Monday, June 14, 2010

The Camping Experience

Camping.

It’s the time where people can sit around a campfire as they make s’mores.

It’s the time when people can swim in the nearby lake....the time when fireflies are chased, the time when people bundle comfortably in sleeping bags.

I didn’t experience any of this.

Well, the bundling in the sleeping bag thing, maybe. Since it was raining and all.

There was no open fire to make s’mores. That’s because open fires were not allowed where we were at. And even if they were, I’m not sure my friend Amanda and I would have known how to start it. I know I can start a fire with a flint because that’s how people start fires on Survivor.

There was no lake nearby to swim in. I mean, there were puddles all around thanks to the rain so if we had wanted to, we could have sat in the middle of one.

Fireflies don’t live in Wyoming. Antelope do though. They roam around the base and I was a little worried that one would run into our tent. They’re not the brightest animals in the world. They’ll stroll out in the middle of the street and just stare at you while you sit in the car, cursing them.

Amanda and I had decided to camp a few weeks ago. We assumed the weather would be nice because hello, it’s June. But we forgot that we were in Wyoming, the land of 80 degree weather one day and 40 degree weather the next. Wyoming decided to give us 40 degree weather when we decided to camp. We debated postponing the camping trip but then realized that we were in the mood to camp dammit, so camp we would.

Ours was the only tent set up on the camp ground. We were the only crazies who dared to camp in 40 degree weather while it rained.

And yes, the area where we were camping was haunted. This is what it says online:

"Later research discovered that in the 1920s, a young Indian woman was brutally raped and murdered by cavalry men at White Crow Creek, Warren's present day FamCamp. "

And it’s that poor Indian woman who can be heard screaming at times, and rightfully so.

Still, I hoped she wouldn’t scream while we were there.

Everything was going smoothly until we both had to use the bathroom. And good news, there were actual bathrooms there. I had first asked, “We don’t have to squat and pee, do we?” I am awful at squatting and peeing.

When we stepped out of the tent it was raining. And when I looked into the darkness I thought I saw a bright eye staring back out at us. Okay, that doesn’t make sense because why would a bright eye be staring at us? But I don’t know how ghosts work so I was all, “Is that an eye?” and I managed to freak out Amanda. It turned out it was just a light from the RV area but still. It COULD have been an eye.

Then when we crawled into our sleeping bags the tent lit up as though there were a vehicle with their headlights on right in front of it.

“Um, what’s that?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Amanda replied.

“I swear, if Tom is trying to scare us I’m going to be pissed,” I fumed. I wouldn’t put it past Tom. He loves freaking me out. (“You just look so funny when you’re scared,” he once told me.)

“We should peek out and see,” Amanda said.

“Yes,” I agreed.

But none of us moved. What if it were an axe murderer? Or a ghost? Or an ALIEN? I’ve seen some horror films, whoever is dumb enough to CHECK IT OUT is usually the one dead.

It turned out it was just a spotlight that came on. But we didn’t know that. The worker at the campsite should have warned us. He could have said, “Don’t be alarmed when the spotlight comes on.” But no, all he said was, “Good luck with the ghost,” when Amanda had checked in earlier.

Who says that?

Good luck with the ghost?

There is NO LUCK to be had with a ghost.

Amanda and I eventually drifted off to sleep. I woke up a few times thanks to the trains that go rumbling past. It was especially fun when they blared their horns. I wanted to shout, “Hello, people in tents sleeping here, thanks!”

But we survived.

We didn’t encounter a ghost.

We may have encountered wetness but that’s okay. Because in the end we got something that we really needed: an adult conversation without any interruptions.

I’d go back in a heartbeat.

58 comments:

  1. I am so glad that in the long run you had a good time. I wanted that for you so bad. But how did Tom fair?

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  2. I love camping... Haunted camping could be interesting!

    I gave you an award!

    http://lindyandree.blogspot.com/2010/06/m-at-betty-crapper-cooking-from-scratch.html

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  3. I have decided that I hate tent camping. The last time I went, it was also raining, and I don't know what was going on, but I had to pee about 40 times that night. In the rain. Witht he bathroom 20 yards away. And I was cold and super uncomfortable.

    I will take the campfire with the Smores, and then go home.

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  4. You nailed the reason I love camping - adult conversation with no interruptions. Well, and smore's :-) Sounds like a great trip.

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  5. Camping in the rain -- and with ghosts? Really, you are much braver than me...

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  6. awww- camping can suck. as my first time did...lets just say that on the first night, i found out my air mattress had a slow leak so after a few hours i was on the cold hard ground...i was there for 3 nights :(

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  7. i'm SUCH a fraidy cat that if i went camping i would INSIST on either my hubs, dad, or brother being there... lol

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  8. Sounds like fun!! Brings me back...I haven't camped in ages!

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  9. I'm so bummed that you didn't encounter a ghost. *sigh*

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  10. HAHA!!!!

    this post cracks me up!!!

    I went camping for the first (and only) time last summer...for the fourth of July, and of course it was the HOTTEST weekend in TEXAS that summer...just...my...luck!!!

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  11. I broke out in hives just reading the title of this post. Hives. That is what camping does to me. I am glad you had a good time!

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  12. So wait a sec... You got to go camping without any kids?? And have adult conversation?? Definitely worth a little rain and I'd even risk a ghost encounter. lol

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  13. Oh that sounds like fun. (NOT.) I hate camping Amber. It's dirty and uncomfortable. And that's without rain, trains, or ghosts!

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  14. I was sort of thinking that you were crazy to want to go camping...but adult time? No kids? Sign me up!

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  15. I love camping - but even I would have opted for a hotel instead!

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  16. You should be very proud of yourself for going camping in the first place, and in bad weather besides! I hope you get the opportunity to do it again soon!

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  17. Love camping! So afraid to take my Little Man this year..he's 2..I fear he will escape the tent.....
    I could not camp without a campfire....
    You are very brave for go where there was a ghost!!

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  18. This just proves at what length a woman will go to for some mommy-free time! Ghosts, rain and cold weather be damned!

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  19. I've been dying to go camping, so I'm jealous! Despite rain. . .and, you know, ghosts.

    Glad you had fun and adult conversation time!

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  20. I think I would've braved ghosts, antelopes and bright shiny lights from axe murderers for some adult conversation, too...

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  21. I love camping... glad you went and enjoyed it!

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  22. I'm so glad you made it and it was worth it.

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  23. My childhood house I'm moving back into is haunted. Max was there, trying to get it ready for us and he kept hearing noises all day. Finally, he got fed up and said, "You think you're so bad ass, thump again!!" And then he heard *THUMP THUMP* louder than any other time of the day. He left the house.

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  24. I hope the next time the weather is better - and maybe you venture to some other campground - without ghosts but with fireflies perhaps.

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  25. this would be why i don't camp...tents, bugs, wild animals, nowhere to plug in my blow dryer!

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  26. Its amazing what we do for adult conversations! So glad that you had a good time after all.

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  27. so glad you made it out alive...you've got bigger balls than me!

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  28. Sounds like you had yourself a great time! Lol. I love the idea of camping but it seems that everytime I go I have an awful experience ...like waking up with a big black spider in my cleavage or rain or a piece of wood in the fire pops and hits the side of my face and I hate having to use an outhouse...I'm always scared a chipmunk or something is going to climb up and scratch my bum.

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  29. You're a better gal than I am. I don't need to be out under the stars. I'm perfectly happy with 5-Stars -- and room service. ;)

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  30. I've been wanting smores for weeks.

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  31. Sounds like an adventure!

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  32. I'm glad you had fun despite the weather. But...no open fire allowed? That makes no sense to me. To me, fire=camping. Weird.

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  33. I love camping - rain or no rain, love it. And adult conversation with no interruptions? How sweet is that?

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  34. I remember those days when an 'adult conversation without interruptions' was so precious! Those were the times when I would talk to a double-glazing salesman for AS LONG AS HE LIKED.

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  35. If you can camp in the cold and the rain, you can camp ANYwhere. Welcome to the camper club, my dear!

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  36. So glad you posted - been over here worrying that the ghostie got you! Glad you made it out alive & had some adult time all to yourself.

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  37. I love to go camping...but not in rain or 40 degree weather!

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  38. I went on two camping trips in the U.S. Never again!!

    One was in the middle of December where we almost froze to death in the snow and a tree limb broke off and fell on our tent and it broke the tent. We ended up sleeping in a crummy, old hotel that night.

    The other was when we went camping at the beach in the middle of summer in NC. I never knew you can be eaten alive by bugs until then! Hubby and I went home in the middle of the night.

    Never again!

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  39. I am not really sure how I feel about camping but I need to get it figured out soon b/c we are going in less than a week.

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  40. Suffering through a little wetness for some alone adult interaction makes it all worth it.

    Wait.

    That totally sounded wrong....

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  41. Stumbled upon your lovely blog here and wanted to say hi. What a crazy camping trip! Would love if you could stop by my blog and say hi.

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  42. I'd like to suggest luxo-camping, you do it at a minimum 4-star, un-haunted hotel, and order room service..I'm just sayin'!

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  43. And this is pretty much why I don't like camping in tents. Spooky things always happen when you camp in a tent. If you camp in a trailer life doesn't seem so spooky.

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  44. Camping is great.

    I'm pitching a tent right now.

    Too bad I'm not camping.

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  45. Sounds utterly peaceful! And exactly like my first camping trip!

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  46. No s'mores? They are the only thing that make camping worth it... or maybe nothing can make camping worth it...

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  47. Ha! Doesn't sound like the best camping trip ever, but I'm glad you enjoyed yourself! I'm wondering. . . are the kids still alive? Well, I'm actually more worried about Tom this time!

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  48. It ALWAYS rains when I camp out. I stay in hotels now!

    Glad the ghost didn't get you! ; )

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  49. Brave ladies. I can only imagine the conversation you might have had if you had encountered the ghost!

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  50. I don't understand camping without s'mores.

    Well, okay I don't really understand camping.

    But I'm glad the ghosts didn't get you.

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  51. Camping is fun and the point was really to just get away and you achieved the goal. Would have been cool if you had seen the ghost...that would have been a great story to blog about!

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  52. Glad you went, even in the rain and cold and WITHOUT THE KIDS (or Tom)

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  53. Glad you went, even in the rain and cold and WITHOUT THE KIDS (or Tom)

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  54. Yeah, I don't camp....ever.

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  55. LOL, that is great. I haven't been camping in ages... at least not since I started enjoying creature comforts over the "adventure"...though it makes me think I should give it another try!

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  56. You reminded me of a few reasons why I don't like camping. Cold, wet and sleeping on the ground! Still, so glad you had a good time!!!

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  57. I loooove camping! I lived in Wyoming for a few short years, but I'm not familiar with the area you were in. And what is with a campground that doensn't allow an open flame?

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