Today we started another epic journey. I left Wisconsin at 6 am with my mom, Esme and Nova. We had about 8 hours of driving and got here at about 4 pm (with stops and a time change). The trip originally was supposed to start tomorrow but we added one more day at the beginning, so today was day 0, a bonus day!
We are driving our new-to-us vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee that Nole and I picked out a few weeks ago. It needed a trailer hitch added (it has a factory tow package but due to resource shortages, the actual hitch was not installed at the factory). Due to issues obtaining the parts two weeks ago and then with the reprogramming last week, we were only able to get the new car on Tuesday evening this week. Then the roof rack came on Friday evening which meant Nole had to install it between rain storms and we had to put the kayaks up in the dark. All’s well that ends well though and we had no further issues with the SUV or camper today.
The drive went well and my mom and I managed to talk for 8 straight hours. We stopped at a rest area and ate brunch in the camper somewhere in Indiana. Traffic wasn’t bad and there wasn’t any particularly bothersome construction along our route.
When we got to the campground, a nice man who is staying here informed us that due to a wind storm, they have been without power for most of the day. Also, due to some spring rain, the place is pretty muddy and we got to watch someone get towed out of their site while we filled up our camper’s water tank.
Our site is pretty unlevel. With help from my mom giving directions, we found the levelest spot and used some blocks to raise up one side.
We are traveling with the Yatzecks on this trip. They were having some technical difficulties with their new trailer and were delayed but Mary and Anna (Yatzeck teens) arrived right as we were leveling the camper. We invited them in and my mom and I made dinner of hamburgers outdoors on the stove. Then we all ate dinner together and vegged-out for several hours. It is kind of cold and windy today, especially compared to the last week of 75+ degree days in Wisconsin.
Tonight the plan is to try and conserve power while we wait for power to be restored to the park (and use propane). We will need to run the heat and bundle up tonight as temps are expected to dip into the 40s.
Update: The Yatzecks made it here around 9pm and everyone is settled in for the night.
Martins Take Flight 