It's camping season again. Did you hear the sigh? No, not really. I actually like camping. I just have two complaints, about our camping trips.
One: Look at the picture. Do you see sunny, cheery weather? Do you see swimsuit weather? No? No. You see stormy, lighthouse-ghost weather, expecting the gnarled old captain talking about a Nor-Wester.
In 2004, we stayed at Ocean Shores for three days. The first two days were stormy and miserable. Then, while we were packing up, the sun came out in great glory. The campsite was transformed into a wonderland... as we drove away.
In 2005, we stayed at Ocean Shores for three days. The first two days were cloudy and cold. Then, while we were packing up, the sun came out in great glory. The campsite was transformed into a wonderland... as we drove away. I shook my head.
In 2006, we stayed at Ocean Shores for three days. The first two days were rainy and cold. We spent some of our vacation at the laundromat, washing and drying wet, muddy kids' clothes. Then, while we were packing up, what do you think happened? Yes. The sun came out in great glory and the campsite was transformed and I was flabbergasted.
In 2007, we decided not to camp. All three days were the hottest days in years. The sun was magnificent across the state, even Ocean Shores.
In 2008, we are going to camp at Ocean Shores. Any bets on what the weather will be like?
Okay, and my second complaint about our camping... In the old days, when I would camp with friends or groups, we always went backpack camping. Now, we camp with a car. What's the difference? Okay, here we go...
Backpack camping: Everything you take, you have to carry. Packing the car means putting the backpack in the trunk. You are limited to one backpack per person. It has to be compact.
Car camping: We pack everything, including the kitchen sink. We don't set up camp, we construct camp. It isn't assembled. It is developed. The tent has two rooms. The kitchen area includes a two-burner stove, a plastic folding sink (a double-sink at that) and two boxes of food. There are four fold chairs, folding tables and enough lanterns to signal UFOs.
The entire day before we leave, we load up the car. Notice, we don't pack the car. We LOAD the car. A container is attached to the roof and filled up. Boxes and bags are filled and piled in back. A bicycle rack is strapped to the back of the car. An entire day of packing is followed by a day of driving. Then unloading and assembling this home-away-from-home. Exhausted, we sleep. We enjoy one relaxing day of camping (I actually like this part). Then, the third day, we disassemble this monolith to modern life, shove it all back into the trunk and strap it around the outside. Then we drive back and spend the night unloading and storing away the equipment for the next year.
It makes me long for the days of limited camping. When packing meant decisions concerning ounces. And loading the car took two minutes. Hmmm. Then again. Dinner had to be innovative, since you couldn't carry much. Breakfast was light and cold, so as not to waste fuel or waste time with a morning fire. Now, breakfast includes scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and coffee. Dinner is substantial, in the comfort of an easy chair.
Okay, I guess car camping isn't all that bad.
Can't wait for the kids to be big enough to load the car for me, though.
What's that sound? The ocean? No. It's parents of teenagers, laughing at my last statement.
