Cosby Campgrounds in the Smokey Mountains has 175 campsites all on a gentle sloop off a series of elongated circling one lane roads. The camp ground was thinly populated, possibly because within the next two nights it was supposed to get down to around 40F (4c) during the night.

With the rain beginning to spit on us, I hammered the 18 tent stakes down in rock hard clay. After that, Petunia helped me raise the tent with its three major counter balanced poles. With 90% of the tent up in place, I discovered I’d forgotten to pack the rain fly.

I’ve always assumed when they design tents for camping they’re assuming the people who use them will do it in the summer. Since it gets hot in the summer, the roof often is screen fabric. Just in case it rains, they throw in a rain fly which lashes down over the screen on the roof. Additionally most campers use nylon tents which are strong, lightweight and almost water proof. Touch the nylon tent during the rain while inside and the often the water comes inside. The rain fly gives the tent a second coat of nylon so a person can’t invite the water in as easily as if it had just one coat of nylon sheeting.

It’s misting. I have no rain fly. Far from home and camping stores, I was crushed. Nearest decent hotels are in Gatlinburg, 23 miles (51 kilometers) over rain slicked snaking mountain roads and it takes an hour to pack up the tent. Then Petunia came up with a good idea. We had a tarp in the trunk. I got out extra rope and with her help tried to tie it over the tent’s roof screen. It came within four inches of fitting. That would mean the half the roof would channel water into a two inches of uncovered screen roof.

Petunia got in the car. Her face said “Your problem.”

I drove her back to a tiny store we’d seen just before we turned onto the camp road and explained the situation to the clerk. They didn’t sell tents. They didn’t sell tent parts.
“Do you sell tarps?” I asked. I bought the biggest one they had at an amazing cheap price. When I got it back to the tent, it worked all night long keeping slow drizzling rain out.

While I was at the store, I bought their largest bundle of firewood, which at $9 was overpriced. Things balanced out. Just to limit my cash supply, I bought a couple of postcards from the store and a chocolate bar for Petunia as well. (She’s always promised me if I keep her in chocolate and toilet paper, she’ll be happy). Petunia sat in the car, steam rising off her well frazzled head.  attitude improvement followed after she bit into chocolate. 

Domestic tranquility was restored once the new tarp went over the tent. Luckily the evening rain did not start in earnest until the tarp was in place.