Lake Bastrop Camping Trip
September 19th-21st, 1998
We decided to buy a pop-up style camper so we can begin taking the family on weekends of wilderness adventure and fun. Our first trip was to Lake Bastrop Campground, about 40 miles northeast of Austin, Texas. The trip was quite a bit of fun, somewhat of an adventure, with a healthy amount of work involved. We had a campsite right on the water, so we could step out of the camper, into our canoe and paddle the lake at any time. here are a few highlights of the trip:
- Backed the camper blindly into the parking spot, in total darkness, while Megan screamed (she was standing in a fire ant bed)
- Realized I forgot an extension cord to connect the trailer's electrical system (and air conditioner) to the campsite plug, tugging on the short length of cord in the trailer I knew it wouldn't reach...Bozo move no. 1
- Frantically drove off in search of an extension cord. Returned an hour later to a hot, frustrated wife and kids with a flimsy, low amperage cord suitable for powering a light bulb or two
- Discovered that the cord in the trailer was actually quite long, once you unhook it from the tangle it was in...Bozo move no. 2
- Woke up in the middle of the night to the "pitter-patter" of water dripping (and puddling) on the floor of the camper, the air conditioner was draining into the trailer
- After breakfast, for some morning exercise, we hooked up the camper and carried all our stuff to another site, a better one, closer to the water
- Gail, Corey and Megan found a small snake near the campsite, we played with him for awhile, then let him go
- Enjoyed a peaceful family canoe ride around the lake, dug mussels up from the lake bottom
- Hiked along the waterfront, saw frogs, lizards and the skull of some kind of animal with big front teeth
- While unlocking the door to our van, a spider ran up my leg and into my shorts. I jumped, snapping the key off in the lock, we had no spare with us...Bozo move no. 3
- Fished the key stub out of the door lock , stuck it into the ignition so we could drive the van
- Went on an early morning canoe ride with Corey, we enjoyed the scenery, the peace and quiet
I did finally get the key stub out of the ignition several weeks later...I discovered that having a key in the ignition activates a switch. Left on long enough, the switch will drain the battery so much that the vehicle will not start. We are planning another camping trip for November. I think we are recovered and rested enough to handle another one now!
I put a few photos in here so you can see a little of what we saw.
