us. He gave us a map and directed us to an assigned campsite. We could see to the right of the ranger station that there were campsites with hook-ups for water, electricity, and sewer. When we asked about camping there the ranger told us that the section was closed.
It was almost 9:00 p.m. The boys were asleep in the back seat of the car curled up under a warm blanket. I was tired, too, but the sheer excitement of our first trip out in our new travel trailer kept me alert.
As we entered Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in the darkness, the sweet forest smell of mint, pine, and redwood was comforting. The tall looming redwoods and reaching pine trees shaded the moon from lighting our way. It seemed darker than usual in the Park, much darker than in the city.
At turns along the slim roadway our headlights splashed other travel trailers and a few tents scattered among the trees. Most had their lights out. We drove slowly, following the map, looking for our assigned space number until we finally found it. We were glad to get there. I knew the routine and what was coming next. I wasn’t looking forward to it…the parking.
In the quiet darkness, Tommy turned away from the camping spot to position the car and travel trailer. I got out of the car to help him navigate. In past parking experiences with the little travel trailer, it was usually a pretty ugly scene…this night included.
Tommy pulled forward, then backed up a little, then pulled forward, and backed up again. He couldn’t see me in the darkness as I tried to direct him. It was cold and damp in the forest and I was shivering. Ishould have had a warmer jacket on. Before long Tommy was swearing because the parking wasn’t going well. He couldn’t get the trailer in the spot just right and he couldn’t see me well enough to guide him. It made me nervous. He was being loud and I was afraid people around us were trying to sleep.
Finally, I asked him for a flashlight. He mumbled and grumbled as he got out of the drivers seat to look for a flashlight in the back of the station wagon. Luckily, he did have one. With the flashlight in hand, I was able to better guide him into position. It seemed like it took an hour to get the travel trailer parked just right, but it was probably only a matter of minutes.
After that, Tommy leveled the travel trailer and hooked up the utilities. Before long we were all happily inside of our new travel trailer with the luxury of forced air heating warming us. While getting ready for bed I made a cup of hot chocolate with a plump marshmallow in it for everyone. It was late and we were all tired. The hot chocolate was soothing and comforting and just what we all needed to relax.
It was nice to brush our teeth and have hot water to wash up with before going to bed just like at home. The Layton was designed well. It was roomy and pleasingly comfortable. At one end, two long bench seats six inches thick covered in a durable heavy weight fabric, pulled together to make an extra large king size bed. Overhead, on each side, a bunk folded down and that’s where the boys slept. This was a nice feature because it kept the dining table and seating area free. There was also a privacy drape that pulled across the sleeping area, if we wanted to use it. The layout was perfect for our family of four.
Once the lights were out and we were all settled in bed, we realized how beyond quiet and dark it was in the campground. Heavy fabric curtains in the trailer with black out thermal backings made it even darker inside. Within minutes we all drifted off into a deep sleep.
Without warning, an unusual sound filled the air interrupting our comfy cozy slumber. Thump thump-thump-thump, thump thump-thump-thump. The drumming began from a campsite to the rear of us. Tommy and I both opened our eyes. We lay in the darkness, listening and hoping the drumming would stop. Thump thump-thump-thump, thump thump-thump-thump. The drums grew louder and then the chanting
It was almost 9:00 p.m. The boys were asleep in the back seat of the car curled up under a warm blanket. I was tired, too, but the sheer excitement of our first trip out in our new travel trailer kept me alert.
As we entered Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in the darkness, the sweet forest smell of mint, pine, and redwood was comforting. The tall looming redwoods and reaching pine trees shaded the moon from lighting our way. It seemed darker than usual in the Park, much darker than in the city.
At turns along the slim roadway our headlights splashed other travel trailers and a few tents scattered among the trees. Most had their lights out. We drove slowly, following the map, looking for our assigned space number until we finally found it. We were glad to get there. I knew the routine and what was coming next. I wasn’t looking forward to it…the parking.
In the quiet darkness, Tommy turned away from the camping spot to position the car and travel trailer. I got out of the car to help him navigate. In past parking experiences with the little travel trailer, it was usually a pretty ugly scene…this night included.
Tommy pulled forward, then backed up a little, then pulled forward, and backed up again. He couldn’t see me in the darkness as I tried to direct him. It was cold and damp in the forest and I was shivering. Ishould have had a warmer jacket on. Before long Tommy was swearing because the parking wasn’t going well. He couldn’t get the trailer in the spot just right and he couldn’t see me well enough to guide him. It made me nervous. He was being loud and I was afraid people around us were trying to sleep.
Finally, I asked him for a flashlight. He mumbled and grumbled as he got out of the drivers seat to look for a flashlight in the back of the station wagon. Luckily, he did have one. With the flashlight in hand, I was able to better guide him into position. It seemed like it took an hour to get the travel trailer parked just right, but it was probably only a matter of minutes.
After that, Tommy leveled the travel trailer and hooked up the utilities. Before long we were all happily inside of our new travel trailer with the luxury of forced air heating warming us. While getting ready for bed I made a cup of hot chocolate with a plump marshmallow in it for everyone. It was late and we were all tired. The hot chocolate was soothing and comforting and just what we all needed to relax.
It was nice to brush our teeth and have hot water to wash up with before going to bed just like at home. The Layton was designed well. It was roomy and pleasingly comfortable. At one end, two long bench seats six inches thick covered in a durable heavy weight fabric, pulled together to make an extra large king size bed. Overhead, on each side, a bunk folded down and that’s where the boys slept. This was a nice feature because it kept the dining table and seating area free. There was also a privacy drape that pulled across the sleeping area, if we wanted to use it. The layout was perfect for our family of four.
Once the lights were out and we were all settled in bed, we realized how beyond quiet and dark it was in the campground. Heavy fabric curtains in the trailer with black out thermal backings made it even darker inside. Within minutes we all drifted off into a deep sleep.
Without warning, an unusual sound filled the air interrupting our comfy cozy slumber. Thump thump-thump-thump, thump thump-thump-thump. The drumming began from a campsite to the rear of us. Tommy and I both opened our eyes. We lay in the darkness, listening and hoping the drumming would stop. Thump thump-thump-thump, thump thump-thump-thump. The drums grew louder and then the chanting
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