Car key fever

We were a machine, Legion of Fans - a well-oiled, well-trained, experienced bunch of campers, up at the crack of dawn and racing to beat the world-record for tent derection (or whatever the correct term is for pulling one down).

We were there. Ahead of scedule, at 0617 hours, 13 minutes ahead of the ambitious time we'd set to be out the gate and on the road, spotting animals in the Kruger National Park.

Aunty Blog had swept the tent; uncle blog had organised coffee; Mrs Blog had given lots of orders and Mr Blog was pleasantly sweaty and grubby after rolling 25 kilograms of tent and loading in the back of Uncle and Aunty's rental car.

"OK, head 'em up, move 'em out," I said (or something like that).

"Where are the keys, hon?" said Uncle Blog to Aunty Blog.

"Not locked in the car - I didn't think that was possible with new vehicles," said Mr Blog, whose car is a 23-year-old Land Rover which is virtually impossible to lock.

"No," said Aunty Blog. "I unlocked the car before going to bathroom - that's why it's unlocked."

"Well, I don't have the keys, hon," said Uncle Blog.

"Well, I don't have the keys, hon," said Aunty Blog.

Camping with two vehicles can be a tricky business. You end up sharing out certains items of food and kit between the Land Rover and the Nissan X-trail. It's a bummer, when you wake up before the occupants of the other vehicle and need, say, coffee, or beer.

So, we devised a clever system where the car keys would be kept in one of those handy nylon mesh pockets in the front of the tent...

Which is, of course, where the keys were.

Comments

meggie said…
One can only say 'Shit' in such a situation.
noddy said…
Pip,pip RSM
I believe "decamping" is the proper terminology. Maybe invest in one of those key locator's which make a noise when you whistle (old bush trick)
Anonymous said…
Striking camp was what we chaps called it way back then in the old 'green' beret days my boy.
Sweaty, grubby, being ordered about by the CEO [Mrs Blog] and losing the car keys not quite the picture one has of a hero in a TP book.
Similar sort of fever here too at the moment...khaki fever [car key, get it?]...cant decide whether to pack the camoflauge jungle trousers with the Mannlicher for next months trip over.
tonypark said…
Well done, Ali G, for spotting the 'Khaki fever' double entendre.

We had a guy in the campsite next to us, a german tourist, dressed in head-to-toe matching camouflage. Less is more, I find, when it comes to military patterns in Africa, lest the presidential guard become itchy on the trigger fingers.

Well done, too, to Noddy for two excellent suggestions in recent times - whistling key rings and boiling monkey brains.

Keep 'em coming.
Anonymous said…
OK good advice, no military patterns.
Just the Mannlicher then.
Anonymous said…
OK good advice, no military patterns.
Just the Mannlicher then.
noddy said…
What happened to good old safari suits, sam brownes and pith helmets, what
Anonymous said…
Well said there Noddy, the old colonial look should engender some respect from those itchy fingered blighters over there .
A bloody rat has been sleeping in my pith helmet though. Damn jungle wherever you go these days.
Flea said…
D'oh!!