So I took my kids camping with no man and no phone and we all survived. No photos though because somehow Tobias convinced me that London and Brussels would be more photo-worthy than the coastal rainforest and so he got to take the camera with him. And then he got in trouble with security at the Tate for trying to take pictures of the aht.
Driving home today I was reviewing the trip and thinking how great it was, then realising that actually, several things did go wrong, and then wondering whether it was a good trip after all. I concluded that it was a good trip, and that it's only by focussing on the negative that trips seem bad. In fact, you can focus on whatever aspects you like, and the trip will be good or bad depending on what you decide. Oh heavens it's late and I'm talking like a damned self-help book or something. BUT IT'S TRUE. That's why they sell so may of those things.
Anyway, I'm going to bed. I have to run 10k in <7 hours. But here, very briefly, are some good and bad highlights.
Good: I reserved the campsite in advance and when we got there, we just looked for our name on the board and found our site. Most convenient. And gratifying when I saw all the people who didn't reserve and who ended up disappointed.
Bad: I forgot the hatchet so we had no campfire.
Good: In a pinch, canola oil can replace the butter in KD. Also, we all hiked down to the beach late Friday despite the gathering darkness, and none of us, not one!, got attacked by a cougar.
Bad: I couldn't figure out how to work the fridge
Good: We broke the Sun Safe rule of avoiding direct sun between 11am and 3pm and none of us, not one!, got a sunburn. In fact we sat in full sun for the entire four hour danger period, but the Coppertone 30-SPF waterproof did its job splendidly.
Bad: Deetman ran through a smoldering beach fire while chasing the beach ball and burnt his feet. Not too badly, but it gave us a good scare.
Good: The kids were angels and very cooperative and sweet together. We talked in the dark until late on Friday, but were too pooped on Saturday after all that sun. Deetman told us "I'm too tired so please stop talking."
Bad: Forgot tea towels. Had to let all the dishes drip dry, which isn't that easy when the rinse water is cold and it's sort of cold out. Also, it was cold out! We left behind 28-degree weather in Victoria only to find loads of fog, cloud, and wind out at Juan de Fuca. It got nice in the middle of the day, but the mornings and evenings were really chilly.
Shortly after I finished my good/bad trip musing, we ran out of gas. That cost us about an hour of fiddling, but that sort of thing never bothers me too much so even counting that, I'd say GOOD TRIP.
And now GOOD NIGHT.
( posting without rereading or editing )
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