fordsooperdooty
Orange Kounty Kalifornia
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Thursday, July 10, 2008
Camping with lust in her heart
She looks, longingly, at the big grill in Campsite 124. Maybe their air mattress charger was charged up.
By JENNY SOKOL
Orange County Register columnist
An hour ago, Campsite 123 consisted of a patch of dirt, a few trees and a picnic table. Even in the midst of the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park, it seemed a rather pathetic spot to call home.
Twenty trips to the car later, Campsite 123 looked habitable, even inviting. Hubby, in an effort to elevate our camping experience, had decided to leave the adult sleeping bags behind. We'd be sleeping on a queen-size air mattress, nestled under crisp sheets and a down comforter.
Establishing a temporary home in the woods is quite a ridiculous concept, even when it's done in the interest of family bonding. The bonding, mind you, is usually the reward for surviving adversity.
Our challenges arose as we erected our tent. Hubby realized that the air mattress charger had (1) not been charged and (2) required 24 hours to charge. When he returned from plugging it in inside the campground bathroom, Hubby remarked that the showers must be in another campground.
Alas, they were not.
My story, however, is not about sleepless nights or the merits of the Hubby's Marine-Corps-tested Baby Wipe Bath. It's not about hiking and sweating for four days without a shower, because - if performed properly – a Baby Wipe Bath will allegedly leave you "cleaner than any shower ever will."
No, my tale is one of the haves and the have nots: All is not equal in the camping world.
The following morning, I arose from the partially-inflated air mattress. Sure, I was a bit stiff, and yes, it was a startling 45 degrees outside the tent. Still, the air was crisp, the cereal was crunchy and the day held infinite promise.
Without my glasses, I squinted across the field. Was that a full-size grill our neighbor at Campsite 124 was firing up? Across the street, no one stirred at the site of the pop-up trailer. I imagined the cozy warmth of the beds inside. I imagined the parents reassuring their children the night before: "The bears can't get to us in here! But that family at Campsite 123 might not be so lucky."
On the way to a trailhead, we pulled over near the Ranger Station to throw away our trash. An enormous RV pulled up beside us. "Is that a satellite dish?" I asked Hubby. He nodded, stunned.
"What does that mean?" asked my son.
"It means," my daughter spit out, "that the kids in there get to watch TV."
Each evening, I marveled at the sights and scents around the campground. I clung to Hubby's clichés: The Sokol family was immersed in nature. We snuggled tight when rain pummeled the roof of our tent. We worked on puzzles by the light of headlamps.
When you immerse yourself in nature, however, you quickly recall that nature is where bugs reside. There are enormous furry animals that might be attracted to the scent of the roasted marshmallow bits stuck in your hair. And there are painfully few soft sports to lay your weary head.
As I sat on dried bird-poop at our picnic table scratching at bug bites, I couldn't help imagining life inside those magnificent RV's. I imagined showers with deep conditioning hair treatments, veggie omelets and DVD's with microwave popcorn. I imagined the comforts of home in the midst of nature's majesty.
Our camping trip ultimately provided every experience we hoped it would, from wildlife sightings to massive quantities of quality time. And I have great hope for increased comfort levels in the future. After all, if a crusty Marine can acknowledge the virtues of an air mattress, surely an RV can't be far behind.
Contact JSokol@kc.rr.com
This is our 7th new Jayco in 30 years! Loved 'em all!
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LEN Retired
SW Michigan ( Two Paws )
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I sure can relate to this, but it was the first camping trip after getting married, but it was in Cycle More Camp Ground , south of Traverse City Mi. in 1982. It was the only camp ground we could find which was not full as we headed north, good timing because the week before they had a large motor cycle rally there! And to our surprise it was a clean camp ground with no one there, wonder why!
06 GMC 2500HD Duramax, 2007 Holiday Rambler Alumascape Suite 32SKT,3 slide 5th wheel " SEMPER FIDELIS "
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tplife69
SoCal
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You haven't camped until you've camped at a motorcycle rally!
If my grandfather tent-camped in Alaska at 79 years old and loved it, I have faith that you can too!
People's Republik of Kalifornia
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Yaj
The Milky Way Galaxy (Hartford, WI)
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Joined: 05/07/2009
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Cute! I remember those days!!!
1996 HR Endeavor LE,Cummins 5.9 230hp, Allison 3060,
Front-Yamaha Enduro, Rear-Honda Helix Geeser Cruiser + 2 bikes,
22ft 1977 Cruiser in tow.
1 DW, 2 kids.
2 dogs, 2 cats.
I wasn't thinking this far ahead!
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Ozimo
NU/RSA
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Joined: 02/04/2006
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We lived on the ice up North, only moving camp to follow the seals. Today they call it rv'ing! We called it survival.
Capt. Abraham Quasuittuq
F/V Ozimo II
Cape Town, RSA
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DeepLiquid
Illinois
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Great story! I'm still the one on the ground looking longingly at the soft beds, heat/ac, and a potty!!
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JEFFNLILA
RENO
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This reminds me of the first trip with my wife Lila. My son Scott - around 9 at the time - and I had been camping for years in tents and enjoying the nature and experiences.
Well we left for a trip of 8 nights of camping. Our first stop was one of me and Scott's favorites. Pit toilets and water between sites. We never noticed the limited facilities and my wife never mentioned that they were inadequate. We spent several days there and then left to meet my folks at a campground in Oregon.
Upon arrival at the new camp Scott and I began setting up camp and noticed Lila was no where to be found. About an hour later she came down the path towards camp - towel in hand. The first thing she wanted was a shower. 
Since then when tent camping I have tried to pay more attention to my wifes need for a shower. Now with the trailer and all the comforts of home she is always happy wherever we go.
2007 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax
2000 Nash 22H
Reno - Nevada
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famousperson
Pittsburgh, PA
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DW and I are supremely comfortable in our truck camper (shower, microwave, etc.). However, I just came back from a two week motorcycle camping trip which I took on my own and was supremely comfortable living in my tent in primitive campgrounds (pit toilets, no electricity).
It will be good to get back to the tc, but I'll always be taking my tent trip each year...
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie, QC, CTD, auto, 4X4, LWB, DRW, Jake brake.
2005 Lance 1121
2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (toad)
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2007 BMW R1200R (motorcycle)
Sierra Designs ASP 2 tent
Mountain Hardware sleeping bag
Thermorest 1 1/2" sleeping mat.
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jtbeck
Kentucky
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I'm heading to St. Augustine in the morning with our HTT, to bask in the glow of a full hookup campsite for the week. And I plan on loving every minute of it (our VERY FIRST full hookup site!)
But about a week after we get back I leave with my daughter for a 4 day canoe camping trip on the Current River in MO. The facilities are dug with a small shovel and to close the lid, you scoop the dirt back on the hole! I think the showers are when we fall overboard. I'll never stop primitive camping. I really enjoy my tents and I plan on loving every minute of that, too.
Me (69), DW (69), DD (95), DS (00), DS (01) and 1 camping toy fox terrier (08)
06 Aerolite Cub 23BH, '00 Chevy Suburban LT 1500
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jenrusRV
Kansas
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Great Article! I recall an experience like this when I was a kid. We ended up in the back of the camper underneath the topper, completely out of tent by morning, because we were so far up the mountain that it snowed!
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