When it rains on an RV weekend

Memorial Day weekend always comes with great anticipation.

For RVers, this feels like the official start of summer. The campground will be full. A boat appears on the lake. Folding chairs surround the campfire. The children cycle around the campground loop, like little freedom machines finally released after a long winter indoors.

And sometimes the skies open up right after everyone settles down.

This year, Memorial Day weekend was a rainy weekend for many people across the country.

As I write this on Memorial Day Sunday, it is raining outside. In the distance, you can occasionally hear the low rumble of thunder rolling across the countryside. A nearby small lake, which seemed glass-smooth this morning, is now covered in the ripples of countless raindrops bobbing on its surface.

This wasn’t what most people thought about on a weekend getaway. People dream of sunshine on Memorial Day. They imagine cookouts, campfires, hiking trails, walks on the beach, and sitting outside until the evening enjoying the informal first days of summer.

Instead, many RVers spend their days listening to the sound of rain hitting their roofs and awnings. to be honest? There’s still something beautiful about it.

When the weather is bad and it rains

One of the big truths about RV life is that the weather rarely cooperates perfectly. If you’ve been camping long enough, you’ve probably had your trip interrupted by rain, wind, cold snaps, thunderstorms, slush, and a weather forecast that seemed personally designed to ruin your plans.

But experienced RVers know otherwise. Bad weather doesn’t have to ruin your trip. Sometimes it can be your most cherished memory.

This morning, Jennifer and I put on our raincoats and went for a walk outside. It’s not long. Just feeling the cool, humid air and hearing the sound of rain falling through the trees is enough. There’s something strangely cathartic about walking in the rain.

Of course, it’s not dangerous thunder weather. If it starts to thunder nearby, common sense suggests you should go indoors. But is it just a normal spring rain? Did you hear a quiet thunder in the distance? A constant drizzle drenching the land? There is peace.

When I hear the sound of raindrops hitting my raincoat, I am immediately transported back to my childhood. Water drips from the brim of the hat. Wet sneakers splashing in puddles. The smell of damp leaves and soil after the rain. Interestingly, certain sounds and smells can quickly bring back old memories.

This weekend, many people across the country experienced rain instead of sunshine. But if you go out and walk around the country, you’ll see what I mean. Make the most of what you have.

It rained at the campsite

There’s a couple in sweatshirts under an awning, drinking coffee and watching the rain fall. Maybe another family will cram all the kids at the campground under the shelter and play cards, laughing as loud as the thunder.

And – there’s always one – the guy further down the loop, He stubbornly grills hamburgers under a golf umbrella while his wife stands nearby, laughing at him. He’ll probably look soaking wet. He will also look completely satisfied. That’s the RV life. You learn to let things roll.

Of course it’s wonderful on a sunny day. But rainy days have their own magic. The world slows down inside an RV during a rainstorm. A book will appear. Your coffee will be refilled. Someone is taking a nap. People actually talk to each other instead of staring at a screen.

There’s a coziness to a rainy RV day that’s hard to explain unless you experience it for yourself. Soft interior light. The sound of rain hitting the roof. foggy windows. Maybe it’s the soup simmering on the stove or a movie playing quietly in the background. It feels gray and wet outside. I feel warm and safe inside.

Some of our favorite RVing memories over the years happened when the weather took a turn for the worse. We waited for the storm in the mountains, listening to the rain pounding on the roof. We sat by the lake and watched the fog roll in after a summer shower. We spent the afternoon just talking under the awning as the rain fell all around us.

Perfect weather allows for beautiful photos. Imperfect weather brings stories.

And perhaps that’s one of the reasons RVing remains so special. It teaches you flexibility. Patience. Thank you. The ability to enjoy where you are instead of obsessing about what you have planned.

This Memorial Day weekend reminds us of something much more important than the weather.

This holiday exists to honor the men and women who have given their lives for this country. It is because of their sacrifice that we are able to travel freely, gather with family, explore this beautiful country, and enjoy weekends like this, rain or no rain. So today, even though there are clouds overhead and rain on the windows, I remain grateful.

Gratitude for freedom. Thank you to my family. Be thankful for the casual moments. I’m grateful for the opportunity to slow down a little bit and appreciate life. And perhaps a rainy day can help you do just that.

Bonus posts to help when the weather turns nasty:

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