7:00am on 10/28/10

Who knew that one would have to beat the clock in order to reserve a campsite nine months before arrival. For the last few days my dad has been trying to figure out how to secure the reservation for my parents and my family to attend a prime camping area next summer.

For the last two years we have found this great little getaway campground. Only two hours from our houses, it is a quick trip down, and a relaxing stay along the waters of a lake and two rivers. Views of our camping adventures are posted here and here, just to name a few of the many posts which chronicled our get-aways.

The first year we camped at this location we found that the even-numbered sites starting 16 through 24 were ideal locations. Each of those campsites backed up to the lake allowing quick access to your anchored boat, or in our case our fun motorized raft.We tried to reserve any of those locations last year, but were snuffed out. We obviously were rookies, and requested just months ahead, rather than nine months ahead.

This time around we were not going to be out-fooled. Learning more about the way it worked, or so we thought, my dad put on his calendar to check the online reservation system exactly nine months to the day of our arrival. Sold out. We obviously missed something in the instructions. We thought nine months to the day was sufficient.

We have learned after four days of trying different numbered campsites of our favorite even-numbered ones that backed up to the lake, that the reservation site opens promptly at 7am. And promptly at 7am there are people waiting to hit submit. The winner gets to reserve their campsite for as many days as they wish. So, for example, campsite 16 is reserved until July 28th. So, technically, tomorrow October 28th at 7am, one could make a new reservation.

We have been jumping from one campsite to the other as they become available for the last four days trying to secure anything along the water. Tomorrow we try again. But this time we have a bigger plan. My dad, my husband, and myself will each be logged onto our computers at 6:59am, with all the information plugged in to reserve our prime spot. As the website's clock (yes, there is one posted) ticks closer to 6:59:56 ... we each will be submitting and submitting and submitting until it magically clicks to 7:00am (just to ensure that our clocks match the website's clock). Think of it like a computer game where you have to keep hitting your enter button crazily to score a win.

CRAZY the hoops one has to jump through just to reserve a campsite. A campsite!!!! This isn't like we won the lottery and are going to a Caribbean Resort, people. This is a campsite with dirt, rocks, trees, and community showers. But the view, the relaxation, the family time, God's nature ... it will be so worth it!

Here's to 7:00am on 10/28/10! Hoping that one of us "wins".

Update: Well, we were beat. However, my husband fell into securing number 26, which is still lakeside, just with an obstructed view due to the trees which run between the campsite and the lake. A short trek on the trail and we'll be at the water - so we are going to keep it. And you bet when we arrive that I will be asking campers #16 through #24 what their secret was to securing their site. Was it truly fastest fingers that prevailed? Or is there another avenue that we were not aware of. To be continued ...