Camping is a lot of work. It’s amazing; I’ve loved camping since the first time Jake took me to Shenandoah National park 20 years ago. But since day one I’ve been working to figure out how to make it both more comfortable and easier. The first time we went camping we had almost no gear. We sat on the ground and ate steaks with our hands. I was new to the whole thing but I knew that maybe some camp chairs and a knife and fork would improve the experience. Since that first trip we’ve upgraded from sleeping bags to air mattress to pop-up camper to finally our 24 foot travel trailer. But with each upgrade comes more things to pack and unpack, more things to set up and take down.

12 days and 4 campgrounds into our trip I think we’re starting to get the turnover down to a science. Prior to this trip we’d never chained camping trips together; after a trip we headed straight home. Living in a camper for an extended period introduces the need to clean and reset more while traveling instead of waiting until we get home.

Today was our last day in Camden after 5 days. Jake and the kids spent a lazy morning by the campfire relaxing while I got some work done. Then Phineas and I walked into town to have lunch and check out the shops. Penelope and Jake joined us after an emergency propane run. Highlight of the day was hanging out by Camden harbor watching the ducks. The tide started coming in quickly and Jake had to rescue the kids. Early evening we headed back to camp and immediately started taking down the stove, outdoor sink, etc to make the morning leaving easier. It was a good day; we didn’t do much but we all needed some downtown and a mental reset. Next stop: Acadia!