Bob’s Camping Odyssey – The Post Mortem

90 degree heat. 100% humidity. A tent. What happens when you put these things together? I go camping. You have all heard about how I was dreading this past weekend. The only time that I went camping in the past, was in Cub Scouts, who knows how many years ago. I THINK we were in tents. All I remember is that there was a bon fire that we were throwing EVERYTHING into, including aluminum cans. The other thing I remember is slipping on a twig and falling into the bon fire, my hand landing on a can that had been burning for 2 days. Yes, I rode all the way home from wherever we were, with my hand bandaged and holding it up in the air so it wouldn’t hurt.

This time was much better. I didn’t burn myself, except maybe a little sunburn. I did hurt my back somehow. I think it was from sitting on the picnic benches for too long since I am used to sitting on my butt all day in a comfy chair. Then again, it could also be because I have no ass muscle to speak of. I have mentioned before my lack of padding.

That was the worst part.

Jackie put her comments up yesterday because yes, I was still recuperating a little. The heat did get to me a little on Sunday. I have always been closer to Mr. Freeze than anything. I just do not do well in the humidity. I survived though. I did not go in the pool, not sure why other than I just didn’t feel like being in the super cold water. Probably sunburn paranoia. I am getting wimpier and wimpier as I get older.  Maybe I watched too much Monk when it was on.

I have to admit, I think I did as well as I did because we were so close to home and I went home every morning and evening to let the dog out and feed her. This means I got to shower in my own shower and not in the campsite shower.

Other than all of that, it was good to hang out with everyone. I didn’t party as hard as I had thought I would eventually, but I am kind of glad I didn’t because Sunday would have been real rough. It was overall a good “first time” I think. I think I would like to try it maybe with just Jackie and I, or just a few people. I was kind of digging the ability to just sit and relax, look at the sky, no tv kind of thing going on. Then again, when I am there in that situation I may think I am going out of my mind.

I would like to think that I would be able to move along enough that I could actually go camping with no cell phone, no ipod (other than maybe playing music) and go somewhere were there is just quiet. I don’t think I have ever had a weekend like that. It might be nice. I would have to get past the not being able to shower in a real shower part though. We will see.

The main point is, yes, I will go again. I may tweak the packing of what we bring and all that, but I think we did pretty well. Just need to have a little better prep, but yes, I will go again.

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Bob’s Camping Odyssey – Day 3

Hi all, Bob’s wife here. I’ve been tasked with the challenge of describing Bob’s camping experience. While no one can say exactly how Bob was feeling the whole time except Bob, I will certainly add my commentary on the experience for your viewing pleasure but I promise to keep it short…

 

I will start by explaining that I myself grew up in a household that went camping at least once every summer (if not 2 or 3 times) so I came into this weekend with a ‘Let’s bring it on’ attitude. Bob (as you may have guessed by his previous blogs) not so much. I do have to give him props for having a mostly positive attitude throughout and he did fare better than I thought he would.  Although he didn’t participate in some of the festivities (card games, swimming etc.) and kept to himself most of the time instead of being the social butterfly he can be, he didn’t piss and moan nearly as much as I was expecting! He even admitted to me (on more than one occasion) that he was in fact have a good time! I think he also got some good ‘guy time’ in playing ladder ball, horseshoes & grilling stuff. Which, if you ask me, was much needed.

 

He did get quite testy toward the end of the weekend when we were cleaning up our campsite and taking everything down but part of me attributes that to the fact that it was only 9am and already over 80 degrees out! I still think he could’ve benefitted from jumping in the pool to cool off with the rest of us but I’m starting to think he doesn’t like the water very much. Cranky old man, why don’t you like fun! Just kidding. I can’t complain too much, he did bring me an ice cream sandwich to help me cool off.  Thanks husband!

 

 We did see some pretty sweet looking RVs at the campsite. Maybe one day we’ll get one of those so we can really ‘rough it’ on the camp grounds. However, since those things are now like buying a second home, I’m fairly certain it’d be quite some time in the distant future, maybe when we retire?  Regardless, now the task becomes convincing him to repeat this weekend’s performance. I know he’s at least considering it because he’s already talking about what we could have done better for next time. Cute husband, thanks for humoring me and giving camping a chance!

Bob’s Camping Odyssey – Day 2

Camping date … 47834.35

I have survived one night and a full day of camping. As you can see, I haven’t REALLY been “roughing” it since I can still blog. I had a plan, that was suggested by Kapgar, that Jackie would blog here so she could complain about how much I complained. Either she really doesn’t want to blog, or I haven’t been as insufferable as I had expected to be. Last night wasn’t so bad. The massive heat stayed away last night so sleeping was ok. IT was nice enough that we were able to keep the main windows on the tent closed for privacy. Today however, is another matter. I am not sure how hot it actually got today but it feels pretty damned hot. The humidity is kinda killer also.

However, soon I am on my way to let the dog out, and apparently make a beer run because everyone else is too drunk. So, once I get back … I will be partaking in some of that drinking as well. I didn’t drink all day because I didn’t want to get totally toasted before having to drive. But once I am back, all bets are off tonight. I think I am just going to try have an enjoyable night.

I will let you all know tomorrow how I fared. Maybe I will get Jackie to throw in her two cents as well.

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• Bob’s Camping Odyssey – Night 1 (bobrich.wordpress.com)

Bob’s Camping Odyssey – Night 1

Well, I am here. I am camping. Jackie and her girl friends did a hell of a job setting up the tent. Yeah, you heard me. I got out of the way. I did pound in the stakes. I also hauled everything from the van to the tent. Here is a picture of our tent. Notice the celebs hangin’ out with us.

 

 

I told you, I was going to have to camp is style.

I now have a beer, I am going to sit by a fire, have another beer, and maybe another. Then I am going to try to sleep in this humidity and heat. Then, I am going to get up at the butt crack of dawn and go feed the dog. No, that isn’t code.

Based on tonight, maybe Jackie will provide a commentary on how much I complain.

Until next time, remember … “when you go to bed tonight, and you hear a noise, whatever you do, don’t look out the window because there might be a bear!”

My Last Night Of Comfort

Tonight is the last night I get to spend in the air conditioning for a few days. The last night I get to sleep in my bed. The last day before I go … camping. I am dreading this to a certain extent. I know that I am going to have fun … I hope. The saving grace for me is that we are close to home. I get to feed the dog and let her out. (I think I may have said that the other day so forgive me for repeating)

We have everything ready to go. After work, we will drop off Tori and then load the van and we are gone. Will I be blogging FROM the campsite? Maybe. We shall see. I might just so that I can annoy everyone with my camping woes. Some of you may actually be amused by my suffering. I will think on this.

Until then …

A Few Quick Things

A pretty bad storm rolled through here yesterday morning. A lot of people still don’t have power and may not have power until Saturday. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to not lose power. Maybe if we did, I would be better prepared for this weekend camping.

Betty Ford died and I missed it. Today, I had to read, HOURS after it was posted on Facebook, that Sherwood Schwartz died. He crated Gilligan’s Island, who incidentally, also did not have power for the entire time they were on the island.

They didn’t have power or air conditioning on Gilligan’s island. However, if you look back on it, air conditioning really wasn’t in every home as standard until maybe starting in the 60s – 70s.

Young people today don’t know anything about life back then. They have always had AC. They have also always had large TV screens. I don’t think they realize that the tablets that are promoting ways to watch tv on the go, are just fancy replacements for the 5 inch portable tvs that I had in high school.

Speaking of small tvs, I think of cell phones and how when they started they were huge, then they got smaller and smaller, and now they are going to be so big again that you won’t want to make a phone call on them.

Phones won’t need to be small though because no one is going to call anyone anymore. This is sad because I am going to want to call someone, anyone to come and rescue me from camping. It is going to be in the 90s, and I won’t have any AC.

 

 

 

They Better Leave The Light On For Me

Today was very productive. Got a lot of laundry done, inventoried some stuff for the Mexican Fiesta party, and inventoried what we need for camping next weekend. I never thought I would hear myself say that. Camping … me. This is going to be a very long week as I wait for this camping trip. I am NOT a camper. Roughing it to me is a hotel that doesn’t have an ice machine. Fortunately, we are going to some campsite like 20 min away from our house. We will be close if I can’t handle it. That coupled with the new minivan, and I am hoping that I should be ok. Worst case, I drive home and shower or something.

Wish me luck. I am a wuss. I am sure I will be conveying my continuing dread as the week plays on. Readers beware!