I went camping in Manning Park last weekend.
We did a five hour long trek along this ridge in the mountains and then camped overnight in a little meadow.
I give thumbs up to mountains and meadows.
I remember disliking camping as a child, and I was wondering why this has changed.
I've come to realize that my childhood camping was a fundamentally different experience.
For one, I am now using blinged out equipment. The importance of this cannot be overstated. All those desperate childhood moments fumbling with a flashlight in one hand and toilet paper in the other? Gone, now that I have a headlight (so the bestest). Rolling miserably on the rocky ground? Gone, now that I have down sleeping bag and a thermarest.
Another thing I remember quite vividly are the bugs. I don't know if maybe there are less bugs out west, or maybe if my skin has gotten less tasty, but this is not nearly the problem it once was. Hooray!
And finally, I have all these memories of camping being a very squishy experience. I think my parentals thought that smaller spaces would maximize family time. This would be why they rented a two door sedan on our most recent trip to Newfoundland. I'd hit my head on the ceiling every time we went over a bump, and unfolding myself out of the backseat was like getting out of a clown car. Anyways, childhood camping entailed cramming five people into a four person tent. I can now say with great confidence that having a bit of elbow room while camping is a very good thing.
Either way, I'm re-evaluatng my whole outlook on camping. I may indeed become one of those 'campers'. It's altogether quite pleasant. Plus, I'm really good at walking. That's a skill the old family vacations taught me very well.
We did a five hour long trek along this ridge in the mountains and then camped overnight in a little meadow.
I give thumbs up to mountains and meadows.
I remember disliking camping as a child, and I was wondering why this has changed.
I've come to realize that my childhood camping was a fundamentally different experience.
For one, I am now using blinged out equipment. The importance of this cannot be overstated. All those desperate childhood moments fumbling with a flashlight in one hand and toilet paper in the other? Gone, now that I have a headlight (so the bestest). Rolling miserably on the rocky ground? Gone, now that I have down sleeping bag and a thermarest.
Another thing I remember quite vividly are the bugs. I don't know if maybe there are less bugs out west, or maybe if my skin has gotten less tasty, but this is not nearly the problem it once was. Hooray!
And finally, I have all these memories of camping being a very squishy experience. I think my parentals thought that smaller spaces would maximize family time. This would be why they rented a two door sedan on our most recent trip to Newfoundland. I'd hit my head on the ceiling every time we went over a bump, and unfolding myself out of the backseat was like getting out of a clown car. Anyways, childhood camping entailed cramming five people into a four person tent. I can now say with great confidence that having a bit of elbow room while camping is a very good thing.
Either way, I'm re-evaluatng my whole outlook on camping. I may indeed become one of those 'campers'. It's altogether quite pleasant. Plus, I'm really good at walking. That's a skill the old family vacations taught me very well.
Labels: camping, family, Manning Park
Squishy is a good camping experience. Remember the card games and the ghostly impressions. They would not be the same in a big tent. Same goes with the flash light. New may not necessary be good or improved. Call me old fashion if you wish.