Henry & Pop Camper Adventure: Day 5 ~ Richland to Twin Lakes

After a good night’s rest in the camper, parked in GG’s driveway, we were up early enjoying coffee on her backyard patio. It was a peaceful morning, just sitting and visiting. Henry eventually finished sleeping in, and before long my brother Joe joined us outside. We spent some time talking about fishing, sharing stories and reminiscing.

Mom whipped up her famous French Toast and perfectly crispy bacon. As always, it was outstanding and a wonderful way to fuel up for the day ahead. So happy Henry got to have this family favorite. He mowed through three pieces of French toast and a pile of bacon like an old goat. Hungry and growing boy, headed toward being a young man.

After breakfast, Henry and I once again went through our now well-practiced camper breakdown routine. By this point we had become quite an efficient team, each knowing exactly what needed to be done. With everything secured, we headed over to West Richland, where we picked up a U-Haul 5×10 utility trailer from West Richland Rentals.

From there we drove to Buddy’s place, where we loaded the newly purchased Yamaha golf cart onto the trailer and carefully strapped it down for the trip. With our final piece of cargo secured, Henry and I set out on the last three-hour leg of our journey to Twin Lakes.

As had become our tradition over the previous five days, we stopped once more for snacks before finishing the drive. By late afternoon we rolled safely into the condo at Twin Lakes, officially bringing our five-day road trip to an end.

As I reflect on the journey, I realize this wasn’t simply a road trip—it was one of those rare experiences that becomes a treasured life memory. I have waited my entire life to share an adventure like this with my grandson. We explored new places, discovered unexpected sights, laughed together, solved problems as a team, fished, camped, drove thousands of miles, and simply enjoyed each other’s company without distractions.

The miles themselves will eventually fade, but the conversations, the shared experiences, and the bond that grew between us will remain. I will treasure this gift for many years to come, and I have a feeling Henry will carry these memories with him as well. For both of us, I believe this was the beginning of a tradition that will be remembered long after the details of the trip have faded.