by Richard L. Weaver IISomeone could say that no camping (at all) is exceptional camping or that any camping at all is great camping — both extremes of the same subject. Today (09-08-08), however, reveals how truly exceptional “camping” can be.
My wife and I come from camping families, so it comes as no surprise that we both enjoy and pursue it with considerable interest and vigor.
We are “camping” in “Brennan Beach RV Resort” in Pulaski, New York, and this place is the largest park we have ever camped in with over 1400 sites, a combination of seasonal and overnight/destination types. It is hard to imagine (even for us), the size of this place, and if it were full, I would probably not be writing an essay on this topic, with this slant, at this park.
We are in this park for 3 nights, and we are likely to extend our stay for another night. When we checked in (this being the week following Labor Day), most campers had already departed. Having selected the more wooded area, we were already choosing the less popular area of the park; however, we are in a site surrounded by other sites, but nobody (with the exception of two other trailers quite a distance from us), is here. We are by ourselves.
Each of the 1400 camping sites here has full service: electric, water, sewer, and cable (wireless Internet access is available at the pavilion). The 62 sites surrounding us (we are approximately in the center of this wooded area), all have level concrete pads, and when we step out of our 5th wheel, we step onto this pad. There is a picnic table on the pad just to the left of our 5th-wheel door under our awning, and although this entire setup is an awesome arrangement, it justifies precisely why I place “camping” in quotation marks. This is camping?
It is currently 72 degrees, there is a blue sky with no clouds, and a slight breeze. Last night (our first night here) it was very dark and completely silent. Within 200 feet of our campsite (within visual distance through the trees), there are showers, a very clean restroom, and a dispenser for a daily newspaper.
We decided to stay in our campsite today since we have been on the road for 13 days. We wanted to relax and not get into the truck to travel or sightsee. Our biggest adventure today was to visit the camp store and swimming pool and walk down to and along the beach. The point of this essay is to extol the virtues of this form of camping — “camping” this way is truly exceptional.
Today I fixed a grilled cheese and ham sandwich on our electric, two-burner stove on the picnic table, had French-vanilla yogurt poured over bananas, grapes, cherries, black raspberries, and pineapple. A cup of coffee and a chocolate-chip cookie completed my lunch. It is an exceptional lunch.
We are carrying with us a small (two-person) crock pot, and Andrea has a ham and cabbage slow-cooker dinner simmering (for 8-10 hours) for dinner tonight. The delightful aroma in the 5th wheel is mouth watering.
Of the 13 days we have been on the road, we have had two camping experiences like this: under the shade of enormous trees, in a full-service, level, campsite, private, and quiet at night. The good weather we have had is an added benefit and comes at no additional charge.
What a great way to relax! We fully realize that larger trailers and larger 5th wheels come with even more amenities, but as far as we’re concerned, we have all we need. The bed, for example, is extremely comfortable, and the cool nights encourage a wonderful sleep. Cable has allowed us to watch the national conventions as well as the U.S. Open (the men’s final between Murray and Federer is tonight). We have a DVD player, and we’ve watched two of the 10 movies we brought with us.
Our 5th wheel comes with a terrific shower, and when we have a sewer we do not need to be careful about how much water we use. With Andrea and me taking showers right after each other, we have yet to run out of hot water. When we don’t have a sewer connection, we take short. showers using as little water as possible.
Although we have air conditioning and use it when necessary, the a-c unit has a fan on it which can be used on low or high. One night we used it all night on low just to block out the noise of a nearby active campsite. A small, portable fan (which I have on now) circulates the air sufficiently for comfort. When mornings are cold (it will get into the mid forties the next couple of nights) our cube heater provides a quick warm-up in the morning.
With two refrigerators, plenty of fresh drinking water, a microwave, full stove, a regular oven (which we’ve never used), we have all the conveniences necessary to prepare complete meals. We carry 3 small, blue-ice packets and a small plastic thermos-like container so that we prepare our lunches in the morning before breaking camp, and carry sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, fresh vegetables, drinks, and cookies wherever we travel or tour.
We heard recently of a prominent physician from our hometown who is retiring and whose wife wants to travel. He has no interest in traveling, but he says he can be persuaded. Considering what there is to see and do in the world, it is hard for us to imagine such a position. Day-before-yesterday, for example, we took a two-nation cruise to explore the 1,000 islands at the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway between Canada and the U.S. In another example, just a 1-hour stop at the Discovery Center in Sacket Harbor, NY, yesterday alone, supplied sufficient information to overwhelm the senses. Information on the farming and agriculture of this region, architecture, tourism, fishing, recreation, and history was impressive. Information on Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, Frank Lloyd Wright (his famous home, Graycliff, is in Derby, NY), and because geography dictated that the war of 1812 operations take place around Lake Erie, near the Niagara River between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and near the Saint Lawrence River area, there was much information on those events as well.
There is much excitement in 5th-wheelin’ it, and camping in this manner is exceptional not because of any one element but as a result of adding everything together. Sure, it’s the vehicles, the ease, the supplies, the amenities, the weather, and all that you can learn. Our travels have always been educational adventures. The experience of using our 5th wheel is the delightful and wonderful combination that cannot be entirely predicted nor anticipated. It proves, however, that “camping” can be truly exceptional.
At the “Love Outdoors," the brief article on “Camping” offers over 30 useful tips and suggestions that may help you make camping easier.
In a brief article on this Camp’n Style website, there are three areas discussed: (1) family camping, (2) camping essentials, and (3) camping trailer tips. The ideas are brief and to the point, useful and interesting, readable and valuable.
© Copyright 2008 - And Then Some Publishing, LLC
Makes me miss camping! I haven't camped in quite a while . . .
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you jimmylee. Yes, when camping goes extraordinarily well --- as this trip was for us --- it makes you want to do it again and again and again. We miss it almost as soon as a trip is over! The ease and comfort of our 5th wheel, of course, makes the whole process even more enjoyable than having to set up a tent, struggle with packing everything, and experience all aspects of the weather in a direct, first-hand, and unavoidable manner. When you've camped for most of your life, of course, any camping story, reference, or anecdote can stir up a wealth of terrific memories. You might enjoy reading the book AND THEN SOME, Book I, which has a section labeled, "Travel," and includes 8 individual chapters related to camping, and one, Chapter 30, on "Traveling and camping with our family."
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