Camping - Chilliwack River 2009/06/05

Good trip to Chilliwack this time.

Fortunately weather wasn't too hot; just right.

Put the big tarp up for the first time, and used the new, 2.3m extending metal pole as a centre pole.

It was the first time for both of them and it wasn't very easy.

Quite a pain in the butt, actually.

Thought about returning $50 telescoping pole and splurging for $250 dining tent, but the tents are so big and heavy.

But so enticingly convenient!

Fortunately there was a wooden pole laying at the site, and it was 3m high.

Between the two poles and a couple trees, we got it up and it worked to keep a big area dry during an overnight shower.

But not impressed.

Didn't help that I forgot a couple of my longest pieces of rope, as well as my collapsing saw and the folding shovel.

Brought a few 3' pieces of 2x4 for firewood, so had to buy a bit for a change. Bought a $10 wheelbarrow load but most of it was dreadfully damp.

Some pieces were surprisingly good - un-split, knotted, un-splittable wood burned well, nicely split blocks only 3 or 4 inches square smouldered all day sunday.

Saturday morning we were woken up by someone's car stereo. It was not moving, loud, and pissing me off. I just got out of the tent and a couple young guys came by looking for a tow rope.

I expressed my general pissed-offed-ness at the 10:00 time, they turned off the tunes, and I scoped the situation.

Kid with brand new Jeep Wrangler did as much digging out by hand as possible, then with Woo's poo shovel.

I eventually drove the 30m to his Jeep, he hooked the $5 tow rope around his rear axle and both end-hooks to separate tow anchors under the front of my truck.

I pulled until there was smoke coming from my front wheels, still no traction.

Dug myself in pretty good too.

Un-hooked from him, changed my angle, and pulled him out easily.

He got stuck again later when just goofing around.

I borrowed his axe to split my crappy wood and we were all happy.

Disappointed at all the garbage left around though, again.