a rainy camping experience

My son Jiego and I went to our annual Northfield's father and son camping last Feb 6 & 7 at the La Mesa Eco Park. We have not broken our participation in this event for five years already. During the first year, I was very excited and pumped up for it. I was raring to do the obstacle courses or whatever the organizers and facilitators would throw us into. It does not matter whether Jiego would leave me with our backpacks and other bags to run off with his fellow classmates while I haul our stuffs to the tent pitching grounds.

Today, I'm still excited though I'm already imagining what to expect on the way to the place. "It's raining Jiego", I told my son while pointing at the windshield of our van. "Do you think many of your classmates will come?" This, I asked several times prior during the week. Poor boy, he probably can sense my rather low support this time around. I tried to cheer him up though and said that if it continues to rain, we can always sleep in the van. The idea seems to perk him up but now his face is also showing some trace of worry.

When we reached the place, I observed that it was quite cool and damp but not wet. Hmmm, so far so good, I mutter to myself. We registered and proceeded to the pavilion where all the campers are gathered. After a short while, Dr. Erik Santos announced the rules and our itinerary. The kidder that he is then proceeded to warn us that he knows that most men would want to escape later in the day to be with their wives at night. So he is giving as a password, "open sesame", so that the security guards will let us through or otherwise, we'll be shot on sight. Hehehe, that seems fair enough. So, if we choose to go home for the comfort of our beds, we should leave before six at least when darkness has not yet set in. I am giving myself up to 5pm to pack up and leave.

Our itinerary shows tent pitching at 5pm. It's only 9:30am and the games has started. Anchor vs Vinta teams doing dodge ball at the tent grounds. By now, the pavilion where we are all gathered are full of campers and their belongings. My bayaw Kiko who is also with his son I went on to discuss of how these people will fit in the grounds. We agreed to look for a suitable spot and to reserve it for our use. When we arrived and found a place shaded with trees, we noticed some were already pitching their tents! So off we hurried to gather our things and went on setting up ours too. Not long after, the place is teeming with different colors of tents, while the professors by this time has postponed the games due to lack of participants.

Soon after, many have started cooking their lunch meals also. We followed suit and by the time Kiko and I were feeding our hungry little boys, it started to rain! Oh boy, that's the wisdom of following the itinerary. By this time, I was thinking that should we have refrained from pitching tents with the others, we could have saved ourselves the effort and go home at night without any hassle if the rains will not stop. Only thing is, if the rains stopped, we may have no more spot for ourselves. By the look of it though, it seems that the rains will be there to stay. We have to hold umbrellas while Jiego and Hans eat their lunch unaffected by the drizzle that seems to be getting stronger.

Suzette has started sending SMS to us about the rains where they were and was asking us if the activities will continue as scheduled. I don't want her to worry so much so I said it's drizzling but we are okay. Well at least I see the boys happy playing frisbees in the rain, while some opt for some dry Magic card games at the pavilion. Most dads too are not so much worried with their boys as some have grouped themselves doing barbeques, bragging about their seafood meals, and some are busy doing reflection with San Miguel. I can't tell my wife how Jiego is since the amazing race game has also started where he was so excited to join. With the wide open grounds, it's quite tiring and useless to look for your son at this point.

Anyway, the afternoon passed with some of us dads chatting or joining the games and soon after it was getting dark. Some opted to pack and leave while I see some still coming and pitching tents. "We should cook before it gets dark" commented Kiko. I agreed and around 5:30 we were already preparing our meals. The scenario was pretty much the same like during lunchtime. A little rain here then it gets stronger then it mellows again. By now, I'm resolved of just staying overnight. Even though I see another handful dismantling their tents. I'm already here, we're already wet, the tent is also wet so stay anyway. That's how I reinforced myself. Besides, it will be a good experience for both me and my son.

After dinner, I told Jiego that we will take a bath around 7:30. He excused himself to join his friends again and promised to come back in a while. I decided to gather our clothes and towels for our bath which is about more than a hundred meters away from camp. When I entered our tent, I checked to see if it will hold the wet weather. I observed the middle part is dry but water has accumulated at both sides! My son's backpack too was wet since it has absorved water from being positioned closed at the edges. Our unpacked sleeping bags and my knapsack were however spared. Poor Jiego, his briefs and pants were all wet. Luckily his pajamas and some shirts were spared.

I went to look for my son to tell him of the news about his clothes then went on to take our baths earlier than planned. When we got back to the camp site, the gloomy mood that we had, turned around when we heard noises and merrymaking. Soon, we were also watching and cheering with the crowd over the speed stack competitions. Dr Santos facilitated this event and majority of the campers are gathered around two competitors from Anchor and Vinta trying to outdo opponents with their fastest times. The dads joining the game made it more fun and exciting with the applause, jeering, and even throwing of paper cups and banana peels to some comic participants. Yeah, this night was something else. The jeering and laughter somehow bonded us all together despite of our uncomfortably wet beings. Everybody now does not care about the rain anymore and soon after, we were retreating in our little wet shelters still sharing a laugh from what has just happened. I went on to rest first and was joined by my son later who still begged to play with his friends. When he returned, we talked and chatted for awhile and then I assured him that we can have a good sleep despite the our wet tent.

God was good to us however as the rains stopped falling that night. I awaken only around five in the morning when it started to drizzle again. It does not bother us anymore as we casually prepare our breakfast despite of the weather. Yay! We survived a rainy camping experience and did not back down and just went through it. I just hope my legs are still strong when my three year old Pio is ready for his own father and son camping adventure.