Dela- where?
Camping was fun, if you're into the whole sleeping-in-a-wet-tent-smothered-by-a-sleeping-bag thing. We went to this shithole called Upper Delaware Campgrounds that didn't even have proper bathroom facilities. The campsite itself could have been beautiful if it weren't surrounded by puddles of water. We were right by the river and the mist in the early mornings made it all the more authentic.
When we got there late Friday night, the rain was pour-ing. That cute little tent I bought on ebay wasn't so easy to set up particularly when it is dark, wet, and one is wearing an oversized soaked poncho - a real one, not one of those pretty little numbers. It took six of us to finally get my "water-resistant, not waterproof" (according to the wet manual) tent up. By that time, of course, it was soaked. I was soaked. My slacks and blouse were soaked (I came straight from the office). So we just changed into swimsuits and splish splashed in the rain, Filipino style. We also waded in the river (the current was too strong to go further than a foot or two from the bank) and ducked and turned our flashlights off when the roving patrol came by. So that was fun.
One of the things I realized on that trip is that I am not an outdoors person, no matter how hard I try to be. I thought I came prepared. After all, I had been to the camping section in KMart and bought essentials and nice-to-haves like a floating(!) lantern, an emergency blanket, utensils that interlocked, a poncho, an extra duffel bag. And the day before I'd gone to Modell's and bought a backpack, a flashlight, a tarp, and pool slippers (they were on sale). But the next day, we went hiking and got lost and the only shoes I had were these pretty, white Tommy Hilfiger maryjanes that were clearly made for city walking. Of course, I slipped and slid on the rocks and the mud and my disposable poncho was torn and I had to roll up my capris because I hadn't brought shorts. Also I had to borrow an air mattress because I clearly could not just lay out my sleeping bag on my wet tent floor. I'd forgotten to buy extra seam sealer and I slept with a roll of paper towel beside me just in case the water soaked through the towels I had lined my tent seams with. Also, the next night when it was freezing, I only had the cable knit hoodie that matched my outfit, but could not keep the cold out.
Anway, the next day, we sent a team to the town to buy out the local grocery store's tarp supply. We completely rain-proofed the entire campsite. One guy, whose talent in tying tarps bordered on genius, set up an elaborate web of tarps, in anticipation of the direction of rain flow. True to the laws of the universe, it did not rain at all.
Camping was fun, if you're into the whole sleeping-in-a-wet-tent-smothered-by-a-sleeping-bag thing. We went to this shithole called Upper Delaware Campgrounds that didn't even have proper bathroom facilities. The campsite itself could have been beautiful if it weren't surrounded by puddles of water. We were right by the river and the mist in the early mornings made it all the more authentic.
When we got there late Friday night, the rain was pour-ing. That cute little tent I bought on ebay wasn't so easy to set up particularly when it is dark, wet, and one is wearing an oversized soaked poncho - a real one, not one of those pretty little numbers. It took six of us to finally get my "water-resistant, not waterproof" (according to the wet manual) tent up. By that time, of course, it was soaked. I was soaked. My slacks and blouse were soaked (I came straight from the office). So we just changed into swimsuits and splish splashed in the rain, Filipino style. We also waded in the river (the current was too strong to go further than a foot or two from the bank) and ducked and turned our flashlights off when the roving patrol came by. So that was fun.
One of the things I realized on that trip is that I am not an outdoors person, no matter how hard I try to be. I thought I came prepared. After all, I had been to the camping section in KMart and bought essentials and nice-to-haves like a floating(!) lantern, an emergency blanket, utensils that interlocked, a poncho, an extra duffel bag. And the day before I'd gone to Modell's and bought a backpack, a flashlight, a tarp, and pool slippers (they were on sale). But the next day, we went hiking and got lost and the only shoes I had were these pretty, white Tommy Hilfiger maryjanes that were clearly made for city walking. Of course, I slipped and slid on the rocks and the mud and my disposable poncho was torn and I had to roll up my capris because I hadn't brought shorts. Also I had to borrow an air mattress because I clearly could not just lay out my sleeping bag on my wet tent floor. I'd forgotten to buy extra seam sealer and I slept with a roll of paper towel beside me just in case the water soaked through the towels I had lined my tent seams with. Also, the next night when it was freezing, I only had the cable knit hoodie that matched my outfit, but could not keep the cold out.
Anway, the next day, we sent a team to the town to buy out the local grocery store's tarp supply. We completely rain-proofed the entire campsite. One guy, whose talent in tying tarps bordered on genius, set up an elaborate web of tarps, in anticipation of the direction of rain flow. True to the laws of the universe, it did not rain at all.
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