Friday morning was spent frantically packing. My goal was to get to San Simeon State Park by 11:00. San Simeon has a fun little reservation policy that only allows you to reserve non-site specific spots. Basically you can reserve a spot but you can't pick which one until you get there. Check-in was 2:00, but I'd called ahead to explain that I was bringing four campsites full of parents and their little ones and we wanted to be next to each other. The very nice Ranger told me I could come early and pick some sites.
The original plan called for Jen and Zoila to caravan with me to the State Park bright and early to get started with set up. Unfortunately, when I called them in the morning, they weren't going to be able to make it until 1:30 or 2:00. *slight panic*
At 9:58 we were fully loaded, Joseph in the car and away we went. After a brief stop, Joseph and I made it to the campground on time. The Ranger on duty had set aside four sites right next to each other. I drove down to check them out but was disappointed to discover that they were divided from each other by hedges and fences. I drove around a bit more and found four more sets of sites. When I went back to the Ranger Station, I showed them my finds.
"I'm sorry. Those are blue sites."
"What are blue sites?"
"They're reserved for RV spots. We'll give them to tent campers but only in a pinch."
I went back out and found a wonderful set of non-blue sites. Back to the station.
"I'm sorry. Those are hike and bike in sites."
"There are a lot of big tents on them and quite a few cars parked."
"Yeah, well, we also use them for people who don't have reservations and need a place to pitch a tent."
"Can I cancel my reservations and then grab four of those sites?"
"We'd have to charge you a cancellation fee and charge you for tonight's reservation since it's less than 24-hour notice."
Back on the road. I finally found four sites, hilly and very dry (read: dirty) that at least backed into each other, was next to a bathroom and had ocean views. I snagged them and started unloading the car.
Joseph was content to eat goldfish at his little table while I hauled and pushed and sweated. I thought briefly about going to the beach to hang out, but I didn't want to miss anyone arriving. I hauled our tent out and put the poles together. I tried to lift the stakes to place them in the pegs, but every time I did, the poles sagged and collapsed. Obviously it was a two-wo/man set up. I stopped a passing gentleman named Bobby and asked for help. He was more than happy to go to the aid of a lone woman and her toddler. Poor Bobby. He had no idea how to set up a tent. Between the two of us, we got it up, him brushing his hands with satisfaction and telling me RV's are much easier.
After Bobby left, Joseph and I went inside the tent and blew up the mattresses and made the beds. By the time we finished, we collapsed on the bed, sweaty and exhausted. Joseph hadn't taken much of a nap and "helping" Mommy is tough work.
I am woman. RAWR. Well, tiny rawr...Bobby did help out.
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