We Like Picnics Best

We’re enjoying a lazy, hot summer day here in Tumwater.  Forecast shows another day peaking at the 90 to 92F range.  It will begin cooling off tomorrow.  We spent yesterday at a local state park keeping cool in the shade of the cedar and fir trees and enjoyed our picnic lunch.

I had posted a pic of Bruce sitting in his chair at the park waiting for his lunch.  Judy left a comment asking if those were Zypdee chairs.  I got one out of the Explorer this morning and checked all over it and could not find a brand name anywhere.  We bought them in 2001 at the Camping World in Fife, WA so I looked in their catalog and the chairs are no longer offered.  So I’m sorry, Judy, I just don’t know for sure.  We bought those chairs as replacements for ones that were in our Southwind Storm motorhome when it was stolen (long story). 

                                                     These make great chairs for hauling around in the back of the car.

Since I was on the subject of folding chairs and picnics I thought I’d fill the post up by explaining our method of attacking the “picnic.”   Back in the early 1990’s we used to take summer vacations in our Pace Arrow motorhome and we’d usually take Bruce’s mom along with us….and our teenage daughter…..so this was a huge treat!    Betty (MIL) was widowed in 1990 and that was when we began having her tag along with us.  Betty was a restaurant lover, so if we went out sightseeing or having a scenic drive for the day, we’d always end up eating lunch at a fancy-schmancy restaurant.  She picked up the tab, but that wasn’t the point.  She ended up spending a ton of cash on these meals and we felt it was not necessary.  It just seemed like such a waste to Bruce and me.

Fast forward to 1997 when Bruce and I were able to get out for a 6-month RV trip.  Most of the time we saw no point in eating lunches at restaurants when we’d be out sightseeing.  Besides those $$$ adding up, we were packing on way too many pounds!  That is not to say we never go out to eat in a restaurant.  When we do we just make it worth our while (like Cincinnati chili).  So on long RV trips in 1997 and 1999 we perfected our current picnic routine.

We put our 2 folding chairs and a folding table in the back of the Explorer and just keep them there.  That way, we don’t have to remember to load them in when we go out for the day.  We have other, more comfortable, chairs we keep for sitting outdoors at the RV.  The chairs would rattle and bang when we drove, so I sewed up some simple slipcovers for them.

                                            A large beach towel folded and sewed up on the sides works great.

I sewed up a slip cover for the small picnic table, too.  All three stack up at the rear of the cargo area and are always available.

                                                 Simple folding table that every RVer has.

I also put together a box of picnic supplies that includes a tablecloth and seat covers to be used at a public picnic table if we use one, paper plates and plate holders, napkins, plastic utensils, extra plastic bags for trash, and a roll of toilet paper.  Yes….toilet paper.  Be prepared is always my motto.  We keep the box in the car with the chairs.

We just need to make our lunch, pack it in the cooler, put it in the car and off we go.  Besides not wanting to spend a lot of cash for restaurants lunches (sometimes we are out 4 times a week), we prefer having some scenic beauty to enjoy while we eat.  With our own chairs and table with us we can pull over wherever we want and eat our meal.  We have been on the Blue Ridge Parkway and just pulled off the road at a turnout spot with a fantastic view and eaten our lunch.  Other places of great beauty we have enjoyed with a picnic (to name just a few) are: 

*  Oregon coast

*  Acadia National Park, Maine

*  Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts

*  Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia

*  Key West, Florida

*  Decorah, Iowa

*  Huntington Beach, California

There are restaurants everywhere you go, but some may not have a beautiful view to enjoy.  We may never again be in Key West or Kejimkujik National Park to enjoy those fantastic views….so we want to see them while we are there.

Another big factor in choosing picnics over so many restaurants is our little Annie the Schnauzer.  If we go into a restaurant, she has to stay in the car and it may be too hot outside for that.  Annie has her own water and food dishes that are kept in the back of the car.  She, too, is already prepared for an outdoor adventure.  A spare leash and pooper-scooper bags are always at the ready, too.

Once again, I’m sharing one of my “over organizing ideas” with you folks.  It works for us and we’re ready for a picnic anytime! 

Until next time…..so long for now!