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Camping May Not be my Thing

Our camping excursion last weekend was an adventure. It brought back memories of family camping trips when I was a little girl. No trips to Disneyland for us, we couldn’t afford them. My folks crammed my brother’s and I into the old Chevy with a tent, air mattresses, sleeping bags and hope for a good time. From my perspective at 7, it was. I can’t speak for them.

Last weekend my son was the organizer. This was not his typical camping style. He usually climbs mountains, carves ice caves and sleeps in them. This was tame for him and wild for my grandson.

dressed for camping in Polo by Ralph Lauren

My grandson started out wearing a lovely, sky blue, Ralph Lauren polo shirt and ended up utterly filthy. I loved watching him cover himself in dirt. I started out in clean jeans and ended up a disaster.

The first day was fabulous. My son thought it funny that I grilled Asparagus and fresh Swordfish for dinner. He claimed weenies and beans were the norms. Not for me. A Well Styled Life is not where, but how, you live your life!

grilled swordfish and asparagus while camping
Served on a paper plate, but still delicious

 

Day at two, we woke up to rain. Cold, damp, persistent rain. My husband and I copped out and headed for a nearby cafe.

wearing my handknits while camping

What I wore? Things that kept me warm. A hat I knit six years ago, a fisherman’s cardigan I knit ten years ago and no makeup.

So the verdict? I’m not tent camping material. My back is killing me from sleeping on the ground!

We leave to pick up our travel trailer tomorrow. It’ll be two days before we haul that baby out on the road. I’ll keep you posted and bring you along. I sincerely hope I am trailer material.
xo Jennifer

50 Comments

  1. I loved tent camping as a kid but not so much as an adult! I had to do all the work! LOL! You will like camping in the trailer MUCH more. You can stay dry in the rain and have heat and air! Plus your own bathroom!! Can’t wait to hear how you like it. 🙂

    1. I am loving it, Linda! There are challenges but having my own bed, bathroom and heat is fabulous!!

  2. The one tip I give newer campers is to pack a pair of rubber thongs for the shower. That way you can can feel clean even in the highend or rustic campgrounds.

    1. That’s a great tip Julie, thanks!

  3. What a stitch! We, too, could only afford camping vacations with our three sons, and we always ate well. Chicken curry, skilled baked biscuits, Greek skillet dinner, freshly caught fish… No beans and weenies here, except as a kid night treat! Although s’mores are mandatory! We head out with our 4 year old grandson this weekend to introduce him to the wonders of tent life. It should be interesting!?

    1. Your menus sound fabulous! Your grandson is the perfect age to learn to love camping. Good luck and have fun Liz!!

  4. I can relate!! I don’t even like picnics.
    🙁

  5. Over 40 years of marriage, we graduated from tent to tent trailer and then after the kids were grown and gone, to a 23′ trailer with many of the comforts of home. We laughingly refer to it as our bathroom on wheels with a kitchen and bedroom attached because the need to get up at night and our dislike for wandering across campgrounds in the dark led to the upgrade. We love it! I hope you will enjoy yours just as much.

    1. You nailed that one Elaine! We did have to traipse over to the bathroom at 1AM. Not my favorite part of the trip. It’ll be much easier in our trailer.

  6. Constance says:

    I’m with you. I used to backpack and tent camp but am well past that unless I have a cot. We have had both a motor home and a trailer. A much nicer way to enjoy nature. I too love my French press and stove top expresso maker while camping. Enjoy your trailer. We are looking forward to getting another RV when we retire.

    1. That seals it Constance! I’m getting a french press. We’ve hauled our coffee maker this time and it’s ridiculously large.

  7. Jennifer this just made me laugh and laugh. I am a happy camper myself, but only on a site with electricity so I can blow up my double stack air mattress, run my fan on high, charge my electronics and fry my bacon to a tender crisp! 🙂

    I’ll be thinking of you — looking ridiculously elegant in a 10-year-old hat and NO MAKEUP sipping coffee after a night in a tent — as I pack up my “buggy” for a long trip to the lake at the end of the week. I will not look elegant. I will look like my authentic, girl-next-door, too-old-for-braids, bandana-wearing self… but nobody but my two besties will know. The rest won’t even see me as they ride by on their fast boats — and I like it that way! <3

    1. We wanted to bring a blowup mattress!! The tent just wasn’t large enough 🙁
      Camping with girlfriends sounds like such a hoot!
      Anonymity definitely has its benefits!! Have fun Beth.

  8. Oh you’re just adorable – in attitude and in your knitted wear. We camped as kids, first in tents, then moved up to a tent trailer, next a camper on the back of my parent’s truck (we still tell them that what went on in that camper stays in that camper….four kids alone back there with mom & dad blissfully, ignorantly clocking away the hours and miles in the front of the pick-up). Finally, we graduated to a large, beautiful boat that slept 6 and water-skied our way through many a lake in the West. Ahhhhh…… Kind of been the same progression as adults. As you know we’ve been enjoying adventures in a relatively luxurious 40 foot 5th wheel for almost 5 years now – with, yes, a king size bed for not so flexible spines in our 50s. I hope you enjoy the step-up. I know I’ll enjoy reading of your adventures.

    1. That sounds so fun Barbara! My folks never graduated up from tents, but it was fun. I’ve been envious of your lifestyle for years! We’re starting small and will see how it goes:)

  9. Thanks for sharing, and your honesty. ????. We just return from our first of hopefully annual “gramping” trips with our daughter’s two little ones–ages 4 and 2. We called it “Gramoing” because we stayed in the lovely Canyon Inn in a nearby State Park–because this is Mimi’s way to camp (at age 65)! When I first called the park to reserve a room–for Father’s Day weekend, they only had one room with just one bed abailable. Since I wanted that date, I went ahead and said we’d take it and the little ones could bring sleeping bags and we would just tell them we were camping out, which soon transferred into Gramping–Mimi’s way of camping. I kept my fingers crossed that a bigger room would become available, and fortunately it did, and the over night at the park was wonderful.

    We took so much stuff(for one night) that felt like we were going camping, but if we had been camping, there would have been even MORE stuff. The weather was hot but gorgeous and everyone had a great time. I asked our granddaughter as we left the park if she would want to go Gramping again– perhaps when she is 5 and here brother is potty trained. Her reply was YES, she wants to go again, but not wait until she is 5. Sophie wants to go again while she is still 4. What a smart girl!

    1. Oh Jackie, that sounds so perfect. The fact that the little ones want to do it again is proof you did it right! Bravo. We’re making memories with our grandchildren that will last a lifetime. In my mind, that’s priceless. Thanks for sharing!

  10. You are gorgeous even without a stitch of make-up.

    I’m with you re ground sleeping. I did live for one year in a converted school bus…but I was 29/30 at the time. A great adventure…but now…hmmmm???? I did love seeing this country and it truly was a wonderful period in my life. ( and we were two poor artists who could not even build a bathroom into the bus…so I suspect you’ll feel luxurious in your travel trailer….I still look inside them when we have supermarket parking lot sales/displays. Have fun!!!

    1. Wow, Barbara! What an experience. I’m really looking forward to this adventure. It won’t be like yours, but should be fun:)

  11. I look back at all the things I used to do–most with enthusiasm–and realize that now, they only appeal to me conceptually. Think I could do the trailer. xoxo, Brenda

    1. I think I can do a trailer too. I’ll keep you posted Brenda!

  12. I don’t blame you! It’s no fun camping in weather like you experienced. I used to love camping but I think that I’m past the age of enjoying sleeping on the ground. You look naturally lovely in your hand-knitted cap 🙂

    1. Thanks Laurie. I knew it would be rough on my older bones but it was worth it, to share with my grandson.

  13. Ah, but you have some happy memories with your grandson. You are wearing a sweater in a similar color and style to one made for me by a dear friend. Looks lovely.

    1. Yes, the memories are priceless Jean. I knew they would be and that’s why I agreed to sleep on the ground 🙂

  14. Love your posts! I gave up tent camping after my 20’s. You can say you gave it a try. We just sold our little funky trailer in preparation for the move to Astoria Oregon. We love camping in a trailer…and fixing good food! Where are you living? We’re in Paradise above Chico. Was it cold in Truckee? Your outfit is darling!
    Thanks again!
    Robin

    1. Thanks Robin! I live in the SF Bay Area. Yes, it was cold at night but our sleeping bags kept us warm. I love Oregon!! Good luck with your move!

  15. I love to camp. We’re camping for five days the week of the 4th of July and I can’t wait. We sleep in tents, but on cushions. I’m very comfy.

    1. You must have the comfort thing figured out better than we did Amy. I sure loved being in the woods enjoying nature!

  16. Paula Moreshead says:

    Hi Jennifer,
    I’m definitely not what I would consider camping material if it means not getting a good night’s sleep or staying dirty. But, we have owned a travel trailer for about 25 years, and it’s the level of camping that I can really enjoy. I guess I was a little spoiled since my father owned an RV dealership, and we occasionally took out a motor home for a trip:)
    I enjoy your blog.
    Paula

    1. Yes, staying dirty was a big negative for me Paula! Lack of a comfy bed stunk too. RV is way more up my alley 🙂 Thanks for reading!!

  17. Barbara Kluver says:

    Hey Jen! At least you had your handknits to keep you warm. I completely agree on camping in a tent. But I am sure you will LOVE the trailer, as we love our motorhome. There is nothing cozier than making that coffee in the morning (we are particularly fond of the French Press while RVing) and sitting inside cozy and snug while cold, rainy weather happens outside!
    Barb

    1. That sweater saved my life Barb!! It’s so warm. I’m looking forward to our trailer adventure. If we love it, we’ll look at moving up to a motor home.

  18. You are beautiful just the way you are! I’m impressed with your knitting skills. Except for the rain, sounds like a good three generation weekend.

    1. Thanks Donna! I’m just keeping it real here. It was fun to see the 3 “guys” interact. My grandson is so fun!

  19. You look great with no makeup! And I’m with you–on the dinner and not sleeping on the ground. That’s for the young’uns! Camper sounds sounds fun.

    1. Thanks, Lynn. I’m really looking forward to this trailer experience.

  20. Oh, yes. I have fond memories of camping in my youth, but the ground is way too hard for me now. You are a brave soldier. 🙂

    Love all of your knitting pieces. I did a lot of knitting when I was younger (six sweaters for Xmas gifts one autumn!), but haven’t done any lately. I need to get back to it…it’s very meditative for me.

    Cheers!

    1. Knitting is totally mediative for me too, Laurel. It goes in cycles for me and have packed some knitting for this trip today.

  21. A girl after my own heart! I too, do gourmet camping meals and I love our travel trailer! Air conditioning, microwave and a real bed…now that’s my kind of camping!! 😀

    1. I’m pretty sure that’s my idea of camping too Sheri!!

  22. Jennifer,
    I know your pain.. been there done that and like you – No more camping for me..!! As my mother always said, Her idea of camping was to pull the travel trailer in the parking lot of a hotel and order Room Service..LOL!!! Gotta love Mom!!!
    Looking forward to your travel home trips..and the fashion to go with that lifestyle. You always do it so well..!!!

    1. Oh, I love that Patricia! Your Mom had it right. Just like my idea of sailing is on a boat I can drive my car onto 🙂

  23. It always rains at least one day when camping. I have to keep telling myself that! And funnily enough I usually only remember the sunny days paddling and the clear starry night skies with the sparks from the campfire disappearing up into the darkness. We are off tomorrow for a week of camping… but in our tent trailer which is much easier on the back than sleeping on a sleeping pad on the ground. Takes me fifteen minutes just to straighten up. Love the hat Jennifer!

    1. I read about your adventure this morning Sue! Have fun. I am looking forward to the campfires and starry nights too. Sleeping on the ground stinks, there’s just no better way to describe it.

    1. Thanks, Anne. Having a nice hot cup of tea made me smile.

  24. Jennifer, you make laugh!! I’m with you!! Sleeping on the ground is for young people!!

    1. Young people with more flexible spines 🙂

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