The Evolution of Camping

Camp, is described in the dictionary as a temporary lodging or makeshift shelter, the tent. Over the years tents have evolved from anamal skins and woven materals to light easy to carry nylon

Years ago I would put everything in a backpack and hike in the many miles to a campsite. Then there was the canoe camping trip. As you get older it seems that you need more stuff and the canoe is an easy way to carry it all. Then comes the drive up campsite, this is where you can pack enough food and supplys for a month but only go for a week. Sometimes you need a trailer to carry it all.

Cranberry Lake has just that type of camping, run by the State of all things. This is very attractive to women because of the modern outhouses with flush toilets and sinks. An electric outlet is availble to plug in your hair dryer and a mirror for applying makeup. Hot showers are in easy walking distance.

We recently made such a trip, meeting Wynter wolf in Watertown who showed us around town and up to the park which overlooks the town. After twisting his arm awhile I talked him into spending the day with us on Sunday. While there, we hiked up to bear mountain lookout and took some pictures

Monday, we did some canoeing around the edge of the lake doing some fishing, didnt catch anything. between the wind and heavy boat trafic, the lake started to get a little rough so we headed in. Before we made it to shore , one wave came over the side giving Trina her afternoon bath.

Tuesday,,, What happened to summer and where are my thermal underwear. It rained a bit so I rigged up the tarp off the screen tent. As soon as I got that done it stopped raining. Took a walk down by the lake where the ducks were doing tricks for a hand out.

Wednsday,, we got ambious and took a trip up the raquittee river to the falls. The plan was to paddle up from atkins landing, do some fishing and paddle back. We were all ready to launch when I somehow lost interest in paddling when I found a new trolling motor in my back seat. When Red finally noticed it,his chin dropped and it took an hour to get the sand out of his beard, then the begging started, " Tow me please please please please please please please please. I dont know what you would call towing two people behind a POWER boat but I would call it skiing. Once there, Jan showed everyone how to fish. I guess having a color cordinated fish pole, reel, and lures payed off. On the way back down river we drifted along fishing where a couple more were cought but some how got away.

It looked like a storm was moving in so we hurried on down river but it missed us

Back at camp, the ducks were waiting for another loaf of bread, more camps were raided for firewood, and another camp table was found. This table was pine and I knew somehow I had to find room in the car for it, will make two nice drums.

Things that go bump in the night can send tremors of fear reverbarating up ones spine.

Thursday we drowned some more worms in the Raquitte River where it goes under Rt3, there wasn't much biting worth mentioning but I found a nice patch of blueberries that was just comming on AND some Wintergreen. Found out later that wintergreen makes for a good laxitive. I picked a half a bottle of the berrys and that night I made fry bread with fresh blueberrys in them. I cooked them on my new stove where the heat could be controled better and thay came out to perfection, even had Red drooling.

We heard rumors of fish being in the water at Wanikena so we drove over there on Friday. The ducks must of overheard our plans because they were there to greet us and mooch more bread. We did catch a couple nice bass that were a 16th under leagle size and as fate would have it I had left my fish stretcher in camp so we had to throw them back. Somehow I don't think you beleave me about the fish stretcher so I'll explain how it works. You insert the fish and it makes microscoptic cuts in the side of the fish. Then it inserts tiny shims inbetween each vertabray. Depending on the type of fish and the size of shim, you can streach one out a foot or better

I think I lost a day here somewhere but there was one day I was watching a State worker put trim around the door on our bathroom. By the looks of some of the other bathrooms in the area, this involves three pieces of trim or in this case three boards, Probably take most people a half hour to cut and nail em on,,, but this guy was a pro, He spent three hours putting on two pieces before he took the rest of the day off. Poor guy must of been exhausted. I sure hope he finds the time to put on the last piece before the end of camping season.

Saturday night socks burning ceremony,,,, I didn't have any white gas and I had to use a pair of clean socks due to some silly regulation about other campers being within three miles and something about cruelty to wildlife. The rain dance I did went off without a hitch but If this leaks out, all the farmers in the state will be mad at me cuz there hay is getting wet. I can't do a dry dance cuz the heat and humidity did a number on the way the drum sounds, sooooooo, I put my spirit walking stick out in Trina's flower garden, hope that works

On the way home we stopped at the HIllside Diner for breakfast and ordered the three pancake breakfast. While camping I can easly put away three or four pancakes so this should be no problem, right? WRONG, she brought out three pancakes as big as hubcaps an inch thick weighing in at 25# a piece. The legs on the chair started to bend after only eating half of them.

Next year they want a cabin?????????? What is camping coming to?