(Sorry folks, I have been so busy with life that posting regularly has slipped past. I will try to provide the complete story in chronological order and then try to keep more up to date, posting at least weekly.)
The first several days with my 5th wheel trailer and the new camping experience went like this:
The first two nights I spent at Valens Lake Conservation Area in Flamborough. I had a pull through site in a wooded area, with two way connection (water and power). All the basics, like the power cord and water hose were still in their original packaging. Somehow I hadn't planned to have scissors or a knife handy when I set out so I had to ask campers nearby, I chose two guys camping in a tent, to use their knife to cut the plastic ties on these items so I could set up. They were very gracious. A couple hours after arriving I got a knock on my door from the campground staff. I realized right away what they were concerned about, I had forgotten to slip the site registration paper onto the post at campsite.
The first day, I tripped the park power to my trailer...twice. The first time I wasn't sure if the whole park was out or just me. I couldn't see a reset near the plug, it was getting dark and I hadn't unpacked my flash light. I approached my "next door neighbor" whose power was on the same post. He verified had power so we went back to the post and he lifted the cover on the panel and could see I tripped it and reset it. I knew what to do the 2nd time. With only 15 amp service, when the air conditioner is running I can't also use the microwave oven! I figured out the best way to see if it has tripped is that there are no numbers on microwave and/or the fridge indicator light is yellow signifying it is running on propane vs green for hydro. Lots to learn!
I had to pretty much drain the hot water tank because it was full of antifreeze/pink stuff, which is supposedly harmless, but has a strange odor and vivid pink color. This resulted in my grey tank being more full than it would usually be, but it wouldn't be a problem as I was only there for two days and was going to drain the tank on the way out.
The first morning I noticed at this campground the water pressure/spray in the shower is rather weak. Strong enough to get clean but not very invigorating.
I saw a spider inside and killed it, I'm getting very brave. I used to call on someone else to do that for me, but these days that isn't an option.
I am enjoying my luxury accommodation in nature, it's the best of both worlds. I have all the comforts of home! Oh, right, this 5th wheel is my home.
The second morning before I got ready to pack up and move on I decided to check out the campground a bit. There is a nice trail around lake. I was disappointed to find quite a bit of litter on trail, like red beer cups, plastic water bottles, candy and condom wrappers.
The first full week I camped at Glen Rouge Campground between Scarborough and Pickering. After the registration kiosk and before I found my site I took a wrong turn to a dead end road and had to back up! I need more a lot more practice backing up the trailer. A fellow who was camping in a tent near the road offered to assist me. At first he was directing and when that didn't work out very well, he offered to back it up for me. He was a professional transport truck driver. He backed it up far enough that I was going to be able to get down the correct road. I should have had him drive it right to my campsite because when I got close to there, I cut the turn in too hard and ran the side of the trailer into a large spruce tree. I had most of one side of it smooshed towards the trunk. I had to back up again to get away from the tree. This time I had about 4 other campers "helping" me out. Once I was out from the tree and back on the road they suggested I go around and enter the site from the opposite direction which took the tree out of play. Once I had gotten back onto the site, I couldn't get the trailer off the hitch, I think the ground was too uneven. I went back to ask the first guy who helped me if he could help me again. We wiggled the 5th to a slightly different spot and it unhitched. At this point I was frustrated and about to give the whole thing up.
Glenn Rouge was a good location for both a golf tournament I was playing at Whitevale, and accessing my storage locker in Scarborough, from which I was taking things to outfit my trailer.
These evenings in late May were cool and for some reason my furnace wouldn't start so I had to sleep with extra blankets. This site had 30 amp power and water. I managed not to trip the breaker during my stay.
It is nice siting on the couch doing computer work listening to the birds chirping.
I was still busy unpacking and setting things up. I did a major shopping trip for items I need and didn't have in storage, like shelf paper, a stove top whistling kettle, hangers, dish drain pad, floor mat, storage bins, garden hose, spray nozzle, rubber mats for the truck, etc. Many of the items were purchased at Canadian Tire, where a nice young Indian fellow convinced me to sign up for their Master Card, which gave me an 8% discount on all my purchases that day. He insisted in helping me all the way to the truck, which I generally park a little further from my destination in order to get a pull through spot because with my length I take up about 1 1/2 standard car parking spots, and loading the items into it.
This is kind of weird, I have the sensation that there should be constant movement, like I'm on a cruise ship, but there isn't. I hope this goes away soon.
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