The Adventures in the Pop Pop have begun, and what a doozy our first trip turned out to be.
We decided to journey to Williamsburg, VA to use our Military Appreciation Passes to Busch Gardens. Researched the local campgrounds before picking one that I will not name here...he's gotten flamed enough by my hot ass in the past week. I don't need him linked to me here.
I read the reviews, and a handful expressed displeasure in 'train noise'. Most people had fun and enjoyed the campground.
Big deal...trains are everywhere. I can hear the trains from my house. Some people are sensitive.
We looked at the map of the campground...plenty of space...looked pretty good.
Close to Busch Gardens.
Sounds good.
Packed up, hooked up, headed out.
Problem #1: We arrived after dark.
Problem #2: The spaces are so damned narrow and short, that the 'back to back' complete sites will not accomodate two campers comfortably. Especially trying to angle in after dark.
The spot we had been assigned was already taken over by another camper. It wasn't his fault that we couldn't fit. It just wasn't happening. So we assigned ourselves an empty pull thru site and set up for the night.
We were enjoying the conversation of the retirees next door, when Problem #3 arrived.
The Trains.
HOLY SHIT...they were not fifty feet away...and rolling at full speed...with horns blasting...
I nearly peed on myself.
The Husband looked at me. I looked at The Husband. We looked at The Retirees. They looked as shocked as us.
Not Kidding.
I could feel that train all the way to the top of my head...
The world shook.
Rather uhm...eye opening.
Ok...they'll not run all night...right? I mean...people have to sleep and this place has been in operation for '57 years' according to their website.
Oh Fuck Yes...they ran all night. Every. Half. Hour. from Midnight until 6am.
Kid you not.
Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, CSX. You name it. They rolled by.
So hard and so fast, that they literally knocked our camper off level.
I had visions of a car derailing and wiping us all out around 3am.
Thanks to everything holy, Kiddo slept through it.
The Husband and I did not.
There is an 'I Love Lucy' episode where they were in a hotel next to a train track.
It was something like that.
When Dawn finally broke, and we took inventory of ourselves and understood we had indeed survived the night... my bleary eyed self staggered from the camper, I snapped this photo...
Yes...that is a Freaking Freight Train. I am standing at my Pop Up Camper Door. What you are also seeing is a corralled empty Tent Camping Site.
Holy Crap.
There were Tent Campers even closer than we were...and they were not amused.
Upon closer observation of this 'family campground' in the daylight, it became VERY clear that it was literally built on a narrow strip of property between a main highway and a railroad. Three rows for campers...that's it. The ones lucky enough to be on the 'far end' backed up to the major highway. There was no peace in that campground. None.
The bathhouse is in major need of rennovations.
The sites were narrow and cramped.
Then there was the added bonus of the shaking....and horns....and fear all night long that you were about to die.
I did not complain to Management. I blame our own stupidity on this one.
I didn't read the reviews thoroughly, I did not research enough...we got screwed.
And we were there for another night.
Needless to say, I had already typed out my reviews for Trip Advisor and Yelp! before I had finished my first cup of coffee and uploaded them...photo included. If I could save one person from that nightmare, it'd be worth it.
A fun filled day at Busch Gardens, Dinner out in Williamsburg, we dragged ourselves back to the Pop Pop and settled in for the night.
Only three trains that night...and really only one big one.
That didn't mean we lingered on Sunday morning. I don't think we've ever broken camp and hauled ass so fast.
Yeah, they created a Family Memory...not one I care to relive...
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