End of the Season

All good things must come to an end. This weekend marked the end of the 2013 camping season and the RV is tucked away waiting for spring. This year while we didn't get out as much as I would have liked, but did have some fun trips and hit a few new favorites. 

We had a number of issues this season...everything from a awing taking flight and nearly putting a hole in the roof to a hub fire from a wheel bearing that let loose. A new axle and 4 new tires were also needed for a defect in the original axle. It was an expensive season for sure. Even with over $1500 in repair bills, fuel and camping fees I still think it is an asset for our family. Being able to spend time with my kids un-obstructed from the leashes of cell phones, videos and endless TV shows is worth a lot more to me than money. Standing at the edge of a lake with morning fog blanketing the area with a little boy skipping rocks across the smooth surface is a good thing. Talking a walk at night and looking up and realizing that the sky is really peppered with stars you didn't know existed is a good thing.  Sitting by a fire so hot you think that your shins have caught on fire is a good thing. The more you learn and plan, the more you find out that by traveling with an RV you really can have your own lakefront property for a few days for what others pay thousands or even millions for...being able to share this with your family is a good thing. 

Big things planned for next year. Started the process of planning our longest trip to date to Table Rock Lake. It sounds funny, but the next few months you should start planning trips for the spring especially if you want to go during weekends...By the end of December most of our season will already be in stone. In terms of improvements, I am seriously considering dropping the bulky husky hitch that is a pain in the ass for something that preforms a bit better and is easier to use. 

Say Goodbye to Summer...

Whats new you ask? Quite a bit actually. We are now officially 4 weeks from closing on our new home. It’s been a long time coming…years in fact. Recently I took a look at all pictures we took at our old house and I was a bit taken back by how small the space really was and to cram 4 people and a dog into the space seems now an impossible task.  Living in my parent’s basement for the last 4 months has now begun to seem normal and it’s a little hard to remember how it was before. I guess that’s good and bad. It is a very strange transition to go from living on your own for a number of years to not really having a home. It plays with your mind. Thankfully our relationship with my parents is still good and they have been very accommodating…willing to give up their house to the tornado that is our family. Truthfully it’s been good for everyone.

We took a little vacation to Florida a few weeks ago. Originally it was going to be just Ali and I but a few weeks before going we decided to take Sam as well. Glad we did. It was a good opportunity to spend some time with just him after bringing Max into the fold. Can’t say enough how much of a needed trip that was for me….it’s been a while.

Camping has slowed down a bit while we get ready for a lot of things in the fall. My brother is getting married in October and both Ali and I are in the wedding so the ramp up is starting to take place. Also to complicate and compound everything we get to move and try to get settled in a new place. This is I am afraid going to take up most not if all of the available camping weekends in October. We just might be able to sneak in a trip in early November…we will see. Hard to imagine we are already talking packing it away for winter but we have had a good time with it this year.  Fall is an awesome time to get outside. The air is crisp and fresh in the mornings; the nights are just chilly enough to require a blanket by the campfire. It’s really the perfect season. We were going to take a trip this weekend to Mark Twain Lake for the holiday but after some consideration I decided to cancel and go next weekend. It’s just too hot and since Max is still not walking it’s a bit difficult to cage him in. Also a little fact that I have learned is that the less people at the campground the better for my sanity.  If you are looking for a nice quiet relaxing trip, Labor Day may not be the best time to go.