Third Time’s a Charm

My husband has gone fishing.  I’m at the picnic bench in our campground surrounded by the majestic pines of the San Bernardino National Forest and listening to the wind through the trees and the lively conversation of Steller’s Jays.  A squirrel is foraging for food inching its way towards the table in the hopes of something tasty.  My intent is to read the next chapter in my self-study photography course, but I feel like writing instead.  Despite the chill, I am dressed in three layers of clothing even though the sun is out, I feel blessed to be here in this moment communing with nature.

Our third and final practice trip has been successful.  My husband expertly navigated the trailer up the windy roads of highway 330, a test to prepare us for the roads in the Canadian Rockies.  The truck and the trailer handled well.  Our work these past few months has paid off; the trailer feels perfectly outfitted for our long journey, even down to details such as quick dry micro-fiber bath towels.  Thanks to our unusually cold winter and these trips I finally have the right combination of clothes for the weather we’re likely to encounter.  We have warm enough bedding and now know how to deal with water supplying the trailer freezing overnight.  I can now say, after months of worry, that we have enough storage.  Most of what we will bring is packed in the truck and trailer on this final trip and there is still room to spare.

Cooking has been another worry of mine and with practice we’ve learned to prepare good food with simple preparation.  Thanks to a friend we even have a simple but yummy desert for days when we’re hooked up to power and can use the microwave.  Combine in a zip lock bag one box Angels Food and one box any cake mix of your choice (chocolate for us, without a doubt).  To prepare an individual dessert add 3 tablespoons of the mixture in a cup and 2 tablespoons water.  Mix and microwave for 1 minute.  3-2-1 Cake.  Yum!

A new awning is being installed next week rounding out the last of the items on our checklist.

Most important of all, the trailer is starting to feel like a home away from home.  The space is starting to feel like ours, we’ve gotten used to the set up, and the workings of it are becoming second nature.

The countdown begins.  44 days to departure.  I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.  My husband has been planning this for years.  I’m not sure he ever thought we’d get to this point.  When he comes back from fishing I’ll ask him.

Photo is of the bed in our trailer