No More Roughin' It!

For the past 30-some-odd years on Labor Day weekend, Mom and Dad's best friends (Mama Jean and Papa Charlie) have taken their family camping at Cheaha State Park. It all started when the A/E firm that Papa Charlie worked for built the lodge hotel. He went with several guys from work to look at it, and he has taken his family there every year ever since. I remember several times growing up when we joined them, sleeping in tents. (You can read more about those good 'ole days here: http://kountrymama.blogspot.com/2007/06/goodbye-papa-charlie.html.)

Anyway, last year was Leyden's first year camping at Cheaha, and I knew that we would be camping every Labor Day from now on. The only problem is that my parents are getting older. (I didn't say OLD, I said older, and YES, there is a difference!) Mom was quite the trooper last year, sleeping in a tiny tent with Leyden and me, but Dad started up right after we got home from Cheaha last year, talking about renting a camper for this year. Well, when I checked into renting a camper, I was in for quite a shock. It costs more to rent a camper for four nights than it does to rent a condo in Orlando for six nights! So, I started trying to come up with a plan. After much thought and consideration, I used some savings to buy a pop-up camper. I've had it about two weeks, and I can't wait to leave for Cheaha next Thursday! It's a 1999 model, so it's not new by any means, but it looks great on the inside.






(Keep in mind that these photos were taken while I was in the midst of packing the camper for Cheaha, so the small dinette had been dismantled and there are various things laying around waiting to be stowed for travel.)


We're all really excited about using the camper for the first time. You know I'll come back from Cheaha with pictures and stories to share. It will be kinda somber, because this will be the first year of camping at Cheaha without Papa Charlie, but we will have some fun to honor his memory, too.

Here's to Papa Charlie and the legacy of fun and family that he instilled in us!