A few years ago — I’m thinking 30 — when camping still seemed like a viable holiday option, our family ventured east with another family, our besties. First stop was near Kamloops, where tumble weeds tumble across an arid landscape and camp grounds sit right next to the railroad tracks. The trains move freight all. night. long.
With 4 kids in tow, mornings were early and breakfasts were had at the first truck stop en route. By lunchtime the crew cried for release from constricting car seats so we aimed to reach the campsite by early afternoon. After settling in we unpacked the cycling gear — including a kid-towing trailer — and cycled around Banff. The next morning we awoke to frost and snow. I wore all the clothes I brought, dressed the kids like Heidi, cranked up the heat in our 11 passenger Ford Econoline van and we headed for warmer climes.
We reached Calgary late morning and attempted to set up camp on a wide open grassy site that overlooked the city. The wind sent the tent flying like a kite before we were able to anchor it with all our stuff, so a move to a more protected site was in order. In no time, hot dogs grilled on the BBQ for our hungry little brood. The youngest of the 4 had tummy trouble and his diaper changes were particularly messy — of course, the picnic table doubled as a change table, taking appetites down a notch.
One of the kids noticed a thin black line on the side of the tent and it took some convincing for the adults to pay enough attention to take a look. Unbeknownst to us, the tents were perched atop an ant hill. Inside and out, the invasion of the ants was as aggressive as a Roman Army at the height of conquest. So, we moved again and went to play at Calaway Park.
Next stop was Lethbridge, where we encountered a midnight deluge that nearly drowned us.
Needless to say, we hotelled it all the way home and declared that camping is not for us.
I’ve heard people say that mishaps are the things that make memories and I can see their point. We laugh about that camping trip. But does it engender fond recollections we long to repeat? No.
The photo below is taken a couple of years later when we discovered that boating is definitely our thing, mishaps and all.
May your mishaps be merrier.
