What follows is an attempt to tell you a story about our very first camping adventure which was close to home and intended to get us prepared for a trip further away from home. This story does not tell everything, like when my wife cheated and went for take out, or when we went to shower, or about my drain hose which was too long. We wanted to see which things we needed or forgot to bring even though we forgot pencil and paper to write it down.

Thanks to birol and genef, we decided to purchase a new family/towing vehicle which would accomodate the family, cargo and pop up. Their advice and the advice of others on the Pop Up Times message board helped explain the towing limits of a vehicle. When it comes to towing, you don't always have what you think you have.

DAY I

Leaving no time to spare, i scheduled several appointments on Friday and they were:

1. Yard barn delivered at 9:30am
2. Pick up new vehicle from dealership
3. Hook camper up and set up at campground (before the wife got off from work at 6:00pm)
4. Go to Wal Mart for last minute items
5. Go home, shower and pick up the wife and daughter.

First of all the yard barn didn't get here until 12:30pm, we didn't get to the dealership until after 1:30pm and we were racing to Wally Word at 2:30pm. Since i didn't know exactly what i needed, i went straight back to the automotive department and asked a guy to help me pick out exactly which ball and the "sliding" thing (is that the hitch or receiver?). He was very knowledgable and i thought i was finally going to get my break, so i ask him if they would attach the ball to the slider for me. He said sure, we paid, ran through the store, back to the vehicle and drove around. What should have taken a few minutes, took at least thirty but the ball was finally on. We ran to the vehicle, slid it in and measured... it was perfect!

By this time, it is pushing 4:00pm and i was beginning to panic... don't know why, just was... we were off schedule BAD! My son and i hitched up, tested the lights and through a few of the last minute tubs full of gear into the back and headed out to the State park.

Twenty minutes later, we were at the park checking in and i was somewhat relieved. Now, i get to do what i have practiced in my head (and watched on the Pop-Up 101 tape) a million times - backing into "the spot".

This campground was layed out in a big circle. My son and i decided to drive around and see what all we had available to us before attempting our very first "backup". I might add that my son is eight years old and he was my spotter today. We found a nice little site near the water that looked easy to back into. We agreed on a set of signals and i rolled down the windows, making sure i could hear him scream if i was about to hit something. The rest is history... all of that practice... we were in "the spot" and out slapping high fives within five minutes. I was thinking "Man, this is easy!"

Here is where it starts getting good...

I reached into the pop up and got out the black pouch which contains the Lynx Levelers. Were were off side to side (thanks to the handy "stick-on" levels) and we were going to drive up on top of these levelers. Quickly enough, my son had them stacked up (thanks to his Lego knowledge) like this: two of them for a base and two on top of each other in the middle... we needed to go three high total. I jumped back in the vehicle - the Lynx Levelers are under the tire - and begin to pull forward. How hard can this be? I drive right up on top of them, my son yells "STOP", i hit the brake a little late and drive right over them SHOOTING the levelers down over the bank. Before you say it, we were not going that fast. I back up a little, jump out and reset the levelers. This time, the levelers shot straight forward underneath the tow vehicle. The next time, same thing and the next time, same thing and the next time... you get the picture. Thankfully, i brought along several pieces of 1"x6" that i had precut... "More than one way to skin this cat", i thought. We staggered the boards and proceeded to drive up onto them... made it, but we were not squarely on the boards, so i backed back off and tried again. After several tries, i said, "Forget it! The campground is near empty. Let's go find another spot." We loaded up our trusty leveling supplies and headed around the cul-de-sac.

Three spots away from the first attempt, we found a spot that looked pretty level and settled on it. Backed right in! All of the practice and Pop-Up 101 watching did some good. Checked the levels and we were just barely off side to side. Front to back was going to need some work, but that would be easy. One board later we were leveled up, unhitched and beginning to set up. This is the point in our journey that i renamed the Lynx Levelers to Lynx Stabilizer Pads and it is almost 6:00pm. Did i mention i was supposed to be back home by 6:00pm to pick up the wife and daughter?

I had a minor panic attack again and we began racing home. Glancing at the park sign on the way out of the park - it read "Park closes at 8:00pm". I panicked again. There was no way we could all shower, finishing packing, stop at the grocery store and get back in before 8:00pm! This is a whole other story. For curiosity's sake we opted to shower, finish packing and grabbed some snacks to eat that night. I might add that my wife found another sign the next day that read "Campground hours: 7:45am until 10:45pm" so we had plenty of time.

After arriving at the campsite with the wife and daughter we began to straighten up a campsite that looked like something off of Sanford and Son. We began organizing and getting the sleeping quarters ready. After a few Cheese Nips, Graham Crackers and peanut butter and games, i was ready to hit the bed. The weather forecast stated the temperature would reach the mid 20's so we opted to use the ceramic heater instead of the gas furnace. Don't ask me where the logic in that decision was! There was a nice cool breeze coming off the lake and my wife says the kids almost froze to death... i never knew it was cold - well, maybe twice, but i can sleep through anything.