Mrs CR wanted to go "gramping" with the grandchildren so the new Journey was packed for a shakedown trip 20 minutes from home at the Canungra showgrounds. Daughter and 2 grandsons (3 and 18 moths) plus son with a pigeon (girl 8 and boy 5). Set off Sunday morning, arrived around 9:30 and set up. Daughter arrived soon after and we spent a couple of hours setting up her tent and gazebo and tarps. Had them pretty well set up when son arrived with camper trailer. About this time I found that the side screen supplied as a freebie with the van was a foot short (13' long instead of 14') and finished nearly a metre above the ground. It was promptly packed back up for return and replacement so we had no screen from the awning. Then the rain started and it rained most of the afternoon.
Next morning was cloudy but we went to the creek for a swim for an hour or so and number 2 son turned up with his two daughters. He is not a camper, he wont sleep under any more than 5 stars
but came along to meet up with the family. Finished the swim, went back to the van and the rain started again, just bucketing down. Number 2 son packed wife and kids in the car and went home, the rest of us sat around under what shelter we had with 4 kids who didn't want to be cooped up in small areas. When the rain finally eased a couple of hours later the grounds were either under water or slimy sticky mud. The kids had their gum boots but would want to go into the tent or camper when they were 2-3 inches taller with mud so parents were beside themselves trying to keep them out or to take their boots off. The van was a no go area for the kids.
This morning (Tuesday) was more of the same so packed sons camper and got him away, then started on the daughter's tent while the rain came and went and came back again. This was done while Mrs CR nursed 18 mth old and argued with 3 year old as to why he couldn't play outside or inside the tent and had to stay in the undercover area (camp kitchen) out of the way. About 2:00 PM she manage to get away with a lot of her stuff spread between our truck and son's garage to be picked up at a later date. Mrs CR and I had a quiet cup of coffee then closed the van and headed home.
When we arrived I went to take the van up across the front yard as per normal but hadn't counted on the amount of rain that hit the Gold Coast. The truck pulled the van up most of the way then just slid sideways down the slope and came to rest with the rear left guard up against a tree. It was going nowhere so I unhooked the van and tried to climb the truck up but it was going nowhere and just ripping up the grass. Finally with a mat under the wheel and some playing with the forward / reverse I manage to get the truck out, notwithstanding some rather large gouges on the front lawn and the van still sitting in a drain at the front of the block with its nose rather close to a tree which will make it difficult to get out so I will probably wait for things to dry out a bit. Fat chance as it has been raining on and off since we arrived home and more is promised for the rest of the week.
So, my first effort at "gramping" has left me with a dented rear guard on the truck, a van stuck down the front of the block and a chewed up front lawn for all the world to see. All this after spending a wet three days with 4 kids, one of whom grizzled and whinged if he couldn't have his own way. I could say 'Never again' :frusty: but it will happen again, just have to hope for better weather.:humble:
A couple of pics before the rain started.
