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Travel Tip - Camping
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Travel Tip: Camping
These tips are about the obvious. You are going to say "Duuuh" when you read them.
I hope that none of my prospective employers read this because they may make some assumptions about me that I don't want them to make.
However, I still thought I would share these tips. If I didn't know them, others might not either.
Tip #1
If you didn't stake your tent down, don't let the air out of your air mattress before you are ready to take the tent down.
It was windy. I thought it might be clever to take the plug out of the air mattress as I was getting out of the tent. I planned to eat and pray before packing. I don't do anything before I eat. While I was somewhere in the middle of the process, I looked up to see my tent flying away.
Tip #2
In the north, temperatures can drop drastically at night.
I have found that it can be 80 degrees in the daytime and in the 30's at night. See Tip #3 & 4.
Tip #3
Sleeping bags are warmer if you zip them up and get inside.
I actually already knew this. I was a Girl Scout. I was just being lazy. I had been using my sleeping bag as a blanket. When the temperatures dropped, I had the bright idea to get inside. It worked much better. A lady in Wal-Mart Super Center (my newly declared favorite store - see the story in the Daily Journal) told me that if you put a blanket inside, it would be even warmer.
Tip #4
There is a difference between the $20 sleeping bag and the $50+ sleeping bag. That difference is insulation. Sleeping bags are rated for temperatures.
My sleeping bag wasn't warm enough. We bought it on sale for slumber parties. As I lay freezing, I wondered what I could do about this situation.
I was already using my sleeping bag, blanket, and sheet. I had 2 things in the car that I wasn't using.
My husband made me take what I think was meant to be an insulated ground cover for a tent. I already had a ground cover and argued about taking a second one. He ignored me and put it in the car anyway.
I also had just bought a doublewide beach towel. I got that sheet of insulation and put in on top of the sleeping bad. I laid the beach towel on top of that. It worked fabulously. I slept all night and was warm. Today I bought a sleeping bag rated for below 0 degrees.
Tip #5
Learn the Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer says "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Camping can be spoiled if you let things get to you. Camping is wonderful if you use the Serenity Prayer.
My campground last night had no water and no electricity. Wyoming likes things to be natural. It also had no shower and no sinks.
It was in a beautiful location and I wanted to stay there. After praying the Serenity Prayer, I knew I was staying. I also knew that I couldn't grumble about the inconvenience because I had made a choice.
The only shower was a public pay shower at the local marina. I had a "Pocket Full Of Quarters" and you pay by the minute. Four minutes was too much time when the shower is cold and the floor is dirty.
I wanted a shower so I accepted the cold. I wore water shoes in the shower. The lake worked great for washing my hands and dishes. I had bottled water for drinking and cooking.
There are things that help bugs stay away but if you cook outdoors, you will be picking bugs out of your food. If you don't accept that, you might starve.
Tip #6
When it is windy, it is impossible to get the tent in that tiny bag it came it.
My fist question is why do they make the bag that holds the tent so small?
The tree I was talking to didn't answer. Neither did the bug, since it was already medium rare.
It was a very windy day. I struggled trying to get the tent folded exactly the right way. This is after I caught it flying away. I finally realized that since I was camping often and could leave the tent in the car, it didn't really need that silly bag anyway.
Tip #7
If the birds suddenly start singing frantically, they might be warning you that a storm is coming.
One night, very noisy birds woke me up at 5:00 AM. I have no idea where this many birds could even be hiding. I tried to go back to sleep but it was impossible. I planned to sleep until 8:00 AM. I finally got up.
I suddenly realized that a serious storm was coming. I quickly ate breakfast (did I mention that I do nothing before I eat) and had the tent down in 10 minutes.
I showered in the lighting. At least this shower was hot and clean.
I bought tea on the road. I prayed in the car. I was on the road by 6:00 AM and said thank you to the birds.
Tip #8
It isn't a good idea to camp right next to families with several small children and one very small dog.
As a female traveling alone, I make sure I'm camping in areas populated with families. If I want to sleep, I've learned to pay attention to the families I stay next to. Couples are very quiet. Older children usually sleep through the night. Dogs bark at campgrounds.
Tips #9
Owls are very loud at night.
Just relax and enjoy them. How often do you get to lie there and listen to an owl hoot?
Tip #10
Bugs are attracted to light. If you have a lantern, turn it off and shake it off before you take it inside the tent.
Do I need to say more? I learned the hard way.
Tip #11
Don't go camping unless you plan to use it as a spiritual experience.
Some people use it to save money. There is no amount of money worth the inconvenience of camping.
Camping is a wonderful opportunity to worship God through nature.
It is usually quiet.
You wake up to birds singing, usually at 5:00 AM. If no storm is coming, they can gently sing you back to sleep.
You hear the wind and the rain. It is so cozy inside the tent listening to these sounds. However, if you hear the ocean, make sure you are in fact camping near the ocean. Otherwise, you must make loud, frantic bird noises.
You breathe in the fresh night air. It is refreshing.
You listen to bugs buzzing and owls hooting. If you have taken the proper precautions, the bugs are locked outside the tent.
You are as close to the ground as you can be without being actually on it.
You can see the stars and meditate on the vastness of God.
If you are fortunate enough to be on the water, you can hear and see all of the activity in the water.
If you can accept the inconvenience and just feel God's wonder around you, it is worth everything. I love camping.
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