Wednesday, April 3, 2013

C is for Camping!


     My idea of camping out up used to be a posh room poolside at a luxury hotel where  waiters served you tropical drinks with umbrellas while you caught rays and lathered on sun tan oil.  I couldn't imagine why anyone would pay money to be in the middle of the woods, making food themselves, and setting themselves up as mosquito bait.  It seemed to me like the woods was a good place to get ass raped and left for dead.  It certainly wasn't my idea of a good time.  I mean what the hell would there be to do?  Sit by a fire and twiddle your thumbs swatting mosquitoes?  No thank you sir and ma'am.

       I realized not long after meeting my husband how wrong I could be.  He had been a happy camper most of his life seasonal camping with his family at a local campground.  I admit when he first asked me to go spend the night in his folks camper at the campgrounds, I was skeptical.  Since I loved the man already, I was game.  I packed up enough food to feed an army, blankets and pillows, bug spray and benedryl, card games, and steeled myself for an adventure.  I was willing to suck it up at least once for him and try it.   They say what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  

        We rode our bikes up and down every trail.  When it was hot, we swam and splashed in the swimming pool.  When we got hungry,we built a fire and made a feast. We played cards and laughed.  The best part was sitting around the
campfire under the stars watching the flames dance and stuffing our faces with gooey marshmallows. After that first experience,  I was hooked.  Now our kids and dogs join us and we have a fabulous time!


39 comments:

  1. I used to love to camp - but that was before I needed help getting up off the ground in the morning. I would probably still camp if we had a nice luxurious RV :)

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    1. Judy and Tayla, I have never tent camped in my life. I would have to have an RV with all the trimmings or I am afraid I wouldn't go. LOL Thank you both for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  2. I really miss camping. I agree with Judy about getting up off the ground. I had no problems with sleeping in or out of the tent. Ah, those were the days. And for some reason, I wasn't one bit worried about mosquitos and such. Ah, the life.

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    1. Mary, they like my blood so I take a bath in insect repellent and keep benedryl handy. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments~! ♥

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  3. Sometimes we surprise ourselves when we try something that the one we love adores!

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    1. Taryn, Yes and in the end we discover we love it too! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  4. The only time I've ever been camping was disastrous! Your trip looked like fun, though! :-)

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    1. Katie, we have always had a grand time...even when the trip ended in rain. Some of those have the best memories. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. It is always so nice to see you stop by Katie! ♥

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  5. The only time you'll get me camping is if there's an air conditioned camper with indoor plumbing for me to sleep in. But overall, I am not a giant fan of being outside or around a fire. The smoke gets in my hair & clothes.

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    1. JoJo, yes that tends to be a problem. When that happens to me I pick up my chair and move. Thank you for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  6. I almost chose this as my "c" post also. I have only been camping once. It wasn't my thing, but I think if I grew up with it I'd like it more. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Megan, I didn't grow up doing it but discovered I really did enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  7. Camping to me reminds me of Girl Guide camps - and remember, we have a lot of rain during British summers. I hated it!

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    1. Paula, well it wouldn't be much fun in the rain. I can't blame you there! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  8. The closest I get to camping is staying in little rustic cabins in the Ozark Mountains. I need hot water and electricity....

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    1. Tayla, you make me laugh!! Fortunately our camper has all that going on or I wouldn't do it. LOL Thank you for stopping in and for your comments! ♥

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  9. I've never been camping, and I intend for it to stay that way *grin* I love tales of camping, but with my track record I know I end up washed away in a landslide, trapped under a fallen tree, upside down in a bog or arrested for indecent exposure whilst quietly piddling behind a tree! Love your story though, Kathy xx

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    1. Mojowritin, you are too funny!! Thank you for stopping in, reading, and making me laugh! ♥

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  10. I truly despise camping...sorry I am definitely in agreement with your former ideas.

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    1. Zoe, LOL actually I love the former ideas but generally can't afford them these days. The camper provides a cheaper get away that I welcome and love. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  11. I'll take the S'mores and you can have all the rest! I love that you're having fun though. :)

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    1. Jess, thank you for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  12. When we were young, we used to take the kids camping all the time. Now, not so much. We need to do it again.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Joyce, Yes!!! You'll have a great time. Thank you for stopping in!

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  13. Oh my gosh! Our early experiences are the same, AND so is our conversion to campers! I LOVE going out in our 5th wheel. I don't think I'd have as much fun tent camping (need a few luxuries), but I sure love being in the outdoors.

    GREAT blog post!!!! Camping! Great C word!

    Dana
    Waiter, drink please!

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    1. Dana, I am with you!!! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  14. I don't really enjoy camping. I enjoy doing the camping things-- like hiking and swimming and toasting marshmellows--but we don't have a camper and I hate sleeping in a tent. If I had a camper, I'd think differently!

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    1. Jenn, except for the sleeping you really don't do much inside the camper but sleep unless it is raining. It is a lot better with a camper. I can't fathom what camping in a tent would be like. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  15. Oh- I love camping :) What fun! Happy A-Z

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    1. Rebecca, it is fun! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  16. That is camping in luxury. Years back when we were young and fresh we camped with nylon backpacker tents and whatever would fit in the hatch of a AMC Gremlin. No way I could sleep on the hard hard ground now lol.

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    1. MyBabyJohn, that is the way I like it! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  17. I was not a camper, but I went with my husband on a two week trek on Route 66 for our honeymoon and ended up having a blast at the various campgrounds. That was 14 years ago and I'm sort of sad to say we haven't gone camping since.
    Good luck with the A-Z!

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    1. Deathwriter, how sad you never went since then. Maybe you will in the future! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  18. I despise the thought of camping, but you make it sound fun! Maybe I'll give it a try this summer. :)

    Happy Thursday!

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    1. Dana, that sounds like my old attitude about it! LOL Thank you for stopping in and for your kind comments! ♥

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  19. Sounds lovely! I really like the thought of camping but I've never been - not properly anyway. The campfire sounds like the best bit :)

    Grover
    Inane Ramblings

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    1. Grover, to me the campfire is the best!! I love to watch the wood burn. Last year we put glow sticks in it and it was fun to watch the glow stuff turn to lava, melt, and pop. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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