The story is about Rhett's disastrous camping trip to Joshua Tree with his family. Despite having high hopes, the trip was a catastrophe due to underpreparedness for the cold weather, a massive tent that was like a sail in the wind, and a sudden rainstorm that caused the tent to leak and eventually collapse. The family spent a miserable night, getting wet and cold, before deciding to pack up and head to McDonald's for breakfast. However, Rhett's wife, Chrissy, suggested buying a new tent, and they ended up staying another night. Rhett blames himself for the disaster and invites viewers to share their worst camping stories to make him feel better.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator and his family went on a camping trip to Joshua Tree.
2. The trip was Chrissy's idea, and the narrator hadn't gone camping with her in almost 13 years.
3. They arrived at the campsite on a Friday and set up a large tent with three rooms.
4. The weather was cold, and the family had to wear all the clothes they had packed to stay warm.
5. The wind started to pick up, and the tent was not well-suited to withstand it.
6. The family heard a train going through Joshua Tree and were frightened by the sound.
7. Lily, the oldest child, was scared and didn't trust her dad to keep them safe.
8. The narrator tried to reassure her, but the tent was not secure, and the wind kept blowing it down.
9. It started raining, and the tent leaked, getting the family wet.
10. The narrator tried to use tarps to keep the kids dry, but the tent's window was open, and water kept getting in.
11. The narrator got emergency tarps from the truck and draped them over the kids to keep them dry.
12. The tent's poles snapped, and it collapsed, but the family stayed inside to try to stay warm.
13. The narrator went to sleep, but the kids were awake and scared.
14. The family woke up the next morning to find that the tent had been badly damaged.
15. They decided to buy a new tent and stay another night, but first, they went to McDonald's to get some food and warmth.
16. The narrator bought a new tent at the Big 5 and set it up for the rest of their stay.
17. The family stayed for a few more hours but eventually decided to go home.