Monday- although Iād worked getting ready a considerable amount and we could show up at noon to the camp ground, I still didnāt leave the house until like 130. There is just so much to remember when youāre going camping.
It was cool to have two cars going, now that Mariana has her license and car. Made it easier to fit everything that we needed.
I mixed up all the meals for the dog and divided his meds up into little plastic bags and labeled them with the time and instructions. His heart and mine were both broken when I left him with my dad. I had to tell myself itās like only a little over 24 hours.
We were sharing the camp location with Danila, she always chooses the same spot. But we got there way before her. I was stressed out because even though I have set my tent up many times and by myself, I was having a hard time this time. I was sweating like crazy! With the help of Mariana and her friend we finally got it up after about half an hour.
I finally got myself a battery powered air pump, so that helped get the air mattresses up and the whole camp to the best my ability. It was sunny and I could see people were already at the river but I knew I probably wouldnāt finish everything in time to go out there that day.
After I was done getting everything ready I decided to hit the dab and eat my first edible. I made sure to buy lots of weed products for the trip lol. I also got a really big bottle of fireball.
I kept expecting Danila to show up but she didnāt. After I smoked I went to check out the river and I was stoked to find that it was much better than the year before. It was fuller and there were several swimming holes, thankfully. I suppose it helped we got out there a month earlier than last year. Although Iād prefer later on in the summer, so we had a better guarantee on the weather.
Danila didnāt show up until after 5⦠which surprised me. I tried to help her carry some of her shit from her car to our table and camp and she got annoyed I was messing up her organization. My bad⦠I was overwhelmed earlier and could have used more help so I figure she must be even more since itās so late. But whatever. She allowed me to help her carry wood to the fire. After that I left her to do it all herself. Thatās what she wanted š¤·š»āāļø
First nightās dinner was bbq hamburgers and hot dogs. I helped the best I could because I didnāt help much last time as I was always holding the dog. And soon I would be again.
Dinner was good. We made a huge bonfire, as per usual.
I realized with some sadness that this years group camp was different. There was the fact Danilaās youngest wasnāt coming at all and Kandyās oldest was acting kinda weird and refused to stay the night even though she came and stayed until well after dark. Danilaās oldest daughter couldnāt come until Tuesday and neither could Francisco.
There was some drama last year between Kandy and two of the families that always come and so this year neither are coming at all. Iām kinda disappointed about one of them because Iāve became pretty good friends with them over the years through this yearly camp.
Also one of the girls whose whole family always comes is not coming as sheās getting a divorce and just moved and canāt get away from the business she pretty much runs for her dad now. It was nice that she did come out for the day on Tuesday. Another one of the friends and her large family werenāt staying because she had to go mid week for a biopsy on potential cancer. Plus work as she runs a family business too. She was able to come in the evening several evenings for dinner and fire time. One of the days she got some river time too.
Itās hard as time goes by and people grow up and transition and nothing can ever stay the same.
Idk why, but I felt not good and that I was so full of air⦠maybe from all the huffing and puffing from setting up the tent and all that? I couldnāt get the feeling to reduce, so in the end I didnāt drink at all- I also didnāt smoke anymore either. Iād take an edible so I was really high but I was offered like 400 times to hit a bong or joint or pipe and I was didnāt feel like it. It also kept the hunger away. I keep having issues with this being full of air.
I stayed at the fire until a little after midnight and decided to go smoke before I went to bed. But once I felt how cold it was I decided to hotbox the car instead of smoke outside or in my tent.
I was really tired but once I hit the bed I felt awake. I couldnāt really fall asleep and I was awake when Mariana came in the tent at 330 am. Iām not sure what time I finally fell asleep as my watch died during the night without being charged.
It was slightly overcast when I woke up, but it quickly cleared up. Since I didnāt sleep until late I didnāt wake up until 10. I slowly got up and went to smoke and decided to start with drinking a coke. On vacation I can have plenty cokes, Iād decided. In the end I donāt think there was any more than one day I had more than one.
I came late for breakfast and help a little with the cleanup. It was getting later so I knew I better get my ass together and get down to the river so I could enjoy hours upon hours of river time. Iād been waiting anxiously for this since the last river trip I took last summer. As I be every year.
I got dressed and blew up some floaties with the new machine, which was nice. I took a sizable edible and filled an empty water bottle with a large amount of fireball and some strawberry lemonade. I wasnāt sure what I should mix with fireball and if that even went but it was alright.
It wasnāt a super hot day but it was warm enough. There was wind too but it was warm, so not a problem.
Most of us were out there on blankets. Talking, joking, laughing, having some heart to hearts, drinking, smoking, pigging out. I was depressed because I forgot all our salami and cheese for our Sandwiches. At least we had chips and other munchies.
I sat out and warmed up for at least an hour before I finally got my floaty and got in when most the others also went in. The river is fuller but it also has a slightly stronger current than usual which meant I had to be constantly fighting it with my floaty.
Not usually an issue but the first time I floated from the shallow part to head into a deeper part and I went to kick my left leg to swim against the current it immediately went into a spasm. Omg š³ ! I immediately switched my leg to stretch the opposite way to counter the spasm and it seizes⦠but any movement that is not flexing the opposite way of the spasm sends it right back that way.
I was scared as Iāve never had any spasms in water and I didnāt expect this one to come on. I was still in the area I could touch and planted my right foot on the ground and used that to navigate me back up from the deep part. I was scared thinking if I hadnāt had a floaty it would be dangerous⦠even with the floaty it could have been. I probably would have had to ask for help if Iād gotten into the part I couldnāt touch.
I did not like that one little bit.
Iām a decent swimmer and Iām not scared of the water in normal circumstances. Now Iām seriously nervous.
I stayed down at the river well after everyone else went back up besides Danila and I. We got out there later and I missed Monday and Iād miss tomorrow. I needed as much river as possible!
When I get back from the river Mariana informs me that she went to the store and got a message from Francisco that they arenāt coming that evening after all, rather the next day. This stresses me out because we need more ice. And Mariana just literally came from the store and got none.
Day two dinner was tacos (American) and burritos⦠I helped cut some of the ingredients. When it was time to eat I was again not too hungry but I wanted to eat before I had to leave. Iād decided to leave at 730ish but because dinner was late to be started and done I didnāt go to leave until 815.
I really didnāt want to go at all but I definitely wanted to see my dog. It had been a nice time setting up and not having to worry about his needs for the time Iād been there but I missed him so much. I knew every second that went by he was waiting for me to get home and wondering when that would be.
Marianaās boyfriend showed up and he didnāt have an air mattress, so I had to take all my stuff off. I packed up as much as I thought I would need, hoping not to forget anything necessary.
As I was trying to leave I discovered Iād killed the battery in my car so I now needed a jump. Fuck. I finally remembered to try to use this flashlight thing (and remembered to charge it) that my grandma got me years ago that was supposed to be able to jump your car. But- it absolutely did not work. Damn it.
I had to go get Mariana to jump me and it started up pretty quick and then my not wanting to leave switched into let me get tf up outta here. Iām thinking the whole ride home how I canāt wait to see my pooch.
He was super happy to see me and me likewise. I made my way home and immediately took a shower and chilled the rest of the evening. I tried to make a list and prepare things so that I could go back after watching grandma on Wednesday. I had originally doubted Iād want to go back that night but after spending the time I did there I knew I definitely did. If I came Thursday Iād probably waste time in the morning and miss river time.
And honestly I wanted Seth to see me gone more. Did he notice I was gone? Iām sure he did but anything past ānoticeā wasnāt happening Iām sure. I did my best to not look and see what heād been doing the time I was gone.
I managed to go to bed at the decent time of midnight.
Wednesday felt like a special kind of torture. Waking up at 7am and having to go watch grandma was close to the last thing I wanted to do.
And grandma was being difficult with her balance, so it was even more challenging. Then she pooped a whole lot every single time she went. And one time she went in her diaper right when we went to leave the bathroom from going and getting cleaned up.
And all I can think about is how my friends were most definitely sitting by and in the beautiful river enjoying warm air. In town it was cold and overcast. Overcast turning to look like imminent rain. Ew.
Mom got home at like 230 and I hoped it would translate to me getting the things I had to do finished quick and off to camping asap. But of course it didnāt.
I ended up helping my mom buy something off Amazon prime. Then I went and did several errands and ran home and had to do the dogs medicine and have him eat there. By the time all was said and done I didnāt take off until a little after 6.
Iād heard it was to be a grand feast of steak, ribs and chicken and there was āplenty.ā I hoped so since I decided against getting anything to eat before I headed out. I did stop to get a queen size air mattress because Marianaās boyfriend was staying there tonight and we didnāt have enough. And now Francisco had his own tent I could fit a bigger one.
What I didnāt get is ice because Mariana text and said that she was getting 8lbs from the store. I thought that would be enough since I originally got 3 bags of 2lbs each and it filled the chest.
As soon as I got there I tried to get everything situated asap. Luckily Mariana was close by to help hold the dog.
Dinner still wasnāt ready when I was done so I hit the dab and ate an edible. I was ready to drink that night, made sure to bring the bottle with me to dinner.
Dinner was really good and we ended the night at the bonfire again. I had a blanket to cuddle with the dog.
When I was doing something before dinner the dog was walking around free (leash was on but I temporarily let it go) there was some sort of scuffle with him and another little dog that was his size. All I know is I saw him flip upside down and I ran as fast as Iāve ever ran to get him. By the time I got there he was right side up and I pulled him away and looked him over to see if he was hurt. I couldnāt see any thing. The other dog owner made it sound like my dog was the aggressor but I know that wasnāt the case. He was very passive as soon as we got to camp with all the different people and dogs.
He was actually letting everyone pet him and even going up to a few people himself.
I stayed up as late as I could at the fire with the dog- around midnight. I wanted to get him to have his snack and I needed to smoke and take out my contacts. I was dragging my feet to bed someway because I realized Marianaās boyfriend had went to bed in the tent and she went to party it up at her friends camp spot. So that meant Iād have to go lay in the tent with him without Mariana. Felt weird about that but it is what it is.
I hotboxed the car and it was around 130 when I got into the tent. I tried to be as quiet as I could being I had to get the dog situated and take my meds. But he was snoring away (luckily not loud) which was actually better because I knew he was really asleep. Less awkward that way lol.
Got up slow Thursday too, but not as slow as Tuesday being I had the dog who needed his meds and to go out and use the bathroom. I discovered the best place for doing his slurry medicine was the car or the tent and those were the same places that worked good for him to eat.
I smoked it up and talked to Danila about politics and everything else. It was cloudy and cool until about 1230 and finally some sun came out. We decided we should get ready and get to the river.
Itās stressful trying to bring the dog. I had this beach sun tent along with several other things. Luckily I had Francisco help me and it wasnāt too hot so the dog could actually walk down to the area near the river we were sitting at. Last year it was too hot and I had to carry him. Plus we hung out where it was a lot rockier and I didnāt want him hurting his little old legs on all the rocks.
The sunny day was short lived and once we got out there it only lasted like another hour. It never got warm enough for me to consider getting in, and I was sad about that. The dog didnāt hold back however and got in several times himself.
Although it didnāt end up sunny and warm, it was relatively decent. I stayed out there longer than anyone else except Danila and she was ready to go in before I was. But I went in about the same time since it was time for the dog to have his medicine.
I knew Mariana was leaving back home but I wasnāt sure what time. Iād been trying to think of all the things I wanted her to take home to make sure everything would fit into my car the next day. After all we came with two cars and I came back out with more stuff for the dog. I was surprised as fuck when I got back up from the river I realized Mariana had already left.
I was pissed off. Why didnāt she even say anything??
All her friends left and a little after that Danilaās daughter and her man left too. Now the only campers left on the lower level was me and Danila.
I started to feel tired and as I waited for the time to feed the dog after his meds I decided to lay down. Both the dog and I cuddled up in the tent and I did fall asleep some. The dog was out so hard that he didnāt hear the alarm or me even getting up to get the food ready. After he ate we ended up laying down again and I de decided I wanted to nap.
But I couldnāt really fall asleep and so around 830 I joined everyone up at the kitchen area to have some dinner.
During dinner it was discovered that this big bag of weed that Kandyās boyfriend had on one of the tables had disappeared. At first we all took a casual and comical approach, it had to have been dropped somewhere. Or accidentally picked up and moved. But still, nobody could find it.
After dinner we all joined in with flashlights and looked everywhere on the upper level of the camp. Kandyās boyfriend joked there was a 20 dollar reward. I kept joking my dog would find it, he knows the smell very well.
But still it was missing. The vibe kinda went down⦠but at the same time nobody could imagine anybody actually took it. Why? Because outside us all being good friends and good people who arenāt thieves, everyone had an abundance of their own weed. There werenāt even that many minors that might have snuck some but they would have snuck SOME (easily, itās everywhere and weāre all intoxicated) but more than likely would have just asked.
Realistically it was probably dropped somewhere or thrown away. Maybe even a crow, we reasoned, since theyād gotten into Franciscoās stuff and ate a loaf of bread and a whole French bread. Idk. It was really bizarre that the next day in the light it wasnāt located either.
I stayed up there through the bon fire and didnāt go down to my camp until around 1, when most people went back to their camps to sleep. I again decided to hot box the car to warm up and put the dog out hard. Not that he hadnāt been cuddled up in my lap and bundled in a blanket as we sat by the fire for hours.
After I was done smoking I took out my contacts but when I was done I realized I couldnāt find my glasses. Iād been keeping them right there in the car for when I removed the contacts, there they were. But they were not there.
And my vision is absolutely terrible. Like dangerously terrible. Like natural selection would have taken my ass out many years ago without the modern technology of glasses.
I assumed they had to be in the tent, so I got the dog out the car and made my way in the pitch dark to the tent. But when I was in there I couldnāt find them at all either!! OMG!! They must be in the car? Or out on the picnic table?? I had to go look. I wished so hard there was someone around to help me with actual normal vision, but Danila was still up at the bonfire.
I had to lock the dog in the tent and he kept trying to get out but I didnāt want to worry about him running off or whatever when I canāt see. I went out to the picnic table and looked around⦠nada. I had wanted to pack some of that shit up but now that was not happening. I went back into the car to look again and couldnāt find it. What the actual fuck??
I thought it was possible Mariana somehow grabbed it with her stuff. I sure hoped I didnāt permanently lose them because they are my only decent pair of glasses I have. Also considered putting my contacts back in and sleeping with them but I knew that would be miserable. And a struggle getting them back in considering how dark it was.
So I went and laid back down and decided there was nothing left to do but go to sleep and hope super hard nothing happened that required vision until light again.
Of course I had to pee at 3am and there was no way I was walking to the bathroom without vision⦠so I went out and popped a squat not too far from the tent. I thought about how anything and anyone could be out there right near me and I wouldnāt have been able to see them. Well if this is how I go I guess this is how I go.
Luckily no emergency happened but I did wake up at 8am to the sound of rain. OH NO! And I canāt even see!!
I planned on waking at 9 to get the dog his meds and then pack up. Carefully so everything could fit. But now thereās no time for meds or careful. All the stuff on the table is getting wet and so I throw the dog in the car and start to get everything that shouldnāt be wet out of the wet. Then I have to put my contacts in because itās impossible to do much.
Then as I go to move my car closer to the camp to be easier I realize my battery is dead again. Youāre fucking kidding me! It must be about to die because thereās no reason it should be dead. Danila jumps it and I get closer to the camp and continue to pack up as fast as possible.
I went to roll down the window of the car some for the dog and discovered the battery had died again. WHATTTTTTTT??? Omg.
I packed up everything and had Danila try to jump me again but the car wouldnāt start. I get super upset thinking I have to have someone drive me into town to get a new battery, drive me back and then help me out it back in. As everyone is trying to pack up themselves, itās raining and we have only a short time. Oh and I have the dog to handle too. Nooooooo!!!!
Luckily after leaving it to jump for like 5 minutes it started!!! Damn. I drove straight home.
Unpacking wasnāt fun of course. But I did it immediately. Although itās now Tuesday right now and I finally have my tent drying on my front lawn.
We debated on not doing the group camp ground to save money the next year but in the end it seemed we decided to do it again because the benefits are worth the cost.
I hope next year to go everyday and not work any of the days. I do think bringing the dog half the time was good for both of us.
Oh I forgot to say as soon as I jumped back into phone service I got a message from my mom informing me that the new teenager we hired for Sunday put in her two weeks. Yes the one we hired like 2 months ago. The one that wanted 6 Sundays off between now and September.
Luck has fallen again on us because the fill in girl we hired said she would take Sundays and still fill in. PLEASE POWERS THAT BE LET THIS WORK FOR THE LONG TERM!!
Itās absolutely insane how many workers weāve gone through for ONE SHIFT.