Camping Myths

Camping myth #1 - Camping saves money.

We've just returned, from a camping trip that really wasn't.  I had planned 4 nights of camping, plus 2 in a hotel (because I was NOT going to try to get dressed up in a campground bathroom for my oldest's graduation and commissioning).  We ended up with 1 night of camping, plus 3 in a hotel, and I am not sure why those numbers don't even out.  And we still had to pay for the campgrounds. 

Camping myth #2 - Kids love camping.

The one night we camped, we got to the campground just before dark and hurried to set up the trailer between rainstorms.  "Hang on, kids," we said. "We'll go get pizza as soon as this is done."  So, once everything was in place, we hopped in the car and gaily drove down the long winding hill toward the campground entrance.  Which was gated shut.  We ended up dining on leftovers from the lunch cooler while sitting in the car (that we had already been in for 10 hours that day) at the wet campsite.  This did not go over well.  As I recall, Brian actually wept and refused to eat anything. 

Do NOT be fooled by this idyllic image.

 Camping myth #3 - Camping relieves stress.

Our last night in the hotel, Rachel suffered croup, plus a high fever that made her throw up.  The possibility of a repeat performance in our camping trailer -- plus the threat of yet more rain and the mere thought of having to set up the trailer again -- gave us the incentive to drive straight home the next day, without stopping at our planned campground.  You see, driving 12 straight hours with 4 kids in the car seemed less stressful than the alternative.

You know what?  There's no place like home.