Camping is an evolving hobby, something that progresses over time. Most of us begin at stage one with a tent. As time goes on we move to a pop-up, then to a travel trailer. In the retirement years, many campers evolve to the motor home or fifth wheeler. Where ever you are at on the camping “time line”, I am here to tell you that going “old school” is a good thing every once in a while. It makes you appreciate what you have. For Amy and I, we own a pop-up camper. However, this Labor Day weekend, in celebration of one year of camping together, we tent camped. We follow a band called Mumford and Sons. Excellent band! They have been touring America along with other bands in a huge production called “Gentlemen of the Road.” This weekend the tour landed in Troy, Ohio. Beginning Friday morning various acts played in downtown Troy. There was various music between Friday and ended with the main act on Saturday evening (Mumford and Sons). A weekend of music. Vendors in the streets of small town America. People enjoying gyros and funnel cakes and those wonderful adult beverages. Goose Island even created a special Stopover Ale for the tour. People came from all over Ohio to listen to the multitude of music.

The city of Troy opened up the city park along the river and the baseball fields for tent campers. There were rules, but camping was free. The Gentlemen of the Road tour offered shower facilities. Had it not been for the fact that one rule for tent camping was no animals, we would have camped in the park. I am not old enough to have been around during Woodstock, so I don’t have first hand experience of what that was like. However, this felt like a modern-day version of it.

Instead of camping in the park, we decided to set up tent in my mother-in-laws backyard, alongside my brother-in-law and his wife. Her house was only six or seven blocks from the festivities and it was great time to bond with family. Sure, we did not have some of the conveniences of the pop-up camper, however, it was good to relive the “old” days when we tent camped. The two night experience made us appreciate what we have now. This is not to say that tent camping is bad. In fact, there was less to worry about. Set up and breakdown was so much quicker with the tent. Even the dogs enjoyed the simple life of tent camping.

I think sometimes as Americans we want to keep progressing, getting more and more instead of just being happy with what we have. Sure, Amy and I just paid off the pop-up last month and officially got the title today. So, at any point I could go trade it in for a new travel trailer. But maybe life is about being happy with what you have and not down about what you don’t have. Maybe we should be grateful for what God’s blessed us with and not envious of what our neighbor has. Sometimes we need to go “old school” to appreciate what we have. Amy and I are happy with our pop-up camper. Every once in a while we pull out the tent and camp to remind us of that.

In the words of Marcus Mumford – “In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die and where you invest your love, you invest your life.”

Well, it’s the fifth night of our ten-day camping journey through the great state of Michigan. It has been an awesome adventure thus far. I have blogged about this before but I feel compelled to discuss it again. Camping brings out the best in people. Total strangers striking up a conversation with you, willing to help you with whatever problem you’re having and offering advice. We’ve even had some fellow campers offer us a cold beverage! For the most part, campers are super friendly people. We have met some great people along the way during this trip. People we would have otherwise never met. I am not knocking hotels and resorts, but there is something about camping that brings out the “neighborly” personality in all of us. Had we been staying in a hotel, I highly doubt these conversations would have ever taken place.
At the Jellystone campground in Frankenmuth, we met a father and daughter who are both workcampers. Workcampers are those who work at a campground and in return get a campsite rent free and an hourly wage. Since this is usually seasonal work, workcampers generally are retirees or those with careers that allow them to have the summers off (i.e. teachers). Chuck is a retired pool man who decided to sell his house and travel with his camper. He and his wife travelled all over America. When he began working at Jellystone, he decided to stay full-time. He has been there for the last nine years. He stopped by our campsite to see how things were going and share his story. He saw our “Crazy4Camping” sign and asked “What do you consider crazy for camping?” His story started all the way back in the 1950’s when he and his wife first began camping. He recounted his many years of camping beginning with tent camping and proceeding from there. Being interested in trying workcamping in the future, I had a lot questions for Chuck. After a good 30 minute conversation, I met a new friend and fellow camper enthusiast. Would a friendly conversation like this with a stranger happen in a hotel environment?

The next day, Amy and I met his daughter, Gina, who also was a workcamper. She drives a school bus for a local Michigan school district and during the summer she works at Jellystone alongside her father. Gina was great to talk to. She was interested in our crazy4camping web site and wanted to share her story of workcamping. When her father first became a workcamper, she would often visit the campground and help out with kid’s activities. Finally, the staff suggested that if she was there so often and helping she might as well get paid for it! She enjoys being able to spend time working alongside her dad and meeting new people every day. She was personable and was a great host there at Jellystone.
Amy and I spent two nights at South Higgins Lake State Park campground. If you ever have the opportunity to stay at this campground, do it! It’s beautiful! A family pulled in on day two of our visit in the site adjacent to ours in class C motor home. After introductions, we found out quickly we had something in common. Usually the first question campers ask one another is “So, where are you from?” This family was from Jackson, Michigan. I spent my late elementary and junior high years living there so it was cool to talk with people from that town. They too shared their camping experiences and it was nice to hear their stories.

When I was a kid I was very introverted. I was too shy to talk to people I did not know and wasn’t willing to take the risk of trying new things. As I have gotten older, I have become less introverted. Camping has really helped. I find myself walking up to anyone and having conversations at a campground. Sometimes I surprise myself in how much I initiate these conversations. Here is yet another positive attribute of camping. And maybe that’s what America needs; more camping. Opportunities to enjoy spending time with family and friends in the great outdoors while meeting others and sharing experiences. It’s too easy for us to get wrapped up in our own little worlds. Every American family who has never camped should take one opportunity to camp this summer. They will be amazed on how refreshing and relaxing the experience will be. Sure, all-inclusive hotels/resorts and cruises are nice, however, there is a lot to be said for the simple life of camping…

So, we had a slight delay to our camping trip….Our A/C (house not camper) went out and so we had to have the repair guy come out and fix it before leaving. No worries….it was only the motor that had to be replaced and freon added. So, $400 and two hours later we are ready to hit the road. Michigan, here we come:)

So, we decided to take the spontaneous route. Like I mentioned in a previous blog, this goes against everything I know. I am used to reservations and an itinerary. I need everything organized and planned. Yet, I think this will be therapeutic for me. Ten days of going as we please with no obligations will be just what the doctor ordered after a long, difficult year in the teaching world. Sure, we have places we want to visit in Michigan but where we stay and for how long is all up to chance, fate if you will. We are praying for good weather, though it is a little colder in Michigan than in Cincinnati! With every campground we visit we will review and post them on the website. Hopefully, we will have great experiences to share and someday you too, can camp at these places…..

Since my wife and I have become avid campers, I feel that I have acquired a mild obsession with Accuweather and the Weather Channel. I feel like I check the weather forecast two to three times a day, hoping and praying that the weekend will be filled with sunshine, good temperatures, and no rain. What camper wants rain during their camping experience, right? Especially if you are camping in a tent or pop-up camper! Amy and I have camped when it has rained. Fortunately, we have never been through a major thunderstorm. I know eventually we will have that experience and I am not looking forward to it. But it rain all that bad? I am a pessimistic person by nature but I want to take this opportunity to look at the glass half full, not half empty.

A light rain in the evening while you are sleeping can be very peaceful. We woke up one morning to a small drizzle on the canvas of our pop-up which was rather relaxing. The birds were chirping and seem to be louder when it rains. Why is that birds chirp louder during the rain? Well, my wife has the answer  in the “birding” section of this website…Click here.

Rain can be viewed as an obstacle to campers’ plans but it also can facilitate plans. Families can hunker down in their campers and enjoy each others’ company by playing games, watching a movie together, or just talking with each other. In the age of cell phones, I-Pads, and other technology I think we have lost the art of social interaction. How many times have you been to a restaurant where you see mom and dad on their phones while the kids are playing video games or listening to their I-Pods? Several minutes could go by before any family member talks to one another. I am in no way bashing technology. However, our values have changed over the last few decades. Why is that families seem so much more connected 100 years ago? They did not have the distractions of the TV, computers, or other electronic devices that we have now. In essence, they were forced to interact with each other. Ok, I am off my soapbox now. So, I guess my point in that rant is that rain forces families to interact with each other. A simple game of Monopoly can bring out the best discussions and family time.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I like camping and having a rain-free weekend, but I think there is something to be said for the positive effects of rain on a family’s camping experience. Ironically, in the middle of writing this blog, I checked Accuweather. See, I told you I was a little bit obsessed. The forecast is rain and thunderstorms all weekend 😦 Oh well, I guess I should look at it as the glass being half full, right?

For some helpful tips on camping in the rain click here:  http://beta.active.com/articles/10-tips-for-camping-in-the-rain

Our tip:  Never, we repeat, NEVER put a tarp under your tent if you anticipate rain.  The tarp draws the water underneath the tent and you wake up with an unintended waterbed! :-0