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Quote of the Day: The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.
I went on my first camping trip with a friend's family when I was sixteen. They had a small camper (the type that sits on and over a pickup truck), and after that, I was hooked.
Since then I've been a tent camper, and we've camped our way over great swathes of the United States and Canada, revisiting some of our favorites (Acadia National Park, Yellowstone, the Canadian Rockies, Sequoia National Park, to name a few) over and over again.
Our original tent looked something like this (except it was green). I could set it up by myself in a matter of minutes, and back then I was not a very big person. It had a spider at the top that locked in and cool buttons that locked the aluminum poles in place, so that one part couldn't fall down while you got the rest of it up.
But it was made of heavy canvas that made it weigh a ton, especially when it got wet, and eventually the floor wore through. We patched it until it couldn't be patched anymore. Then we sold it at a garage sale (amazing that someone wanted it by then, but it's always surprising what people will buy at garage sales). Since then, we've gone through several more tents. A strong wind on Prince Edward Island bent a tent pole in half, ending our stay there (no place to buy a replacement) and we lost one tent in Bryce Canyon National Park when the zipper broke. It was on its last legs and we were at the end of our trip, anyway, so we all enjoyed pitching it in the dumpster. One less large item to cart home.
These days, on the rare occasions when we still camp, our tent looks like this (yes, that's me getting ready to feed the troops). This shot was taken in Yellowstone.
Camping has long attracted the young, the poor and those who simply like to be surrounded by the outdoors.
Here's an interesting article on the history of camping, with some great images.
So are you a camper or not? Or were you ever a camper? (I used to camp a lot more than I do these days. Now I confess that much as I enjoy standing in a campsite breathing in the scent of pine, I also enjoy finding a hotel every few days and enjoying the luxuries of a bed and a private bathroom).
Happy Camping (or hotel staying)!
I did a lot of camping when I was younger. I am NOT a camper. It was under duress that I went. I like my home comforts way too much.
ReplyDeletemarypres@gmail.com
Camped in the mountains as a teen (when forced) with my sister and her family. SOOO hard on my back. Bugs. Bears. Restrictions.
ReplyDeleteThey have had a motor home for decades now, and I much prefer that. Everything at your fingertips: food, clothes, bathroom. More durable material between me and bears. Air conditioning if necessary. Don't have to pack and unpack constantly. More room for the important things in life, like books!
Since we can't afford our own motor home, we rarely go anywhere (unless we fly to my sister's and go in their motor home with them).
When we celebrated our first anniversary, we went to a Ramada Inn 100 miles away from home. We realized then that our honeymoon hotel had become a Ramada Inn, so for the next decade or so we always drove to a different Ramada Inn to celebrate our anniversaries. (My bro-in-law and family came to our air-conditioned house and slept over on a Saturday night, so we had from Saturday morning until Sunday suppertime away to ourselves during the latter years.) We discontinued this "celebration" over 10 years ago when my husband was laid off from his job of 23 years, and his successive jobs resulted in lower and lower income. Instead, we have had a BBQ and now a potluck party most summers so we can celebrate with friends instead. We celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary early next month. (We invited over 120 and hope over 40 can attend, as most people have other plans. It is the Canada Day weekend in Canada, and the 4th of July weekend in the US.)
Laney4
As I get older, I like my home comforts, too. Camping is more of a nice memory (of a younger, more adventurous me). I do it now and then, but I'm always eager to get to a bed and a shower.
ReplyDeleteElaine, best wishes on that 30th anniversary party! A great reason to celebrate!
I've been out of town for a couple of days with no internet (hosting that group of bicyclists I blogged about a couple of weeks ago), so I'm catching up on your comments. It's good to be back! (I always want to let people know that I won't be around for a day or two, but that's such an internet no no, since it lets people know that your house will be unattended).
ReplyDelete