Two weeks ago, Marty loaded up all of our worldly belongings and temporarily moved us Northward, to the land of dirt, fallen trees, and according to my estimates - every woodtick in the state.  We pulled into the part of Minnesota known (only to our family) as The Land, following a dirt logging road, in search of the perfect place to create our own RV Nation.  After scoping out a few locations, ruling them out due to swampiness or for not having enough room to properly turn around, we found an excellent spot where the road split into two directions.  Marty backed 'er in and I unloaded the children.  We set off in search of rocks to create a fire pit and stick that were dry enough to burn.


We found plenty of rocks, and made a fire pit in no time.  By this time, we were on our second round of bug spray and had already found about a dozen woodticks.


Marty was in heaven setting up the camper, unfolding all of it's layers and pieces and hidden compartments to turn it into a palatial spread.  Here he is, firing up the generator so we could run the air conditioner, tv, microwave, computer - which I think everyone will agree are essential to any camping experience.


Trying to earn my Good Sport badge, I took the kids on loads of 4-wheeler rides.  Martin kept trying to take over the steering, Sophie yelling for me to go faster.


After an afternoon and evening of setting things up, we were all starving and I didn't feel like cooking.  So we packed up and drove to a restaurant specializing in Mexican food and fried chicken so that we could eat and I could have an emergency margarita.  We came back to the campsite satisfied and ready for a bonfire.  Martin lasted for awhile, but Sophie fell asleep almost immediately.  If you're in the middle of the woods - so far in fact that you can't even get cell coverage - and the bugs start to bite, it's dark and you're exhausted, this looks like an oasis:


I've assumed sole naming rights to the new camper, and am currently playing around with a few options.  As the summer progresses and we use it more, I'm confident I'll find just the right name.  It's kind of like waiting to name your baby until you see what kind of personality he or she might have.  I imagine that the camper name will evolve and change depending on what kind of trip we've had or how long it sits in my driveway instead of parked "elsewhere" as negotiated in the purchase agreement.

Current name: Camper Van Beethoven.