We received the pop up last Wednesday and spent a few days learning and collecting things to put in it. Like art fairs there is so many things to do BEFORE you actually camp (or do an art fair) but once we had things under control it was time to actually test our knowledge.
Being a weather dude it was my responsibility to find a good couple days for our first camping adventure with our Rockwood 1910ESP. Just a quicky none nighter.
Cool Kid Andy said we should to to Astigo, it was only a few miles away so if we had forgotten something just go get it - a learning experience. NAAAA - we're good - what could possibly go wrong.
I know right?
So Sunday night DJ looked and Mirror Lake had some open spots for 1 nights - only an hour away and just like D-Day in 1944 there would be a 2 day opening of good weather before the Thursday rain came. So we packed everything up, had a couple meals planned with burgers and smashed potatoes on the 22 inch Blackstone Griddle and THE BIG BREAKFAST in the morning.
Got to Mirror Lake and site 88. Did the "Scoop" method for backing into the site which online (before I was banned from Facebook for a week**) 50% of campers said "I thought this was common knowledge" and 50% said "I had never heard of this before").
** - Sunday on a golf thread I said "Maybe someone should shoot down that drone above Phil Micklesons's head" BANNED HATE SPEECH!
The backing was flawless. My only worry was the site on our left (looking out) a guy was chillin' in his chair watching us - OH OH . . don't make a fool of ourselves. It's only our 2nd time putting Rocky up.
WELL - we were a well oiled machine like a pit crew. Seriously. We never discussed who would do what but I bet it took less the 15 minutes. Once we got it level BAM - we each did our own thing and we knew what had to be done. Literally very few words between us. I think we were both a little stunned how easy it was. We were like an Indy Pit Crew. In fact we will be faster next time with a new tool both of is will have.
Gus just wandered around on his 15 foot leash following us and looking a little lost on what HIS part was.
The pop up was totally up and secure in 15 minutes. Next we started to do the little things like lay out a big travel rug thing and we had a screen in tent ( later dubbed "the bar area") and put it over the picnic table.
Everything was going GREAT!!! But we were hungry.
One of the things we came across Sunday was that the pull out propane hose connection and the attachment to the Blackstone - did not match up and on Facebook I had a post warning new Blackstone owners of this issue.
I had photos of the CORRECT connection.
I ordered one Sunday night and went to Camping World Monday morning just in case it did not come - as luck would have it Camping World had ONE - it was a return - it was perfect!
Then someone online said it SHOULD have been included with the original griddle. So I opened the box and put it together and NOPE - no other attachment was included. So I put it all back in the box with the parts.
WELL! - DJ is setting things up and I'm getting my little chuck wagon all put together and I set up the Blackstone and . . . . . . where is my connection - that silver round thingy . . . . . . . OH OH . . . . I packed it in the box with the original griddle F*CK! you have GOT to be kidding me!
We can't eat until I get that connection. OH - we do have a stove inside Rocky . . .but zero pans. Many people take out the stoves in pop ups and we were just not going to use it - who needs pans. WE GOT A GRIDDLE.
SO - while DJ is still doing HER thing I run to WalMart about 3 miles away - NOPE - I go to Home Depot next door NOPE! F*CKITY F*CK F*CK.
We are both pretty hungry by now with no camp food in the immediate future. SO - a very quiet and disappointing McDonalds it is.
We get back to camp a LITTLE grumpy for about a half hour but I make a fire and get out the booze and it's all good as it's a beautiful night. We roast marshmallows and chill out. Gus is a little concerned about OUTDOOR fire as it seems dangerous compared to inside the house fires (fireplace) but soon fell asleep on his designated chair.
The first entry DJ put was "Blackstone WITH ALL ATTACHMENTS" second entry "shot glasses".
ANYWAY - with the pup was a little travel toilet which we were both afraid of. DJ read the instructions and it's really not bad at all. ONLY PEE but it was really easy and pretty useful at 3:00 in the morning. EVEN THOUGH - our campside was right next to the toilets
Here is the thing - not once, in the 24 hours we were there, did anybody use them. ZERO! I have a theory. The park was 90% full. Of that 90% , 80% were big RVs 10% were pop up and 10% were tent campers. I have to think that the RVs have their own toilets! Why use the park toilets.
The park itself was unbelievably quiet for being almost full - alarmingly quiet! Eerie quiet actually. I took Gus out for a walk and there was noise from each site but none of it made it through trees (and it was a tuesday before a holiday weekend before school were out - older people)
Had a good-sh night sleep. We were expecting to wake up at sunrise like at home when the cats walk across us. BUT NO!! Gus got up about 7:00 and relaxed beside me looking out my window and we woke up at 8:10. Zero noise anywhere. Beautiful morning.
I made coffee and got a fire going with the bundle of wood we had (the hidden cost of camping). BUT then we had a brilliant idea that we should have thought of the night before (still learning or actually re-learning).
Why not make pancakes with our pie irons
Pancakes came out GREAT!! We made 6. Not the BIG breakfast but it was something! We spent the previous night before seasoning them and can't wait for our next trip when we can make hot ham and cheese, calzones and so many other things!
Burgers with smashed potatoes
Stir fry - which is OUTSTANDING
Smashed potatoes you say? Take one of those tiny bags of tiny potatoes that you see in stores. Boil them the night before. On the griddle add some oil, put the potatoes on the griddle and basically smash them a little. Add seasoning and flip them but not too often. Smashed potatoes.
SO - a couple things - this is what we envisioned our pop up would look like - so clean and beautiful
Packing up was just as easy and closing the pup for only the 2nd time was even easier then the first - so easy that it felt like we were forgetting something but . . I guess not.
extension cord for inside Rocky
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.