CAMPING - For Real

Annie and I decided we needed to get the heck out of town and commune with nature before the 4th. We haven't taken, Barbara, the camper out near as much as we had intended. Besides camping at the branding corrals and Annie's trip to Nebraska, the camper has sat idle.

Up to this point in our lives, we had never camped in an actual campground to my knowledge. Childhood camping trips consisted of a tent on someone's lawn or a tent out in the pasture. So we decided to go to an actual lake in an actual campground in a National Forest. We drove in the rain to the campground, paid $19, and found a spot. By, the way, we have never paid money for a camping spot either.
Annie got Barbara backed into her spot. We then went on a nature walk to gather some wood for a campfire. All the kindling we got was soaked. We quickly realized how unprepared we were for this camping experience.

On most previous camping trips, our men are along. They usually tend the fire. Starting a fire for them consists of a large propane bottle with a branding torch, or a 5 gallon jug of gasoline, and an industrial sized lighter. We forgot all of these necessities and had to resort to wet kindling, a Martha Stewart Magazine, and some decorative matches. After a smoky start, the gracious campground host kindly pointed out some discarded 2x4 boards that we could use. After 1 1/2 hours and a six pack later, we had a fire.

We roasted some brats and ate bean dip.

We also figured that since we were staying in a public place, we should install a lock on the camper door for safety. We had not thought of that before. I set to work getting that installed so the boogie man wouldn't get us. We didn't want to be on a future episode of 20/20, "Two sisters' last camping trip."Being so handy like I am, I installed the lock in such a manner that it actually prohibited the door from closing.

Grrrrr......... Annie, hand me another beer.

Anyway, we told stories at the campfire and discussed the world's problems until late. We turned in and slept like babies. The next day, we had fully intended to get up and go suntan by the lake. The rain just kept coming down. So we sat in the camper and drank coffee until lunch. Then we packed it up and headed out.

I did get a chance to wear my camp coat. It was warm and cozy and Annie tried to buy it from me. For a $1,000.

This is the life.