Keep Camping

Shelly and I have been camping together since she was pregnant with our daughter, who is now 30 and has four children of her own. We camped in our home state of Iowa until the kids were out of diapers and able to talk and feed themselves, then began venturing to neighboring states. We ended up when the kids were teenagers in the Grand Tetons, Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, The Badlands, Black Hills, The Great Lakes, and other places along rivers, lakes and in forests. We endured countless bugs, torrential thunderstorms, a tornado, lost gear, wet gear, wrong turns, smoking brakes in the mountains, vapor lock in the middle of a busy intersection, a pack of thieving raccoon’s, collapsing tents, howling coyotes, burnt food, cold food, cold nights and days, hot nights and days, and even more bugs. Last, but maybe worst, if you have ever gone on a long trip with a sullen teenager you know what special kind of a situation they can create. And then there are the forests, mountains, hills, flatlands, starry skies, waterfalls, caves, rivers and streams, huge clouds, blowing prairie grasses, flowers, peaceful wildlife, memorable sunsets, winding highways and back roads, fishing, hiking, campfires, good food, spectacular lightning storms, and, of course, smores. Whenever we returned home from a camping vacation it would be with mixed feelings and reviews. As time passed and the vacation took hold in memory, most of the bad would filter out and leave what was truly important. Before too long you are ready to venture out again, with the road ahead and expectations in tow.