MetalDad 33 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Day One:Music: Heart, Aerosmith, Mott The Hoople, T. RexDrink: Diet Dr. Pepper and Kool-Aid...Ok, I packed some beer too!Smell: Low Tide and CanvasYes indeed dear reader…you’ve tuned into a TR from a KOA.I’ll wait a minute til’ you get that chuckle out of your system. And you in the back that’s just getting ready to check out…that’s cool…but you’ll miss a nice one, plus it’s short!You’ll see some regular MetalDad stuff… Beer, Fire, Food, and the Hat! Well both hats…camo and Magic…Some things you won’t see… the moustache. Ben’s not in this one. You also won’t see the daughter with all the fish, or the kid with the mohawk. This was a Father-Daughter trip, just me and my little Annie!You’ll also meet some of the fam…Ya’ see Timmy, there’s this ongoing thing with my kids. There’s three of them. So often, the oldest gets to experience everything because she was first, my son gets some leftovers, but gets to do just “boy” things, since he’s the only one.And Annie...she gets all the hand-me-downs from both of them, has to grow up a bit quicker, because she hangs out with the other two, and has up until now, has had the least amount of time with us (duh, she’s the youngest).For me, that translates into camping. I’ve taken the other two on two solo trips each.One each to the KOA on consecutive weekends, and one each a trip to the Fort to meet up with Ben and Will.Annie has put it to me that she hasn’t had a solo trip yet, so we’ve been trying to put it together for awhile…actually almost a year. She's old enough now!We have a local KOA, it sits in an industrial park, but actually is surrounded on two sides by the bay. It’s at a spot where a large lake spills over into the bay, and provides for a very unique sight every once and awhile, an alligator swimming in salt water.The KOA is the site of our very first camping trip, and our very first trip with our camper. For us, it’s ideal because it’s 15 mins. Away, and it’s free.So, after months of scrutinizing every weekend, plans, forecast, work… I said the hell with it, Annie and I are going, we’ll work everything else out around it!We were at my folks celebrating their 60th anniversary, I checked with big brother, and he hooked us up with a site.BTW, here’s a shot from the party. I set up and played, had ‘em dancing all day!We’re going for the weekend, set-up Friday, come home Sunday.That means Friday is… ‘Take Your Camper To Work Day’!Work is a sweet torture when you have your rig parked outside of your office window.MetalWife drops off Annie at the office as I’m closing up, and wheels up.A quick stop at Publix for some ice and Magic Hat and we’re on the road… 10 minutes later, we’re at the KOA.Big brother hooked us up with a great site, right on the water, neighbors only to the back of the PUP.Ever have one of those moments where a real non-descript decision ends up saving you hours or even days of trouble and years of embarrassment? For me, that could be daily.But in this instance, it was a matter of inches. I backed in, got the PUP pretty much where I wanted, but was going to adjust by a nudge and push, once unhitched.I set the chocks about 4-6 inches behind the wheels, to leave room for adjustment.As I cranked the tongue wheel, the camper starts to raise up off the hitch.Just as it clears the ball, the camper starts to move backwards under its own weight, towards the bay.It rocks up the chocks and back down, and settles in hard and tight…cool…I’ll set it up here!Meanwhile, I’m carrying on a conversation with a six-year old while trying to beat the light.“Look Daddy! Everything!”By the way, that’s “Piggy Joe” she’s holding. More on Joe later.The good Lord sent in the cavalry.My brother decided to camp the weekend too. He had a cabin 100 feet away, and pulls up in the KOA cart. He took Annie for a ride whilst I set up the camper.Our mantra for the weekend, Less Is More. I was set up in no time.Know what this is?Nope.That’s Pixie Dust.That’s coquina and site droppings from the 1500 loop of the Fort from the Fourth.See here:http://www.fortfiends.net/forum/topic/7002-blood-sweat-and-fiends-a-fort-fourth/Now, normally, I’m not a big fan of garbage burning, but I sometimes use my beer boxes to start the fire. Plus I had to send a photo to Ben to rub it in that I had Hat and a fire ring.I fired up Paul Jr. and rocked the Bubba Burgers, with Cole Slaw, Pickles, and Lay’s Stax (a Pringle’s rip-off!)Annie took one of me!A wolf in sheep’s clothing.We were planning on staying up late, hanging out by the fire, visiting with my brother.Then the skies opened up.And the Lord spoke “Thou shalt go to bed early”, so we set up for the night.Dear fiends, my favorite photo from the trip!We snapped one of the vacant ‘North Bunk’ to goof on Ben.And Annie wanted one more to send to MetalWife before she fell asleep.The caption read “Mommy, I’m in your spot!”Tomorrow… a full Father-Daughter Saturday! charitycase20....Charity 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
4Brians.....Todd 103 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Looks like a great start. Can't wait to read more. My DDs are 8 and 10...wouldn't trade time with them for anything, so I can imagine how special this weekend must have been. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I am soooo in for this one!! I think you just won Father of the Year!Can't wait for more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HappyRedhead......Betsy 16 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in. Sounds like a fun weekend! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YENSIDCAMPER 66 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Sounds like fun to me. Love some Aerosmith to get a trip going. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mommy rainbo.....Bo 41 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Awesome. Can't wait to see more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Total Joker ... TJ 203 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 All in! :pc: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Momoffive aka Loretta 34 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in :pc: What special memories you are building!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
daddyphat808 - Eric 16 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 These are the type of trips that I love. I am planning on one of these with my oldest soon. For us it is a little backwards the youngest and the boy gets a lot of the cool stuff while she gets left out a little. I am loving it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Nothing like Daddy/daughter time! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Ooops, KFK haunting me! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 It looks like fun so far (even with a little rain). Looking forward to more as always. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fortpartyof4 108 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Another MD TR!!! Yeah, baby! your daughter is so. darn. cute. I didn't know KOA's were the subject of jokes, though? We've stayed in many, they're better than a lot of places!I think this is fantastic. I love one on one time with my kids, too. Even if it's just the drive over to school in the morning or a long bike ride, being able to talk to them and just listen to what they have to say is priceless.I also love the shoe picture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Wow, John, this is great!What a great idea to spend one-on-one time with each of your kids camping.So, where is this KOA that is only 15 minutes from where we live?With waterfront sites no less?TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in too. Everything i learned not to do (while camping) i learned on camping trips with my Dad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in also, always love it when you can spend one on one time with the kids makes for some great memories!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in... I'm in!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Family of Bears 98 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 This is so sweet. Makes me want to go pick up Bell from school and squeeze her. They are such an awesome age. The Mommy I'm in your spot picture is so cute. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCTigerCock 171 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 I'm in.Great you were able to spend quality time with Annie :jumpforjoy :jumpforjoy"A wolf in sheep’s clothing" :heart: :rofl2:B/c of MD enfluence, took some magic hat for others to experience. Didn't realize it would end up being more enfluence than I thought. :rofl2: Let's just say there are some extreme MH lovers out there.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 So, where is this KOA that is only 15 minutes from where we live?With waterfront sites no less?TCDI was wondering the same thing?Love a good MD report, even if it's short and at a KOA.I've never had a horrible experience at a KOA. Granted, some are better than others, but we usually only use them because it's in the vicinity of some kind of plans. I am curious to where this one is though.Way to be a good Dad!!Piggy Joe? There's gotta be a good story behind that. ^-^ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southern Blessings 4 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 How sweet taking your little girl camping for some one on one time. She looks so happy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
charitycase20....Charity 10 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Awww! I'm all a mushy now...I need to do more things with the kids individually...*sigh* they grow up so fast! :heart: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Judy in Texas 150 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Are those pink satin sheets or at least a pink satiny sleeping bag? That makes a special weekend with Dad even more special! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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