They Won�t Let Me Go Camping Anymore,

My all-time greatest pastime would be camping in the Adirondack Mts. of NY. Roughing it; with campfire, tents, mosquito repellent. Foraging in the woods for fuel to burn, stripping down for a refreshing plunge in a nearby lake. Oh, did I fail to mention;

 

Chapter 1

Early Efforts:

          It’s been over 30 yrs. now since we made that first trek into the woods to camp. It was the early 80’s, and my wife and I and our three small children, one a new baby, were experiencing our first vacation time since coming North. It was all well and good to have time for a vacation, but without money we were confined to our imaginations. My father owned 55 acres near us of mixed hillside and woods. And it was decided to go there camping. One major obstacle stood in our path – we couldn’t afford a ‘Tent’.

          One of the privileges of country living included a nearby landfill. It was my weekly job to dispose of our trash there. But it was my fortune to be left alone to rummage among the piles; to scavenge treasures we could use to support our growing family. My Pastor once commented, after I borrowed his pickup, that I would take one load down and bring two back. Of course he would often accompany me on my forays. It was one of those hot summer afternoons that year that my eye was attracted to a mound of canvas and screening. On inspection, I found the intact top and sides to a lawn screen tent. My imagination began to run wild; I could make this work. Within another 40 min. I had located enough used lumber to craft a basic wooden support system for the tent. As our week’s vacation slot approached we were excited with how everything seemed to be coming together; site, food. fuel, and protection. We had the means; we were on our way.

          Finding a relatively flat site near a mountain stream, we began to unload. Set-up was not too challenging, but most of the tent was taken up with the mattress off mine and my wife's bed. We didn’t have the money for camping amenities, so we brought our mattress, bedding, clothes, utensils, and one dresser drawer for our newborn baby to sleep in. I had also found a metal folding chair with the seat rusted out; I’d enlarged the hole and we now possessed our own privy behind a stand of bushes.

          That first night began beautifully, camping alone and sleeping under the stars. Being serenaded by katydids and tree frogs, each looking for mates. The lullaby sent us quickly to sleep.

          The thunder woke all of us, and seemed to have struck the ground nearby. Alarmed at being exposed among the elements, we all huddled under the tent in the now freshening, and surprisingly cold wind. It was my eldest daughter that first noticed the rain in the dark. “Daddy, I’m getting all wet!” How could that be? We were in a tent – A Screen Tent! That first storm, That first night, That first attempt at camping almost cured us of our desires to be one with nature. The rain drove so hard that night, coming thru the screen sides of the tent, that my wife and I had to keep our backs to it to shelter our children where they sat shivering on the only dry spot in the center of our flooded mattress. For years afterward, when I would change the sheets on our bed, I would look at the reverse stained fabric with nostalgia seeing the clean spot in the center and wonder what madness urged us to press on to odder adventures in the years to come. We still have that mattress, I think, or maybe its one of the other ones my children have similarly baptized over the years. And we still haul mattresses camping, there’s nothing better and more comfortable, but our tents are much better now.

 

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'The won't let Me Go Camping Anymore'
LSS,
Yes camping is not for the faint of heart at least not the kind you are speaking above. I have done this type many a time and it is always an adventure. Rained out, freaked out by passing sounds of racoons and who knows what else, back spasms (the worst.) Now at sixty six my husband still do hikes and will do more camping I'll bet. Great story your shared cuz I remember as a kid my own parents taking their five kids out and the work involved. My mother cooking. Dad setting up everything. You gave the experience new color for me.
Bless you!
Kathy

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm sure everyone was quite happy with daddy that night. Thrilled, in fact. I guess you must have a lot better gear now. An entertaining story, LSS.

[angelina neves]

Uau! Adorable story! Lovely!

[Legion]

but most of the tent was taken up with the mattress off my wife's and my bed - mine and my wife's bed


lol I can just see that happening. Good write. Kudos and thanks for sharing that.