Location (where were you camping?)
Somewhere in Northern California
Date (when did this happen?)
Deer season 1988
Set the stage
Our original intent was to camp for seven days with our husbands while they deer hunted. So four adults, two toddlers, on a deer hunt camping trip. What more could you ask for? The goal for the wives was to relax and have a little vacation. The men on the other hand were chompin at the bit to bag that deer. The toddlers had no clue what was going to happen. We had planned this trip for some time and were excited that the girls were having their first camp out. Our friends had bought a new and larger tent just for the occasion.
Tell the tale
The First day we arrived late. To be expected since our friends were always late. Watching them attempting to get their tent set up before the sun set was hilarious and entertaining. After a few minutes of them struggling, we pitched in and got it set up together. We built a fire and joked that hopefully that was the last problem for this trip. Not realizing this was just the beginning.
So day two arrives and we are jazzed. Ready to go have breakfast and play some games with the girls. Our friends daughter got stung two times on her thigh. She is screaming, jumping up and down while her mom is screaming hysterically. So I decide to take charge, administer the medication and calm mom down. Now, back on track we start to eat again and what do we see? a small snake, here we go again the screaming, jumping up and down and hysterics. The poor snake slithers away in fear. Another crisis avoided. Rest of the day goes well, no deer but no problem. There is always tomorrow.
So here we are on day three, our husbands arrive at camp with one buck. No problem, there's always tomorrow. That's when things begin to get really bad. The warden shows up and tells us there is a bad storm coming in and he suggests we leave. Our husbands being hard core hunters decide to wait out this little rain. The wives are trying to convince the hard headed hunters, yes, hard headed "it's time to go". The camp floods, we are throwing tents in the trucks crumpled up, gear everywhere, its now nightfall and there is an "air of panic" going on and I am praying for our safety. So as we leave we meet up with other hard headed hunters on the road trying to get out. So we have blinding rain, flooding water, its dark and we realize the road had washed out and we are now 4 wheeling /floating for safety. After we arrive in this little mountain town our little caravan decides to stop and eat to wait out the storm. We see another hunter with a huge buck and he is telling a game warden that this buck dropped in front of his truck and wants to know what to do? We are all thinking yeah, sure. Suddenly our friends face turns red and he states he is heading home and is not going to wait. Why, you ask? He realized in his rush he had not finished tying his buck and it had fallen out! Being the good friends that we are we started to laugh realizing this was his buck! No problem there is always tomorrow isn't there?
Tips and Tricks
- Lessons learned on this trip were simple. No matter the "avid" camper you are always check and try out gear at home.
- Find humor in all things.
- Stay calm and most IMPORTANTLY for the hard core (headed) hunter listen to the warden. If this is not enough, just think how much your wife and friends are going to remind you and the world of your temporary insanity!
- There is always tomorrow for another trip.
