Family pretty much rocks!!
We always look forward to our reunions, and love seeing each other again. And, it's always an added bonus to do fun things together at the same time!
You might remember our Oregon Coast Huffaker Reunion from two years ago: Starting HERE, here (part 2), here (part 3), here (part 4), here (part 5), and finally, HERE. (Hopefully I won't be as long-winded this time. You also might remember the reunion that we hosted for my side of the family: Part 1, and Part 2. But ... destinations are always fun!!
So for this year's Huffaker reunion, we "let" Kerry plan it again. (Poor girl! She works so hard to find a location, with things to do, and that everyone will [hopefully] enjoy. She does a great job, but I think she's also ready to hand off that job to someone else!!)
This year's reunion was a week-long camping trip at Lolo Hot Springs, located on Highway 12, near the Idaho-Montana border. Almost all of Todd's siblings were there for at least part of the reunion. We were missing some of the next generation from the different family groups -- well, they're not Pokemon: you can't get em' all, right? (I was recently informed that that game does still exist, and people still play it. Whatever!)
My story, actually begins a little before the reunion. We knew that to get the most fun out of camping, we'd want to take our four-wheelers (ATV's) to the reunion. But that would mean taking two trailers there -- the camp trailer, and the four-wheeler trailer. We didn't really want to do that, but couldn't see a good way around it either.
So we bit the bullet, and said goodbye to our old Espré camp trailer:
She's seen a lot of years with us, and she was in GREAT condition. (That photo's taken alongside the four-wheeler trailer, back in 2005.) But really --- we look like our own caravan when we drive down the highway together:
(2008)
And we welcome to the family, The Shockwave:
(Yes, Cameron's standing on the roof. Checking things out!)
This new camper is designed as a "toy hauler". It has a drop-down ramp on the back, and the interior has movable or removable furnishings, that allow the four-wheelers to be driven in, and tied down to secure them for transport.
In effect, it combines the functions of both trailers for us, and when we load 1 ATV in the bed of the pickup, with 2 in the toy hauler, we can bring three of the four ATV's camping with us, and only need to pull one trailer. IT'S A WIN!!!
It's listed as shorter than the Espré, but actual length (with tongue) is slightly longer. We really didn't want anything huge, and we didn't want anything extravagant. We did want a walk-around bed, which this gave us,. So, it suits our criteria, and we look forward to a lot of years of play with this new camper.
We had a week to prep everything, and then load up for the drive to the reunion. And wow, it's been a long time since we've really gone camping. And we had to figure out how to pack this new trailer, and how everything fits. Interesting process!
It's a beautiful drive!!
And being with family is the best!
More coming soon on our reunion adventures.
P.S. It should also be noted that on the very day that we signed papers on the new camper ..... the air conditioner at the Haven gave up the ghost.
Well, THAT was an unexpected jab in the pocketbook!
READ MORE:
2017 Family Reunion. Part 2
2017 Family Reunion, Part 3
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