Last weekend, Jerry and Mike caught up after Jerry returned from a camping trip with his family. Mike was curious about their experience, but Jerry quickly revealed that it wasn't as fun as they had hoped.
The troubles began as soon as they arrived at the campsite on Friday evening. After unloading the car and enjoying some juice, Jerry's wife suggested he park the car. However, Jerry realized he couldn't find the car keys. Despite searching for about an hour with the help of his family, the keys seemed lost for good. Eventually, he discovered that they were still in the ignition, but by that time, it was dark, and they hadn't even set up their tent.
Having never pitched a tent before, they rushed through the instructions but found them confusing and overwhelming. Just when they were about to give up, a kind neighbor came over to assist them, allowing them to finally set up camp.
The next day, Jerry attempted to cook using a fire he had started with newspaper and matches. Unfortunately, the flames were too high, resulting in burnt hotdogs. After some trial and error, they managed to cook more hotdogs and ate them hungrily.
That night, sleep was elusive as they were plagued by mosquitoes, leaving them itchy and uncomfortable. However, the family did manage to enjoy some activities during the day. Jerry taught his son how to swim in the lake, and later, he and his daughter went canoeing. While fishing, his daughter fell out of the canoe but, thankfully, was a strong swimmer and quickly got back in, even catching a huge fish that they cooked for dinner.
As the night fell, things took a turn for the worse. Jerry heard a growling noise outside the tent, which he feared was a bear. He instructed his family to stay inside while he cautiously ventured out. To his horror, he spotted a large bear rummaging through their campsite, attracted by the smell of the burnt hotdogs they had carelessly left out.
In a panic, Jerry ran into the woods, hoping to divert the bear's attention away from his family. He hid behind a tree, and fortunately, the bear passed by without noticing him. After a tense moment, Jerry finally calmed down, relieved that he and his family were safe.
Reflecting on the chaotic trip, Jerry concluded that while they might consider camping again in the future, it wouldn't be anytime soon. For their next vacation, they planned to book a hotel on the beach instead. This experience taught Jerry the importance of being prepared, as he realized that a little knowledge about camping could have saved them from many troubles.
What did Jerry and Mike do last weekend?