The Oh So Many Joys Of Camping

Although Harry grew up camping with his buddies and the Boy Scouts, I had never spent the night outdoors before we were married. Before investing in equipment, he needed to know how I would adjust. So he arranged a test to find out.

He borrowed the essentials– a sleeping bag for me and two pup tents. A stew pot, coffee pot, skillet and a box of food completed our equipment, as we headed to Big Meadows Campground on the Skyline Drive for my weekend trial.

I actually enjoyed the experience, despite sleeping on the ground without an air mattress and fighting mosquitoes. In retrospect, I think it was because Harry took charge of the cooking. The smell of wood smoke, bacon, and coffee brewing over the open fire started the day off right.

I passed the test and Harry invested in a canvas tent, a gas lantern, air mattresses, sleeping bags, and a camping stove. Eventually he designed and crafted a magnificent cabinet to store all the necessities for cooking, first aid etc. for our camping experiences. My only caveat was: No camping with a baby in diapers – disposables had not yet been invented.

When the children were small we camped at Cave Mountain Lake, near Natural Bridge. The campsites were large and private, almost like spacious rooms with greenery for walls. The children hurried to “police the area” – removing anything they found that was not a part of nature — cigarette butts, candy wrappers, or other litter. Harry erected the tent and a tarp to shelter the table, with plastic sidewalls creating our outdoor living room. Then we headed for the lake.

Flush toilets were available, but no showers until several years later. In the privacy afforded by the tent and saplings, I soaped the children, rinsing them with a bucket of warm water before they crawled into their sleeping bags.

Harry planned ahead, identifying interesting places to visit in the vicinity of our campground. We visited historic sites such as Stonewall Jackson’s home, the George Marshall Museum, and the chapel at V.M.I. As the children grew, we ventured farther from home. At Mt. Rogers, it rained for ten days straight. But we didn’t let the weather squelch our enthusiasm (at least, not much!). We hiked in the rain and spent many hours under the tarp playing card games and 20 Questions.

One summer we spent a week at Chickahominy Park near Williamsburg. We enjoyed watching the white squirrels there and took in the sights at Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. We planned to move to Seashore State Park for the final week of our vacation. Camp sites could not be reserved, so we broke camp a day early to spend the night in a motel at Virginia Beach and get a camp site early in the morning. .

Unfortunately, every motel we passed bore a “No Vacancy” sign. Finally we spent the night with three children and a dog in our car. “Spent the night” is an apt description, for we certainly didn’t sleep. Harry and son Harry pulled out their sleeping bags and stretched out beside the car, increasing my anxiety. I was certain we would be arrested for disobeying the “No camping” signs posted everywhere.

When Harry’s watch read four a.m., we left, determined to be first in line. Three vehicles were already there! We finally set up our tent near lunch time, almost wishing we were back in Roanoke. But feelings changed with the results of our first crabbing experience. Pieces of chicken wing tied to strings brought in enough blue crabs for a feast at dinner.

We spent several summer vacations at Lake Arrowhead near Myrtle Beach when our children were in high school. Crabbing, fishing, diving for sand dollars and dining on seafood at Calabash are pleasant memories of those days.

When we found ourselves a twosome again, Harry packed away the tent and purchased a pop-up trailer.  The camper had two beds and could accommodate anyone who had time off from college or a summer job. Occasionally they joined us and eventually grandchildren were introduced to the camping experience. For over twenty years we looked forward to camping during summer or autumn days.

Our last experience was unforgettable. Son John and his wife Amye and three children camped with us prior to their return to Nashville. Amye and the two girls, Mary and Elizabeth, slept in the trailer with us while John and Jack shared a small tent.

Early on the morning of our last day, We had a rude awakening. Our end of the trailer broke, sending us head first to the ground. Once we recovered from the shock, the men worked to close the bent frame, enabling them to close the trailer. Thus ended our camping life — and began our introduction to cabins at state parks!

By Mary Jo Shannon
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