What kind of camping?
Ladies and gentlemen, again, my apoligies for the Thursday night Ping!
I may be missing some people because it seems I don't have the most updated lists - if anyone knows of anyone I'm missing - please FReepmail me and I will take care of it when I get back from Dover.
I loved being outside camping, swimming and fishing with friends. The laughter was endless. There would be about ten to twelve of us.
In August of 1999 it was about 100 degrees and the hottest trip ever! That night tornadoes ripped through an area north of us. The rain was some of the heaviest I've seen. It poured for hours. Everything was soaked and the humidity just kept growing (if felt like 120 degrees). We didn't let it bring us down though. We just stayed up late around a water filled fire pit and played "The movie lines game" until early morning.
Despite all the rain, that night was so much fun.
If you have a "cold camp" it can be tough, still with some
modern multi-fuel stoves it can be fairly comfortable with
hot chow and even hot water to wash. The addition of a sleeping pad and down bag can make it fairly comfy.
Moving up, you can then go one better with pack horses or jeep/truck and set up an outfitters wall tent, now you are talking style and comfort. These usually are heavy canvas, with a rain fly and have 4 or 5 foot sidewalls, usually with a small wood stove with vent pipe going out through a fireproof gasket in the roof.
We often camp in the dead of winter like this and it makes it all possible, one can awake in the morning, toss some pine lightered into the stove with some lamp oil, roll over in the sleeping bag, and in 15 minutes the tent is warm and toasty and you can then make bacon and eggs/coffee etc.
If you have a dutch oven you can dig a pit, build a fire in it, then place a pot roast,with potatos, carrots and onions in it, wrap it in tinfoil, take out half the coals,put the dutch oven in the pit cover with coals, then dirt, and leave the rest of the day to explore and have fun. When you get back, dig it up, take off the foil and have a feast fit for any table. Then maybe some Jamesons and a spot of cards and it time for taps, go out take a leak under the stars and it's off to dream land.
Can't be beat.
Comming up next...How to make Ash cakes!
I like the outdoors, but I hate sleeping in a tent.
My kids usually wake up in the middle of the night, and I have to walk them to the bathroom. It's usually cold at night in California at the places we camp, and I can never go back to sleep. After a few days, I'm totally exhausted.
My husband wants to get a tent trailer.
I've managed to camp a few times a year for the past forty...Just bring warm clothing to sleep in and you'll survive the rest...And for me personally, getting up early to watch the morning arrive is a big plus...you can nap in the afternoon to balance it out...Also, bring along a pack of large zip-lock bags for everything...Camping may not change your life but then again I've seen some places I'll never forget....