There isn’t much of a schedule when we’re at the camper, and I think that’s exactly why I love it. We wake up whenever we wake up, drink coffee outside, wander instead of rushing, cook simple meals, and spend more time watching birds than looking at our phones. It’s become our little reset after busy workweeks.
One of my favorite camper traditions has nothing to do with our camper at all. Almost every weekend, we wander through the campground admiring everyone else’s RVs. We admire all beautifully decorated campsites, compare floor plans, and inevitably end up dreaming about “the next one.”
Somewhere along the walk, the conversation always escalates from “Maybe someday we could get a bigger camper…” to “Well, if we’re getting a fifth wheel, we’ll obviously need a new truck…” Funny how one dream always seems to lead to another! Whether those plans happen next year or ten years from now doesn’t really matter. Half the fun is imagining where they’ll take us.
The rest of the weekend is wonderfully simple. We play a game of basketball, take Danny on long walks around the campground, settle in with a board game or a movie if the weather turns, and every evening ends the same way, with a campfire.
There is something about sitting around a fire that makes conversation come a little easier. We talk about the week behind us, the adventures ahead of us, and sometimes…just sit quietly and watch the flames. It’s become one of my favorite parts of summer.
All that wandering around the campground eventually works up an appetite, and grilling is almost always on the menu. One recipe that has become a permanent part of our camper weekends is these homemade bean burgers. I usually make a double batch at home, freeze them individually, and pull a few out before we head to the campground.
They grill beautifully, develop a delicious char on the outside, and actually stay together, something homemade veggie burgers aren’t always known for. If you’re looking for an easy make-ahead camping meal, these are one of my favorites. I usually make a double batch at home, freeze them individually, and pull a few out to thaw before we head to the campground.
Dinner is simple, but that’s part of the fun. Plates piled with grilled corn, potatoes, bean burgers, and plenty of watermelon somehow taste even better eaten outside. Dinner is usually followed by one last walk with Danny before the sky begins to change colors. Before long, we’re back at our camp site settling in for the evening.
By Sunday afternoon, we’re packing everything back into the truck and heading home. It always feels like the weekend goes by too quickly, but somehow two slow days are enough to recharge us for another busy week.
Until next weekend, our little camper.
Acorn & Birch 