Life in Camp — Part 1

This year we had a lot of rain. This was the first time since we've been making this journey. Before arriving in camp I listened to the weather forecast on the radio. Rain was supposed to begin during the night with it continuing unabated for the remainder of the week. However, when we arrived in camp, the weather was very nice. So, we didn't waste any time getting our motorhomes into position.

Our camp compound was very much the same as on previous trips. The only difference was Nilo's motorhome was where our rig would normally be. Our new motorhome is longer than the assigned space we've used in the past. I pulled our motorhome into a position next to Harry and Shirley's motorhome with Dave and Barbara's RV next to us. It all worked out well with all of our group together in one cluster. Four motorhomes made a partially enclosed common area with a row of picnic tables.

The crab cleaning team at work

While the guys were out on the bay, some of the women had crabs cooked for the evening meal. Shortly after returning from crab fishing some of the guys and women formed a crab cleaning team. Cleaning crabs really works well with several people doing the job. One or two people pop the top shells off of the crabs. The crab, sans top shell, is then handed off to the person doing the next stage of cleaning. The next step is to remove all the unwanted components of the critter. Then the partially cleaned crab carcass is handed of to one or two people who use a hose spayer to wash out all the small pieces of unwanted material leaving only clean white meat.

The water flies as crabs are prepared for our evening meal

Most of the cleaning operation is done over a sloped cleaning station that allows the cast off material to run into the water below. Waiting there are hundreds of small salmon fry that go into a feeding frenzy over the sudden supply of "food."

The load of cleaned crabs was transported to the middle of the camp compound where our group would dine together. Our first meal was fairly simple with most eating crab and Italian bread washing it down with wine. Wally was usually the exception as he prefers to eat something other than seafood.

Our first crab feed in our camp compound

After a delicious crab feed, it was time for our group to gather around the campfire for a while. On this trip, Ray took on the job of Firemeister. He did a great job of making sure we had a nice campfire each night it didn't rain. This is always a fun way to end the day.

Tom visits with Ray and Marian

Our group ends the day visiting around a campfire

As predicted, the rain began to fall during the first night in camp. I was glad we didn't need to get out on the bay really early. The tides during our visit this year were very favorable. Our first full day began around 7:30 with us heading out around 8:00.

With good tides and a lot of crabs willing to get in our traps, we were back in camp in a fairly short time. The camp was empty because the women had gone into town. The guys went over to a favorite eatery, Dano's, to get something to eat. With it raining most of the time we spent a lot of time in our individual motorhomes.

The guys returned to an empty camp while the women were shopping

For dinner, it was too wet outside to eat at the picnic tables. So, each dish that would be shared was prepared in the individual motorhomes. Then a person from each motorhome would run out and place their prepared food on the picnic table in the center of the compound. Shortly after that we all swarmed around the table filling our plates and returned to our respective rigs. We would keep in touch with each other by using small FRS handheld transceivers. We used them like a local wireless telephone system.

Once inside our motorhome, the outside weather was no longer a problem. This was the first crab fishing trip for Kay and I to have our new Monaco Knight. I must say that the new rig really made our stay super comfortable. With the slideout extended, our living quarters were very much like a small cabin. The floor plan we chose has turned out to be very comfortable for us. Our new cabin-on-wheels served us well on this visit to Waldport.

The campsite included a cable TV hookup, so we not only had a nice place to live, but plenty of entertainment. This included a stereo receiver with a CD player and a video recorder. Part of our entertainment was a set of CDs that were loaned to us by our daughter-in-law's parents. The CDs contained copies of old-time radio programs, many of which I remembered from my childhood. Rain, what rain?

After we completed our dinner, Kay put out a call to see if there was anybody interested in playing a game of cards. She volunteered our motorhome for the location for the game to be held. Kay was happy to hear that there would be enough to get a game together. Including Kay, there were five people in the card game, Cathie, Barbara, Marian and Tom. Monday Night Football was on TV in the background. I was thinking that it just doesn't get much better than this. This was another fun way to end the day.

A card game is underway as the rain falls outside

It rained very hard during the night. I enjoy the sound of rain on the roof. I seem to sleep very well on rainy nights.

It was still raining in the morning when it was time for us to go out on the bay in pursuit of sea critters. Fortunately we did very well, so we weren't out very long. While the men were away some of the women had some crabs cooked to put in a big ice chest in camp. It was very foggy in camp as the ice chest was carried from the cooking area to our camp compound.

Transporting ice chest, full of freshly cooked crabs, through fog to camp

The rain was getting lighter when we returned to camp and steady decreased during the day. However, most everybody was wearing rain gear. With our compound so wet, we didn't have the use of the picnic tables for communal activities such as crafts and games. As a result, people were mostly standing around visiting and discussing plans for how to cope with the rain.

Visiting in camp during a light rain shower

Maury and Kay as seen by Nora from her motorhome window —— Photo by Nora

Harry said that he had a push up canopy that would cover at least one of the picnic tables. He brought it out and we got to work putting the cover in place. As it turned out, the canopy covered one table and part of a second one. With a blue tarp on one end, to block the wind blown rain, we now had a fairly nice place to get out of the weather. Unfortunately it would take a while before the seats were dry enough to use.

The beginning of the raising of the canopy — Photo by Nora

The canopy was about to get the best of us — Photo by Nora

I thought it was somewhat ironic that the rain stopped shortly before the canopy was in place. It was thought that the cover over the tables would be ready for the rain when it returned. After all, the weather forecast, earlier in the week, predicted rain all week long.

Because the picnic tables were still wet at dinner time, we all did what we had done the previous evening. Each RV contributed a food dish to be shared which was put out on the picnic table under the canopy. Each person came out of their rig, with plate in hand, to use the makeshift cafeteria. Then we ate out meals in our respective motorhomes.

There was one difference on this evening. After dinner, everybody assembled at the camp compound picnic tables to celebrate Ray's birthday. Cathie had made a cake with candles. We all sang Happy Birthday, then Ray blew out the candles. Ray said he was touched by the fact that we all turned out to celebrate his special day.

Ray blows out the candles on his birthday cake

With there being no rain and the clouds lifting a bit, we were treated to a nice sunset. At about this time, several of the guys went down to the boat dock to take a look at Wally's new boat. It is a very impressive water craft. I think that if there is anything that is available to have on a boat, Wally ordered his boat with it all.

We get to see a nice sunset after the rain ceased falling

This was another night to return to our respective motorhomes early due to the camp area being very wet.

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