Hello,
Several weeks ago we headed out for a long weekend of winter camping. Our usual camping companions joined us as well. Good weather, camp fires, great food was in order.
When we arrived at our local winter campground, our local campground host advised us on a couple of local resident moose hanging out, usual stuff. Several years ago a moose had killed a dog so it was a fitting precaution. We settled in and had a great Friday evening. To our surprise, early in morning hours on Saturday we could hear someone ripping around in a vehicle? We went back to sleep then herd some loud bangs? We thought nothing of it and tried again to go back to sleep thinking the resident moose were in someone's spot and those campers were setting off bear bangers to scare them back into the forest.
But, we then noticed some really bright lights. We opened our blinds and had a look, still half asleep we thought our friends were up to something? Looking again there was a large fire! It appeared as if someone had set an outhouse on fire? No, a picnic table? No, it is a truck! Putting on our clothes and grabbing our fire extinguisher we ran to the blaze. Our friends and another camper were running as well. Flames were starting to catch the trees on fire and there were numerous explosions as the truck burned into nothing. Another camper was trying to move his rig as well as it was very close to the fire ball truck. He almost rolled the trailer into a ditch and flipped his rig!
Sitting in a snow bank were the two occupants of the truck. Totally drunk. One even had the nerve to go back to their spot to get more liqueur so they could not be charged with impaired driving. They were aware of how to avoid the law. Eventually the fire department and the local Mounties showed up. Only took them about an hour. They charged them with what they could and evicted the driver from the campground. A complete slap on the wrist. Two more feet and the truck would have crashed into the neighboring trailer rather than the trees. Lord only knows what would have happened, a father and his two little girls were in that rig.
Alberta is suffering from the crash in oil and as a result hard times have fallen on allot of people. The police are dealing with individuals who can't afford their vehicles any more and as a result are deciding to set them ablaze and collect the insurance. This happened in a small local campground with people who just wanted to get away from the city and enjoy time with family and friends. This is very sad indeed.
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So, aside from the arson, how was the rest of your trip???
Hi,
The rest of the trip was actually pretty good. We had a chance to try out our new gas Outland-Fire Bowl. Purchased this little gem from Walmart, bought an additional ten foot hose and fitting and presto. Camp fire on demand, no more burnt cloths and burnt camp chairs from sparks. Very nice to have the option to sit around a fire for breakfast, lunch, bevy time etc. if you are up for a walk just turn it off. We are very happy with our latest purchase. It just fits into the front storage pass through. Put the fire bowl in, then the lid on top. Could not get it to fit with the lid on with the attached hold down straps.
Obviously a good ole exploding, flaming truck fire doesn't have the same drama as our little fire bowl. But, I think we are fine with that!
Cheers
Yes, I guess your experience brings a whole new meaning to "campfire"!
What campground were you at?
(I'm a fellow Albertan, eh!)
Well that's a story. Glad you were safe.
I'm in Texas so this might be a silly question. Do you guys keep your camper dry (no water) since it's so cold?
Hi,
We were at McLean Creek.
Yes, we camp dry for six months out of the year, maybe we will de-winterize in a few more weeks.
Quote from: @canuck" source="/post/19992/thread" timestamp="1459219336Hi,
We were at McLean Creek.
Yes, we camp dry for six months out of the year, maybe we will de-winterize in a few more weeks.
How do you like your '15 Tundra 4x4 5.7L? That's exactly what I would like to get in about a year? Do you mind sharing your MPG while towing your 21RBS? I'm a huge fan of Toyota trucks...and like the recent changes they made to the Tundra.