Okay, here goes. I have a spreadsheet with my entire itinerary laid out, from July 6th to October 4th. Because not all campgrounds are booked yet, it’s a work in progress and resides on my laptop.
I left Lévis (Québec City) at noon today, and started my 3-4 hour drive (unusually long for my typical drive days) through southern Quebec, into New Brunswick, and on to my next Terego dry-camping site, Le Vieille Église Blanche in Saint-Leonard-Parent.
Drove past Rivière du Loup, a town I’m looking forward to visiting upon my return in September. The highway there passes through beautiful rolling hills, steep cliffs, and green valleys – looks lovely. I kept going and got to La Vieille Église Blanche just before dinner (it was closed, but I would check out the Friperie (Thrift Store) that it had been turned into in the morning). There was one other camper parked there.
Not sure why, but I decided to open my planning spreadsheet just after dinner. Well, f”*£!. I’m not supposed to be here tonight. I’m booked to be here TOMORROW NIGHT. Right now, I’m supposed to be at a campground on the banks of the St Lawrence, in Rivière du Loup. A campsite I have already put a downpayment on. A campsite I drove by several hours ago. Splendid.
Three issues: (1) I have to call the Rivière du Loup campground and cancel. En français. (2) What if I’m in someone’s spot here behind the Vieille Église Blanche? Where am I supposed to go? (3) What about tomorrow night? Do I stay here? What do I do all day in Saint-Leonard-Parent?
Great – another camper just pulled in. Gotta go. . . .
*Edit: it’s the next morning. Last night I approached the arriving campers and explained in French (they don’t speak English) that I’m an idiot, I screwed up the dates, and I parked in their spot. They were so nice; they just parked in the next spot over and said not to worry, it was late, likely no one else would show up (no one did). I called the Rivière du Loup campground who seemed pleased to hear I was an idiot, as they were full and another camper had just pulled in and would be happy to have my spot. (I was feeling so stupid that I didn’t have the nerve to ask for my deposit back – it was a small one.) I called the Fredericton campground I’m due at Wednesday and it seems they have a spot for me tonight – not a great spot, but a campsite nonetheless. All solved, but I’ve been so flustered for the last 14 hours that I forgot to take a photo of the absolutely delightful la Vieille Église Blanche Friperie et Buanderie (thrift store & laundromat). Here are a couple from online.
We shall never speak of this stupidity again.
