Even though the weather forecast never did look promising as we approached our first planned weekend trip with the trailer, we never considered cancelling or changing the schedule. We just decided to go with whatever conditions came along. After all, it is January, the trailer is winterized, and we just want to enjoy the new rig. We also need to have this trial run, not far from home, in order to be sure we have all the things we think we need for the next trip. Sooner or later, we'll be well equipped!
The trip from home included drizzle some of the way, gray skies, more and more precip as we neared Pine Mountain. So we had to realize we are going to set up camp in the rain! No bad attitude though, we are just going to play along --have a great weekend no matter what.
We did the best job of backing the rig ever. We have communication issues, and backing the trailer is one of those situations that can bring out conflict right quickly. We had our choice of nice sites, not many crazy folks out at the campground this weekend!
The camp area has really nice paved roads, mostly level sites, good access, and nice layout with "comfort" stations always near by. A nice convenience store, "The Trading Post" was open Friday evening --full of condiments, ice cream, fire wood, bug spray -- lots of stuff that is convenient when you have forgotten something.
Typically, we would always want a camp fire, but we knew right away it would not work this time. We did fire up the charcoal grill and managed to get a fire hot enough to grill some steaks. Witht the precip and the cool temp, the hot fire wasn't easy though!
A quiet evening under the awning, and then an early move inside as the rain picked up and the temperature went down. We had one heck of a time figuring out our awning --how to unfurl, get the frame in place etc. But finally it made sense.
Later in the evening the rain and the wind picked up and the awning was really flopping around, so we rolled it up and settled in for a night of noisey rain --off and on and off and on. Fierce rain sometimes.
Saturday morning, still gray skies, no TV or radio connection to the outside world --only iPhone. And surprisingly we did have signals and did find the weather channel and learned we have a tornado watch in the area. The sky looked gray, swirling, but not alarming. The watch was to end by 1pm.
We got out between showers Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and walked the entire campground. There are 7 clusters of campsites. Three of them around the shores of Lake Delanor, and others up the hill and one in a cove behind the hills away from the lake. We spotted our favorite sites, and hope we remember next time we come here --which will be during the regular season. It will be nice to see some blue sky, leaves, and milder tempterature at this place!
We took the Jeep for a ride to Dowdell's Knob to see the FDR scupture, and then on to Warm Springs for a look around and to get more gas. Always need more gas!
We returned after lunch time, and had a snack inside. The tornado watch had turned to a tornado warning, so we were keeping an eye on things. At about 2:30 the park host came by to warn us of a tornado, 16 miles away with 85 mph winds. He asked us to go to the comfort station right away. One of those moments! Can't take much with us, who knows what will happen? So we gathered only coats, keys, wallets, and Bentley and headed out. We struggled with the awning (again) trying to lower it as we left. We were only a few minutes with this, and the park host came by again with an all clear --saying the storm and turned in a different direction. So, we had only a few minutes of panic.
Benltey found his place in the trailer -lots of windows to check out everyone around. He slept on this little ledge one night too!
We walked the campground again before sunset --and there actually was a tiny bit of blue sky and sun later in the day --but just for a few minutes! We watched ducks in the lake, and then later we think a beaver took a long swim (some creature anyway). Very pretty lake, nice view from our camp.
Next morning, no sun again. More drizzle all night and still for the morning. But again we got out for a walk without getting too wet. Bentley was a non-stop mess from the drizzle and the wet ground. Yuck.
So, we broke camp and started home before lunch time and watched the threatening skies all the way back --but the trip was uneventful.
So, this weekend was an adventure and that is what we are up for anyway. Did not have nice weather at all --but still a fun trip, and we hope to do without the tornado feature in any future trip!