There must be a lot of wanderlust in my DNA. In spite of battery issues in poor Agatha that can't be addressed until May 15, Monday I loaded the battery charger, extension cords and other necessary paraphernalia and set off for Lake Darling for our group's traditional shakedown campout. This is a time to find out what works and what you forgot to restock your RV with for the season.
Once I hit the road, a very peaceful feeling settled over me and I was tempted to keep going on forever. I didn't though. But ever since I went to Girl Scout Camp at Clear Lake after fifth grade, I have always been overwhelmed by the incredible beauty of the outdoors, and how invigorating and comforting to spend extended time in nature. I was amazed that the counselors got to spend all summer at a place like that. I attended church camp for several years and the summer after my junior year, worked at our church camp, Pilgrim Heights. We tent camped with our kids and friends in the early years of our marriage and as we got older, switched to something with a real bed. Some of our happiest times were in those campers. "Re-creation" has real meaning spent outdoors.
Once I hit the road, a very peaceful feeling settled over me and I was tempted to keep going on forever. I didn't though. But ever since I went to Girl Scout Camp at Clear Lake after fifth grade, I have always been overwhelmed by the incredible beauty of the outdoors, and how invigorating and comforting to spend extended time in nature. I was amazed that the counselors got to spend all summer at a place like that. I attended church camp for several years and the summer after my junior year, worked at our church camp, Pilgrim Heights. We tent camped with our kids and friends in the early years of our marriage and as we got older, switched to something with a real bed. Some of our happiest times were in those campers. "Re-creation" has real meaning spent outdoors.
The forecast for our three days at Lake Darling was not stellar, and last year it rained the whole time. But other than a shower Monday night, this week turned out pretty darn good. There were some chilly moments and I wasn't sorry that I had my winter parka. But we had some sunny skies and were treated to some lovely sunsets.
The wildfowl were quite entertaining, too. Coots gathered in large numbers in the mornings and then steamed up the lake like an Armada. Maybe they recognized us as 'old coots.' Pelicans gathered on an island at the north end so they came down in the evenings to check us out. The last night, they appeared blue! Canadian geese were numerous and several were herding goslings. A great horned owl visited us a couple of evenings.
The trees are just beginning to leaf out, but we did enjoy the redbuds. Because of the forecast, we hadn't planned to do any grilling, but before you start a Go Fund Me page for us, I assure you we didn't starve. Letha's traditional search for the wiley mushroom was disappointing, and Mike's stringer of fish was snatched by some creature of the wild. But all in all, it was a great week. I forgot to put in some Pam and my rice bag, but I found a pie plate and a phone charger left in there last fall that I've been looking for all winter, so that was a wash.
Agatha started without the charger but there is still a problem with some kind of relay (technical talk) that hopefully will be addressed by the dealer in May. I have to have her back in June for the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery tour with the Serro Scotty organization, a group out of Michigan of vintage camper enthusiasts. I am really looking forward to that. We will be visiting five campgrounds in Minnesota and Iowa that are sites for the Frannie books.
Agatha started without the charger but there is still a problem with some kind of relay (technical talk) that hopefully will be addressed by the dealer in May. I have to have her back in June for the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery tour with the Serro Scotty organization, a group out of Michigan of vintage camper enthusiasts. I am really looking forward to that. We will be visiting five campgrounds in Minnesota and Iowa that are sites for the Frannie books.
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