We love our just campin’ weekends. We do not have to take or load our usual vintage props - no rally, no show—just plain ol’ camping with friends who are just part of a small group of vintage trailer devotees who enjoy camping, relaxing, visiting and sharing vintage trailer stories.
Destination: Lake Skinner Recreation Area Campground in Winchester, California.
Friday the 13th (just a coincidence) did not start like a regular day. When I grocery shopped
at my neighborhood store for the trip, the toilet paper aisle was empty (except for one
package that stood alone on a shelf and a weak inventory of water). What did this forecast? We were only slightly aware that there was a flu-like virus going around. Although — Disneyland,Universal Studios and sports venues had begun closing. Was it safe to go camping? I began to use the elbow bump for greeting folks altho’ there was still some hugging going on — mostly in jest.
It had been raining all week and rain was forecast for the entire weekend. Who would show up? Would we be camping by ourselves? We decided to tough it out. Guess we are now considered to be elderly; our children would have preferred we stay home having knowledge of a virus and weather forecast. Well, rain did not stop this hearty group of trailerites. None of us had camped at Lake Skinner before but the Ross’ previously scouted the campground for the Cervantes’, our talented wagonmasters.
Upon arriving, the temperature was chilly and it had been raining for a couple hours. We took a walk down to the lake; electricity had already been out for a couple hours. We went to the camp store to check on propane which they could not provide due to the electric outage. We then just drove around the park; it was beautiful and clean; everything had been washed by the rain. We even saw a small Airstream trailer group in another clearing. Our group arrived one by one throughout the day. Puddles of water were expanding.
In the meantime, at the campground, tarps went up, awnings slanted for rain runoff, etc.
That evening, we enjoyed the camaraderie of friendship catching up with one another
around the campfire.
And then: Throughout the weekend family and friends started texting us with the news
that school districts were closing and work sites were being shut down. When we returned
home, the world had changed. We later told our adult children and grandchildren, "We have
never experienced anything like this before -- ever."
And when we returned home it was a completely different world. No more handshakes or hugs
. . . It seemed no person, state or country was safe from the Corona Virus, later to be identified
as the Covid-19 pandemic. At first we joked about hoarding toilet paper, hand-sanitizer and
shared with one another videos and pictures of creative masks and began quarantining ourselves.
Of course, we all know now how serious this all was and still is . . . Group events like vintage trailer rallies and shows have been cancelled. It is now September 2020 and our county of residence is still shut down.
All I can say to our dear friends is, "Please stay safe, healthy and strong."
And even if you don't know us, I will say to you,"Please stay safe, healthy and strong."
Love to our family and friends . . .
Below are a few pictures with a hint of the weekend . . .
vintage trailer
