Tent Poles

 

After a five-hour drive, I was content to pull out my chair, open a beer and exhale. The view was spectacular and I was happy to be there. I laid out the tablecloth, fastened with clips and made a vase out of an empty water bottle for a dandelion flower bouquet.

 

I had hours of daylight to set up the tent. I pulled it out of the bag, realized I must spin the pack facing the other way, lifted my arms to unfurl the tent, which blocked my view and then I spread it out to fit the space.

 

 

The tent bag was empty. No poles! No stakes! I looked around the tent, under the tent, in the tent and sat down to think about what to do next. I called my b-i-l and asked him to bring their tent for me to use when they arrive the next day. Sure enough they said yes. Meanwhile, I had to use the tent as a tarp of sorts to protect against the elements. I set up the cot inside the tent-shell, then added the air bag, pillow and blankets. I draped the rain fly over that and spent more time tying down to secure for the night. It looked like a tomb.

 

 

Truly, a rough night. The tent as a dewy tarp, laid on my body and head and at one point, I pulled it off my face feeling like I was being suffocated! Then my legs cramped and wouldn’t release until I stood up, which was a struggle. I slept in my clothes, because, how was I going to get dressed? I said out loud to myself, “This is the most ridiculous, weirdly awful thing I’ve ever experienced.”

 

Always for the first night camping after a long ride, I feel bouts of PTSD with the motion sensation of driving and fear of crashing (I never crashed, just the fear of it). On the ride up, for the passing lane, I stayed right and slowed to allow two pickup trucks with boats pass by. We entered a town and as we rolled out of town, I moved along slowly enough and with a safe distance between me and the truck ahead, when it suddenly stopped in the road. No blinker as if it was going to turn, no turn, just sat there. I slowed way down as the car behind me was right on my ass, and couldn’t tell if the truck would turn or keep going. I had to brake hard, and drove on the shoulder to get around the truck that sat there. Did his truck die? Did he stop for an animal? I kept going and the small car followed me around the truck on the shoulder. It was slightly harrowing and just enough of an event as a subject for the PTSD episode. After several moments of jerking awake, I finally drifted off to sleep.

 

The next morning, a 5:30 am, rousing goose-honk alarm flew over by the dozens. 

Such a pretty sunrise with the patch of sunshine on the lake!

 

 

I drove up to the shower hut and returned to have coffee and figure out the day. I had to remove my stuff and fold the tent to make way for R&L’s tent. As I removed all but the cot, I noticed a lump under the corner of the tent. There lay the bag of tent poles and stakes. Sigh…

 

I set up the tent with the help of my cousin Sara, who had arrived and set up nearby. She was a big help!!

 

 

I slept well the next few nights. I took down the tent on Sunday and spent the last night in the cabin with L&R so I wouldn’t have to take my tent down in the rain the next morning.

 

 

Also, on Sunday morning, I pulled my chair out of the trunk, closed the lid and walked away. I decided to sleep a bit longer and when I got up again, put my jeans on, which I hadn’t done earlier, just wearing thermals and a long sleeve t shirt. In that moment realized, earlier, having no pockets, laid the keys down inside the trunk. I had locked my keys in the trunk! FUCKITY! Plan B. I asked a lady camper a few sites away for help and she called a locksmith for me and within an hour, a local came to my rescue. I tipped him well and kept my keys in my pocket!

 

Except for my mishaps, which made me laugh and cringe, it only rained over-night and the days were sunny and dry. I look forward to next time.