Damn Canadians

Well, the good news is, it hasn't gotten worse.


But it started out pretty bad.


You see, we are parked across from a Canadian.


And here is HIS set up:

This guy is in a camper that the park rents

And the park told me to disconnect
Big Blue and park it next to him.

You can see our fifth wheel
behind our truck, across the
road

So here's what happened.  When we arrived here last Friday in Myrtle Beach, we arrived in a downpour.  I asked the nice woman at the registration desk if I would be able to stay connected when I parked (truck + RV).  She said "You should be able too... except the LAST guy in your group who checked in didn't tell us when he reserved THAT HE WAS 70' LONG!!".

"Well," I told her, "I'm 72".

She scurried around and then informed me that the park was making a "special consideration" for us HDT'ers, and we could disconnect and park across the "road" in the space across from our RV.  She even gave me an official parking tag for the camping spot my truck was to go into.  We parked, unhitched and put Big Blue where we were instructed to.

The next morning I woke up all anxious to check out the campground, and I saw one member of our group talking to a man in front of Big Blue.  Certain that there was an exchange of admiration occurring, I decided to hustle out there to participate.

I approached a seemingly gracious discussion between Bill B., a fellow HDT'er from Michigan and a small fellow with a mysterious accent.  European, I suspected.  Bill introduced me as the fellow who owned the rig.

"It is quite remarkable!" exclaimed the little fellow.

"Thanks", I replied.

"But" he confided, "It cannot be parked here.  They have a place for these things... down in the corner of the park.  But it cannot be parked here".

I immediately surmised that he was a grounds keeper at the park.  I was surprised by this instruction, as I was told to park it there by the registration lady.  I told him so. 

"Oh no," My little friend replied confidently, "The man who told you that was incorrect.  It cannot stay here".

"Ok" I said. "Where do you want me to park it again?"

"It is not ME", he replied.  "It is the PARK".

I was stunned.  "You don't work here?"

"No" he said.  "I am parked next to you.  This is not a truck stop.  I came here to camp".

I told him that I would do whatever park required, but I was told to park there.  I wished him a good morning and left.  He scurried away in the direction of the park office.  As I walked back to my RV, I noticed the license plates on his minivan.

Quebec.  Oh mon Dieu!

Moments later, he returned.  "Well" he lamented, "The park is aware of your truck, and they will allow it to stay parked here.  So it is up to you".

I asked him to explain his displeasure, and he could only keep referring to the campground as "not a truck stop".  "It is blocking my view" he said.  "But how is that different from a camper?" I asked.  He wouldn't answer.  So I left it.  We have had a cold war for the week.

But, on to more fun news, here is a picture of the park at 6am.  That's when Keji puts his cold nose to my feet to inform me that his enormous bladder is reaching capacity.

You can see a number of open spots, indicating that peak
camping season here is just ending.  The ocean is
right at the end of this row.

And here are the two canine alarm clocks, happy to be "empty".  Toby insists on running to every bush and post, leaving his mark across the campground.  Keji, on the other hand, stands in one place, stretches out, and does his best imitation of Secretariat.  Is there a contest somewhere we can enter him in?

How do you take a picture of a black dog???

And here is a recent addition to the camping gear; two "folding" bicycles.  Michelle insisted on a slight upgrade to hers.  Can you tell which one is hers?

I'm not saying a WORD, not a word.

And finally, a cute little gas Weber grill.

Jay fired up this gas grill on Thursday night for some
steaks.  The bad news?  He turned it off SATURDAY morning!

And that, folks, is about as complicated as our lives were this week.

Michelle shot down to Atlanta for the weekend to practice with her quartet, and Jay will load up the rig for an early departure on Sunday am (Picking her up at the Myrtle Beach airport in the full set-up!).  We head to New Bern, NC to visit friends, and then to Ottawa to see Dave and Peggy!

Happy Camping!

And for the record.... Jay's a Canadian too... just kidding about the damn Canadians...