing a frantic dive on top of the dog prevented this and I redirected him outside He was able to finally release the remaining water with a marvelous shake and promptly curled up in his lawn chair by the fire for a nap.
Burger Bliss and Marshmallow Memories
Dinner, unsurprisingly, featured another burger for my son. He’d enjoyed them at every meal except breakfast, much to my wife’s amusement (and probably her attempt to sneak in some vegetables). As the evening settled, we gathered around the campfire, roasting marshmallows and enjoying the calming sounds of nature. It was a truly relaxing moment. The dog, despite being leashed at the edge of the campsite, had a blast greeting everyone passing by on their evening walks, and there was no shortage of willing participants to give him a friendly pet. The next day, a leisurely sleep-in preceded the process of packing up the trailer and heading home. We took our time, savoring the final moments of our camping adventure.
Looking Back: A Chaotic But Memorable Father’s Day
While the trip might seem chaotic at first glance, it offered several positives: No driving for me after setting up the trailer. Freedom from cooking and dishes. Much-needed sleep and stress relief. Hilarious memories to cherish. Quality time spent with my family. Overall, it was a fantastic Father’s Day camping trip, filled with unexpected moments and strengthened connections.
If you have memorable Father’s Day adventures please share in the comments.
Happy Camping!!
