Are We Having Fun Yet?
Camping: The art of getting closer to nature while getting farther away from the nearest cold beverage, hot shower, and flush toilet.
With family changes on their way we thought it was time to take an RV camping trip and include grandchildren. We could bond, enjoy each other and just have fun. When I think about it our RV is 60 feet long and twice as wide but, in reality it is 37 feet long and about 18 feet wide. Now it is not just the two of us but the seven of us. I will make this work.
We decide to experience a new place. Roman Nose State Park near Watonga, Oklahoma. Named for a Cheyenne Chief, about 3 1/2 hours west from home. We drive down on Friday afternoon to get set up. My daughter Erica will bring her two children (Hugo and Lucy) and two of my other daughter's children (Conor and Emma) later that day. They will sleep in a tent she is bringing.
We get the RV set up and she arrives just as we are finished. She gets the tent set up quickly and the kids are running around. We are in a good spot with a lake view but I notice there is no shade. It's a hot day and the weekend will be no better. Not allowed to swim in the lake and the pool is closed due to the virus. What can the kids do for entertainment? There will be no electronics. Maybe.
Monty gets the fire going in the grill provided, I proceed to get the table set and ready for our dinner. He cooks burger, hot dogs and brats. I set out all the condiments and such for the seven of us. Well, Emma and Conor are hamburger eaters, Hugo will eat a hot dog, Lucy has her own dietary needs, Erica and I eat hot dogs, Monty a burger. No one wants fixings, potato salad or baked beans. Lots left over so I pack it away.
Next morning, kids are up early and Lucy comes in to our bedroom (in the back of the RV) and asks if I'm ready to get up. Side note: I am in the midst of a shingles outbreak and not sleeping or feeling well so I am dragging. I get up and get dressed and join the others.
Anyone had breakfast? Sort of. Monty is cooking bacon in the skillet and I decide to fry me an egg. He had recently done some repairs on the RV and the gas cook top is working and I am able to cook properly. As I am waiting on the bacon, I decide to encourage the kids to eat some waffles I can make in my tiny waffle maker. I love it. It's about 5" around and cooks fast. Emma, Conor and Hugo each get two. Hugo has some bacon. I get my eggs done and finish up breakfast.
Monty and I thought it would be fun to show the kids how to fish. Monty brought two of his best poles and I had a kid size one for Lucy. We take a walk around the lake and figure out the best spot to avoid the other fishermen and women. Erica and I grab a chair and head down to the water with the kids. Monty digs out the gear and now where is the bait? I don't know, I don't fish. On the drive down we had hoped to find a bait shop but, didn't. Hmmm. He decided to go back and get some ham and hot dogs from the refrigerator.
Monty returns with the bait and proceeds to help with getting it on the hooks and reel the lines out. Emma is first up while Conor waits his turn. Hugo is exploring and Lucy tried her hand at the smaller pole. After about 45 minutes everyone is hot, red faced and done. Nothing caught but they did see a turtle that chased the bait as a pole was reeled in. Guess that's why they are called fishermen, not catchers.
It is very hot so everyone piles into the cool RV.
It's dinner time and we were cooking out again. I get chicken from the refrigerator and it has a funny smell. Guess it went bad and I didn't know it. Now what? That was our meal. I don't keep a freezer full of food when we are spending 4 days in the RV. Okay, poll the kids. Left over burger goes to Emma. Conor has his Wolf brand chili brought especially for him. What about the others?
Erica and I decide to go to the general store around the corner to see what they might have. Not much as it turned out. Peanut butter and chicken noodle soup is purchased along with the kids favorite drink - Dr Pepper as a treat. Return to the RV. Monty warms up the brats and hot dogs left over and we share. Hugo tried a brat for the first time, not impressed. That meal was a bust. We relax in the RV while we wait for dusk. Monty has promised to fix up the fire pit so the kids can roast marshmallows. I want to try to make smores on the grill.
Sunday morning and time to rise and shine. Erica will leave as soon as possible to return home at a decent time. I decide I want to try to make biscuits in the convection/microwave. I had read online what to do so here we go. There were two methods, one in a metal cake pan, the other on a plate. I begin with the cake pan. Taking too long. I get out one of my plates and spread the biscuits around the plate in a circle trying to not let them touch. Better. Cooking faster and getting brown. Done in about 18 minutes. Hugo loves biscuits and honey. Emma has one. I have a couple.
Erica is packing up and anxious to get going. She and the kids are gone by 11 AM. Monty and I had reserved the spot until Monday but with little food and not much to do, we decide to head home also. We pack up the RV, which takes about and hour or so, then we are on our way. We arrive back about 4 PM and am glad to be back in our own bed.
This was an interesting weekend. Got to know the kids better. Wish there had been more to do. I didn't see the things they show on their website. We must have been too far from the hiking area. Not prepared to rent canoes and the swimming pool was closed. I wanted this to be more fun and memorable for the kids but you can't have everything.
More photos.
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