Carry On Camping II

Oops, I did it again! Paul suggested that we go to Lanesboro, MN to a Bed & Breakfast last weekend for another outing in 2020. It's been a year of hunkering down for all of us. Like many of you, we missed out on some planned trips - Marco Island and France to name two. In my first year of retirement, the United States were calling! That was before the dreaded Covid made travel higher risk.

I couldn't get in the spirit of a Lanesboro trip. Maybe next year during warmer kayaking season. Instead, I suggested tent camping (oops!) at Backbone State Park in Delaware County. TENT. Crazy, right? So many people are shocked and amazed that I would consider such a thing. The old girl still has some surprises in her! 

Neither Paul nor I had ever been to Backbone before. Kinda surprising since it's in Paul's home county, camping isn't high on most farmer's to-do lists. Backbone (originally the Devil's Backbone) is Iowa's oldest state park, dedicated in 1919. It's in the the Maquoketa River valley and boasts several hiking trails, a trout stream, and limestone bluffs. We booked the last spot available in the "rustic" - no electric hookup Six Pines campground. Yes, I was leery of sleeping on the ground in a tent. We had planned on camping Labor Day weekend, and that didn't work out as the campground didn't have toilet facilities. We needed to get it done!

Paul and I took off Friday morning - first stop, Independence, Iowa where long ago relatives on my mom, Patricia Nelle Bullock (her mother was Nellie), lived. In 1996, the year before she died, Mom and I spent time in the town during a wonderful trip around NE Iowa. She told me how she'd spent summer weeks in Independence with her maternal grandparents John and Millie Weber and lots of cousins. I looked up their burial sites on FindaGrave, but we were unable to locate them as there was no map available. There are many Webers in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. More relatives are in another Buchanan County cemetery. My family boasts many generations of Iowans on both sides - I think I'm going to be the last one. 

After a stop at Casey's, we pulled into the cool restored train depot in town. I'm glad communities take care of these treasures. 

In this photo, Paul is filling me full of flora and fauna knowledge

We arrived at Backbone mid-afternoon and located our little home away from home campsite - not far from the pit type potty and water source (not drinkable). Thumbs up! I didn't want to totter far if I needed a late night potty visit. There is another campground at the park that boasts showers, sinks, and real flush toilets. It didn't take long to set up camp. Then we drove around to see the park sites and check out where we wanted to hike the next day. We'd brought along firewood, but no lighter fluid. Paul used leaves to help get the campfire going. Paul grilled a couple yummy filets on our small grill for supper. There's nothing like sitting around a campfire. And, for dessert - toasted marshmallows. 

We had poor cell reception - helpful towards my goal of checking out. My best friend and I just talked. We decided politics were out - we get enough of that at home. My favorite topic was "places we'd like to go". There are so many. It's fun to dream. It was also a great time to be thankful for all things great and small.   

We went to bed early as it gets dark early when you're away from artificial light. Our neighbors were quiet early too. They did get up early - before 6:30 am and talk in normal voices. Grrr. Even though I was awake, I would have liked quiet time a bit longer. Their dogs barked at night - answering coyotes! 

On Saturday morning we had a great scrambled egg/potato/steak breakfast. Why does food taste better outdoors? Oh, and the tent/sleeping bag - could have been better if I'd remembered my pillow! Argh. I stuffed towels into a canvass shopping bag. Not recommended. The pad under my bag was also not adequate. If we do this again, I need a better sleeping package!  

We drove up to Backbone Trail on a gorgeous sunny morning. The trail was marked "medium" difficulty. The trail is aptly named as it's set right on a ridge between the riverbed and another gulley. At times I had to use my hands to scramble up the path. The vistas and light were fabulous! It's nice to have my very own tree guy with me to identify them. Huge pines not usually seen in our state. We didn't see many people until near the end of the trail that loops back to the parking area - there we came across a large group of teen students. 

We did some more sightseeing after that. And shopping! We needed pillows. Strawberry Point, the nearby town, only had a Dollar Store. So we visited WalMart in Manchester, driving the scenic route. We also picked up more firewood, lighter fluid, and beer, as we'd gone through our small inventory in night 1. There is something about a campfire and beer! 

After a cold lunch of charcutarie. In my day was called "cheese and meat tray". That was followed by rest and reading. Then we hiked an easy grass trail - followed by pulling over in a high spot to listen to the end of the ISU/TCU football game. The good guys won! We stopped at the fancy campground for showers. 

The Cyclone fans in the campsite next to us (ISU lawn chairs were the clue) were happy too. That night was quiet - dogs and kraut, chips, salad, and oh yes, marshmallows. That night I had one more pad under my sleeping bag and a real pillow. I can't claim fabulous sleep, but better! 

We took off fairly early Sunday for home. I was ready for flush toilets and McDonald's oatmeal. Still, our first camping experience as a couple in forty years was really good! I made a list of things we should remember next time. Pillows are on there! And air mattresses. Carry on! 

 

Carry On Camping

Do you remember the movie, "Carry On Camping"? 

The movie originally came out in 1969 when I was only 12, and it looks like it was a bit risque. I remember going with Chris Deardorff, but we must have gone when it came around again...can't imagine Pat B and Ginger Deardorff sending us off to a sexy movie at age 12. Since then, besides my Girl Scout day camp years, anytime I've gone camping that film title pops into my head. Not the risque part - just the humorous part. So much can't be controlled! You're at the mercy of nature, neighbors, and bad planning.

Summer vaca in Florida visiting my grandparents - no camping

Growing up, my family was NOT a camping family. Exhibit A - my dad, Dave Bullock. Evidently, his years in the army cured him of any idea that living "rough" was fun. Our vacations involved hotel rooms or at the least, cabins. My sisters and I were in Girl Scouts and attended summer camp, so we got a taste of camping then. I have fond memories of Camp Cheley in Estes Park, CO - an overnight hike and campout. It was quite an adventure.  

My next camping experience was quite memorable - except for the fogginess due to the liquor involved. It happened while I was studying ever so hard at Iowa State University one VEISHEA weekend. Iowans will remember VEISHEA - that wonderful student-run celebration on campus that was parade/party/ showcase. It was doomed because of riots in later years. They couldn't figure out how to party without being overly destructive - grrr. 

That weekend, early in May, a group that included my roomies, Jane and Vicki, and our pal, ISU volleyballer Kelly, rented a tent from campus recreation. We decided to camp at The Ledges, a beautiful state park near Boone - just west of Ames. We took the essentials - beer, chips, cookies, and marshmallows. 

By afternoon we were already feeling the alcohol glow when our guy pals from Stevenson House, including Moose and friends, Shit for Brains, and others with nicknames I don't recall, were canoeing the Des Moines River. I don't know if we coordinated the meeting, but sure wish I had a video of the event.  Picture - Girls: cheering drunkenly on the shore of the Des Moines River as it passes through the Ledges. Boys: drunkenly see us and stand up in the canoe to wave - tipping over into the chilly water. Slow-motion would be great.  

The whole group ended up sitting around our campsite fire ring. Thank God we had Moose the Boy Scout to build the fire. As night fell, it got chilly and seven or eight of us piled into the tent. The guys hadn't planned to stay but driving didn't seem to be a good idea. I remember being damp and chilled to the bone. Wet drunk boys stink. It was epic!

I didn't camp again until the year I graduated from college - when we started our much blogged about trips to Ridgeland, Wisconsin to tube the Apple River. We stayed in a huge tent owned by the Huston family - again, many stinky people. 

That year I graduated and moved to Sioux Falls, SD where I had my first real job. Paul Goldsmith, bless his heart, made the drive there several times. It was then, without the trappings of college, we really got to know each other and learned how much we enjoyed each other's company. And we went camping. 

Does it look like 2 people will fit in that tent? Especially with that hair!

Paul had a pup tent - a tiny thing. We planned a trip to SE MN, a place some of my SD co-workers had told me about. I believe it was this place - Blue Mounds. I remember seeing the Bison. And how tiny and claustrophobic Paul's tiny tent was - the canvass was mere inches from my face.  

Since then, through the years, we camped a few times. I've written before about our Memorial Day camping experiences - 45 degrees and rainy at Jester Park and Pine Lake with our college friends. What is it about sitting around a campfire with friends? Good times! 

During our Creston years, after the kids were a little older, we camped a few times with our friends who rolled a little nicer than tent camping. Higgins had "the Big Unit", a pull-behind camper, Crittendens had a camper, and Bobbie and Jeff had a pop-up camper. We invested in a new tent that fit four people and a dog. I remember fun trips to NE Iowa near Waukon and Saylorville. We biked and canoed and the kids had a ball. It's always good to go with people who know what they're doing and have the right equipment. And attitudes! 

Since then, Paul upgraded the pup tent for a nicer one for hunting trips to Colorado. He's got some more outdoors equipment too. I haven't camped in 20 years! So imagine my surprise when Paul and I were discussing potential Labor Day weekend plans and I suggested tent camping! I know. But consider this: we need to be away from people as we're on "Baby Watch", and we don't just want to sit here. Jud and Kara's baby girl is due 9/12. We're getting antsy! The words came out of my mouth "what about camping?" I was as shocked as he was. 

So that's the plan. He found a remote camping spot in a state forest. Forty years after the first time we camped together we will Carry on Camping. Maybe we'll make this an every 40 year thing!