Our camping season had gotten off to a rocky start, it rained just about the whole month of May and we dealt with catastrophic electrical issues in June. But we were finally pretty well settled into our new camper at our new campground and we had a three-day weekend coming up for the Fourth of July. Dave and I were really looking forward to it.
We had friends who were planning on staying at the campground that weekend and it was going to be great— and it started out that way. We all hung out for a bit, even the dogs got along OK. Our 13 1/2-year-old Beagle and our friends' 7-year-old Boxer decided they were just a couple of old guys and settled into their respective spots in the grass for naps.
All good. Our friends fished for a bit, and we even saw some fireworks off in the distance.
Then the sky opened up and it just absolutely poured rain. They scampered into their camper and we took off for ours. Dave and I and Cletus took refuge from the storm in our camper. It was a pretty forceful storm that included one giant clap of thunder. I never even saw the lightning. The lights went out for a split second and came right back on. All but the TV. OK, we'll figure that out tomorrow.
But we didn't. Our neighbor from across the street tried to help, but to no avail. Whatever in a TV makes it connect to an outside source no longer existed in ours. Just $68 later, we had a new smart TV. Way smarter than us. It took us a bit to find someone to help us get it working. And even longer for the old one to be removed from where it was mounted on the wall. We need different screws to get the new one on the wall. At least it works now.
Dave needs that TV. He gets up about 3:30 or 4 a.m. and I do not. He needs something to entertain himself for a couple hours, because that isn't going to be me until at least 7:30 a.m. Another problem solved.
We've been working on meeting people and making new friends. We left Cletus at home so we could attend the pig roast/luau. It'll be the same for the upcoming chili cook-off that I can't wait to take part in. Cletus isn't welcome at the food functions and we can't leave him in the camper. We did that once years ago and he tore up the screen in every window he could reach. It's OK, we don't spend the night on those days. And, he gets to come with us for the Easter Egg Hunt, I think he might be of some help with that event.
And it's not like poor old Mr. Cletus is missing out on all the fun. He loves to go for walks, so we try to go for at least one nice long walk every day he is at the campground. Dave follows along behind us in the golf cart. Sometimes Cletus forgets he's an old guy and just keeps right on walking, from the next smell to the next smell to the next smell. Then it's "Oh buddy, we're not going to be able to walk back." That's OK, we've got Daddy back-up.
Plus, our campground has a dog park. Nothing but a 20x20 chunk of grass fenced in. I lock the gate, take his leash off and let him decide what to sniff, what gets a second harder sniff and what gets peed on. He walks the entire perimeter and then criss-crosses for closer inspection. When he walks back to the gate, he's had enough.
Last weekend, our walk started out great over by the newly built beach and then he stepped in something green and sticky and then in some tiny gravel, which immediately stuck to his foot and got up in between his pads.
I pulled off as much as I could and we shoved him up on the cart. He must've been able to get off whatever might have been left by himself overnight because the next day he was up for a super long walk.
We were headed to Dave's sister's camper to see if her hubby would help us get our new fan in the gazebo. We were just in sight of the big road when they whizzed by on their cart, trash bags on the back. OK, they're headed for the dumpsters. So we did, too. Dave on the golf cart and Cletus and me walking along.
We could see them as they unloaded their trash and then headed for the office. OK, we'll catch them on their way back. And thankfully, we did. That was a really long walk for Cletus. We got him loaded onto the cart and took the shortcut home to our camper, while her hubby went to grab his ladder.
The fan is up and Dave has entertained himself with the remote, testing all six speeds and the reverse mode. Quite a nice gift from our friend. Now, all we need is some warmer Dog Days of Summer weather to justify using it.