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| My tent was just like this |
I haven't been camping in more than fifteen years. I find that funny because that was something
I used to look forward to every summer.
That's only partially true.
Camping fever started around the May long weekend (what we in Canada
Though I haven't been camping I have kept up with advances
in camping technology. Most of my
friends have opted for hard top tent trailers (if they haven't been able to
afford a cottage, but nowadays who can?), propane stoves, space heaters, air
compressors to blow up air mattresses, though more likely for beach balls,
water wings and other inflatable water toys.
Heck, they even have full sinks.
It is a far cry from my days with a square tent with heavy
aluminum poles (state of the art at the time) and guide strings. I remember having to pump up both the stove
and lantern before they could be used.
Washing dishes required a good size bucket and again, pumping that stove
for hot water.
Though I sound bitter, I am probably just jealous. Today's tents go up in a flash, and I
wouldn't have to go into oxygen deficit to blow up an air mattress. Heck, I could probably bring along a portable
DVD player and watch a movie or two.
Among my circle, I must congratulate my younger brother and
sister (as well as their spouses) for still being hardcore enough to hike
kilometres through dense bush and portage between rivers and lakes and mosquito infested areas for that pristine,
back to basics camping. Though I
wouldn't do it, I respect them for keeping it real in every sense of the word.
As I look back on it, I probably gave up on the whole
camping thing after one memorable trip in which every single one of us decided
to bring hot dogs as our contribution to the communal meals. I like hot dogs, but I am not sure they
should be eaten every meal.
Man, I loved the North American or Canadian hot dog... our hot dog has tomato sauce and another things like cucumber, corn, potato chips and so one. Basically, the hot dog I tasted in Canada has only the sausage and bread, but the sausage is very very different than the Brazilian sausage on the hot dogs, much better than here.
ReplyDeletemy old brother used to go camping with his friends a lot, but since he is with his girlfriend he never did it anymore. I think because they liked to be free and do whatever they want. They used to cut the lumber to make fire, not taking shower, bring a lot of wine to heat the temperature of the body (on the winter), catch their own fish and so one.
when I used to go camping, I used to have more equipments and comfort than my brother and his friends. I respect them but that's not what I want for me, I like to be inside a forest, but I still like comfort, and probably I would bring my mp3 player and some speakers to listen to music while listen to a river's sound.
I like rough camping, but I wouldn't suggest going camping without music. I can't even count the number of batteries that I went through on a camping weekend.
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