We started out for a planned camp trip and the skies were sunny, the temperature was warm. "We" were my friends, namely Usui, Keroro, Angel, Yuchii, my little dog, and I, and we were well packed for the trip. The closer we got to the unimproved camping site we were going to, though, the more ominous dark clouds there were. Still, we'd long planned the trip, and the forecast was for good weather, so we headed on.
When we pulled into camp, it was beginning to sprinkle. The ground was also wet enough it was clear that it had been raining on and off for some time. We weren't about to turn around and go home, so priorities were quickly set. Me and Usui quickly set up the tent, and my other friends were transferred from the car to the tent. By that time, it was pouring rain. However, the next priority was to build a campfire. We needed heat, and the rain wasn't showing any sign of slowing down. There was a camp pit, but it needed to be dug out and set up more soundly. The camp pit took about a half hour, and by then, I was drenched and my coat was sopping wet. I was just thankful that everyone else was still in the tent where it was dry.
However, though the pit was built, I had to build a fire. It can be done in a rainstorm, though it is far from ideal conditions. I started by pulling bark off of dead trees and laying the bark down as a base, wettest side down. Then small dead twigs were collected off trees. These were at least partly dry. These were put over an easy fire starter, which was lit. Larger pieces of wood were put on the fire as it grew, and in only another half hour, a good fire was going, though it was steaming. Stoking the fire, and with an armful of wood, I headed for the tent. I wanted the wood to stay as dry as possible, but I was shivering cold. Keroro met me in the tent with a towel, and I was able to strip off the wet coat and start drying off. Not more than ten minutes later, the rain eased up to mere sprinkles again. With my friends in the tent, we rushed to set up camp, and managed to do it in record time. We managed to get the camp set up and to get back in the tent before the heavy rain returned. Finally, I was able to change into dry clothing while the beds were made.
Through the afternoon, evening, and night, the fire was kept going. Part of this was thanks to a large pitchy piece of wood we found during a lull in the storm. Through most of the night, the sound of the hard falling rain against the tent was almost deafening. I was seriously thinking by around midnight, of packing up and going home the following day. Some time after that, I fell asleep.
When I got up in the early morning, I could scarcely believe the change. The fire was still burning, and the air was crisp, clear, and fresh. The sun wasn't quite up yet, but the skies had not a single sign of a cloud. By the time the sun was hitting the ground, I was sitting, sipping a cup of hot coffee, and watching the fish jumping in the little lake we were near.
The day ended up getting warm, then hot. I caught some fish, we got the wet clothing and coat dry, and we ended up swimming to escape the heat. Best of all, very few people showed up that weekend, though it was a three day weekend, probably because of the storm. We all ended up having a blast, and had the place mostly to ourselves.
If lessons can be learned from this experience, they are to set priorities, get them done, but to never give up as much as you might consider it.
