And We’re Off!
Yesterday, November 1, 2011, we left for the REAL trip! After months of planning, several small trips, one large trial run and a month of final preparation we are off to see America.
We spent our first night at Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta, MI, which is near Battle Creek. We stayed at this same park last spring on one of our smaller trial trips. It was raining cats and dogs then. We didn’t realize that the guy from whom we bought the camper had put on tires that were too big. This wore down the leaf springs causing the suspension to rest on the wheels. Holes were worn in the wheel wells and sludge and muck were being kicked into the camper. We spent a good part of the day cleaning not only the floor but everything that was on the bottom shelves of the camper. My husband had business in Battle Creek and ended up driving down to Ohio as well. We didn’t think twice about him taking off for the day leaving the girls and I alone in an almost uninhabited state park with no rangers on duty. After he left, we weren’t quite so brave. The beauty of the park far outweighed our uneasiness, however, but we still decided to enjoy it from behind locked doors. Last night we were only one of two campers at the park. It was much better having Barry with us the entire time!
When we visited the park in the spring, we were very green to the world of RVing. I remember wondering as I helped guide my husband into the campsite if our marriage would survive a trip full of trailer back-ins. Last night I realized how far we have come when we backed the trailer perfectly into our site on the first try in total darkness without raised voices, snide remarks, or dirty looks.
Fort Custer is a beautiful state recreation area. It is very peaceful and very large. Hopefully, we’ll stop there again when we have more time. The web address for the park is: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=448.
I think we all feel a little nervous now that we are getting started but it’s the kind of nervous that comes from planning something for months and realizing that this is it. I guess it’s probably more anticipation than nerves.
So with one last Biggby Coffee in hand, it’s goodbye to our beloved MI until next summer.