Clay: First camping trip of the year enlightening

This is the first part of a two-part series about our first camping trip of the year.

The tires began to turn at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. We were headed out on our first camping trip of the year.

It wasn't planned as a long trip covering hundreds of miles, but, rather, a short trip of 23 miles and a few nights. The destination was our favorite campsite, Site 23, at Potholes State Park.

The reservation was made months ago on the Washington State Parks website, an easy task. The address is www.parks.wa.gov Once there, click on parks and then reservations. Next you must decide to find a state park on a map, in a list or on a calendar. I always use the map and up pops a map of Washington divided into four equal parts or northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast.

I've chosen the southeast portion of the state, which covers roughly from Ellensburg to Pullman and Ritzville to Walla Walla. There are six state parks in this area; Potholes, Wanapum, Yakima Sportsman, Brooks Memorial, Lewis and Clark Trail and Fields Spring. I've driven through Wanapum State Park, but never stayed there. I haven't even visited the others.

Selecting Potholes will bring up the layout of the park. There are two basic areas of this park; sites one through 60 with full hookups and sites 61 through 126, plus the five cabins and a group area.

Clicking on the one through 60 area brings up six circles with 10 campsites each. The camper can now choose an individual campsite, such as 23. Up pops Site 23 information, such as service type, electrical, water and sewer hookup; electrical service, 30 amps; quality, good; privacy, good; site shade, partial shade; size, large; site length, 45; site width, 16; minimum occupants, one; maximum occupants, 8; pad location, back in; pad surface, gravel; pad slope, slight; pad maneuverability, good; on-site vehicle parking, one; camp stove/fire pit, yes; ground cover, grass; tent areas, zero.

In addition there is a list of equipment allowed, which includes: single tent, two tents, three tents, van/camper, small trailer up to 18 feet, large trailer of 18 to 32 feet or an extra large trailer or motorhome of 32 feet or more.

This trip into detail is to show how a campsite is described and the information is helpful to those who have never visited the specific site, plus a photo of the site is viewable, sometimes more than one.

Next select the site calendar and the camper can see when the site is reserved or open for a reservation. Site 23, for example, is available June 1 through 5, June 8 and 9 along with June 29 and 30. There are five nights open in July and 18 nights in August.

Every site can be explored in this manner; finding out what the site has to offer, plus the availability. The next step is to fill out the reservation form and submit the payment. Check in time is 2:30 and check out time is 1 p.m.

Garnet and I have been preparing for this trip in spurts; sorting existing food, buying groceries, flushing the water system, freshening the towels and bedding, washing the sinks and bathtub, plus deciding which pots and pans should stay home and which should be taken on the trip.

This is out sixth year of trailer camping and our skills have improved immensely. The first year, neighbors would gather around for the excitement of watching us back the trailer as a team, some even brought lawn chairs. There were plenty of chuckles, for sure.

Our routines have been sharpened and polished to a fine edge these days. On the day of the trip: The stabilizers were retracted, the electricity unplugged, the trailer hitch was raised and the trailer was ready to be attached to the Ram.

I began backing and continued to within two feet of the hitch, when Garnet appeared and motioned for me to move two inches to the left, which I did. It was perfect teamwork and a perfect result. Yes, to many of you this is no big deal, but for Garnet and I to align the ball with the hitch on the first try is an important accomplishment.

Next week: Our stay at Site 23 in Potholes State Park.