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I am not sure why, but it seems every time we plan a camping weekend in the mountains, the temperature drops and clouds roll in.

It really doesn't matter I guess, we look at every trip as an adventure, and have the supplies needed to survive just about anything.

But geez, can't we just have one nice, warm trip?

Our first camping trip together, we didn't even check the weather. We were basically just running away.

The rain hit us hard on the Interstate, and the windshield wipers quit working. Not a good omen.

Alas, miserable weather or not, we couldn't drive home, couldn't give up. So, we set up the old pup tent (not our new taj mahal tent) in the rain, and, unable to build a fire, just crawled in - wet.

Oh, did it pour.

About midway through the night, I discovered a run off stream had formed on the mountain's hillside, and was running right under us.

I crawled in the back of the Jimmy and slept there, curled up between the cooler and the firewood.

Thus, I learned on my first camping trip that this was not a game - and as my friend Shelly is known to say:

"Prior planning prevents poor performance."

After that first trip, we started saving up and buying serious camping equipment.

And although I'd like a warm, sunny weekend, I know that no trip will ever be as bad as that first.

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Want to know more about DeLaHaye? Visit her web site at WV Travelers , or her online store at Impecunious Impressions, or read her weekly column at The Calhoun Chronicle.