Camping old school
9 11 2009 
When I was a kid, my parents took us camping. A lot. For weeks at a time. Of course, I remember these trips as non stop fun, my father taking us fishing, boating, hiking, even horseback riding. You know, vacation stuff. On the other hand, I don’t remember my mother partaking of these activities. What I remember is her laying in a old chaise lounge, the old kind with the plastic webbing, reading a book in the campsite. What I’m guessing that I DON’T remember is the sheer amount of work it must have been for her, keeping camp for 6 rambunctious kids and a clue less husband. The laundry alone must have been staggering. And cooking. And keeping us under control.
My kids have never camped like this. Oh, they’ve slept in tents, but only on our property, where they may have slept in the tent, but they showered and changed in the house. We are RVers.
I’m sure my mom would have agreed. Tents are overrated.
So why do I own 5 tents?
….
I was reading through the blog prompts. One of them is to post that you’re “taking questions” and that you agree to post the answers.
So, is there anything you’d like to Ask Doc?
Reply in an comment. Feel free to go anon for this.
What is the secret of life — but if she’d have to kill me to tell me, then I’ll settle for what color is green?
Ask for old nostalgic photos and you shall receive. This is GREAT. I LOVE the tiny tent that looks like a bed sheet that is near the dome tent (dome tent a la 1961) I love the night gown/shift. i love the charcoal under the picnic table, the picnic table ware and of course, the lazy river (or was it?) in the background of it all. And the box? What is with the box? That is my Ask Doc question: What is the box that says Poppy on it???
I think everyone in their life needs to experience “camping old school”. As a boy scout I grew up camping in the Colorado mountains - summer and winter. I have vivid memories of digging out feet of snow in the middle of a frozen night just to pitch a tent on the ground for “winter camping”. The experience makes you appreciate when you graduate to an RV and you get to go camping in less severe and less austere environments. I still own a tent too…and one day I suppose I will send my children to their own winter camping adventure. The cycle continues…
Maria - that is Alta Lake, in N Central Washington. We went there every year, although there were other trips too. I am not sure why my parents were so in love with that lake, and now I can’t ask them - although my brother may know.
http://www.altalake.com/
The little tent was/is an army surplus “pup” tent. It’s still used occasionally. The big tent was state of the art at the time, I remember my dad being so proud of it. The old “umbrella” style, but what made ours so cool was that the center pole could be removed once the tent was erected. Amazingly enough, that tent was still around until a few years ago, when it finally died from a bad case of mildew.
I’m sure the box contained our meal prep gear. It was 1961 - cardboard was IN.
My family used to camp like that when I was growing up. It was such a blast. I only remember those times as good. My mom, dad, younger sister and me… my dad wasn’t clueless but we did do all of those same great things.
Do I have an Ask Doc question… yeah, what ever happened to the County Fair blog carnival? Do the old pages still exist? Can it be revived? I miss it, can you tell?
When I was a kid my mom didn’t “participate” in the activities. Now as a mom, I realize that while we were off fishing, hiking, and swimming with my dad and grandma, my mom was enjoying the childless peace and quiet at the camp site.
5 tents? I thought we were bad buying the deluxe three room model which we only used once! LOL, I never went camping as a child and while I loved the one camping trip we took our kids on, my man hated it. He is more the 5 star hotel type. I am hoping he will settle for an RV one day soon.
A Question? You mean it? :0)
What about writing that homeschooling book? Hmmm? Your wealth of knowledge and down to earth approach really could help a lot of struggling families - and sell a bajillion copies.
Tent camping in my book is WAY better than RVing.. Agree that it can be more comfortable in an RV, but if you go that route, why camp to begin with? Tents offer unique experiences that an RV just doesn’t give you. Some great tents are at http://www.sightseeingreview.com/wheretopitchyourtent.php
I spent many a night growing up in the standard Army issue pup tent with the foldable poles. I agree on the RVs. although I wouldn’t mind having a tent trailer, they are a good compromise. You are not quite sealed off from nature, but not on the ground either.
Maybe someday when the horse and trailer are no longer my financial responsibility…