Tent life [part II]

I've always wanted to stay out in the forest overnight. 

My parents did car camping when I was a kid. 

I recall sleeping in the front seat [the steering wheel was never in the way]. I think my sister may have slept with mom and dad in the back of the station wagon but I don't recall. Maybe I was in the back seat and parents and sister were in the back.

My brother slept on the roof I think. I believe it may have been our only camp out, but I can't be sure. I'm not even quite sure of the year we did it. 

However, I woke up thinking that this was the coolest thing ever.

Here is a shot that my dad took. I think we were at Arches National Park. [It was NOT crowded]

I don't recall if we parked and slept there or near there. All I know was the experience was amazing and I fell in love with rocks.

For reference, the station wagon was a 1965 Dodge. Mom is at the picnic table, my brother is running next to the car and I think my sister is sitting on a rock above the car in the bottom left partially hidden by a tree.

I think that this was my first camping experience and I fell in love with it 61 years ago. 

Rich and I would camp/sleep in the back of his truck and later in a gooseneck horse trailer [not fancy]. But the thrill of it has always stuck with me.

This year was my first time at camping with a tent.

[Last night, I took out the camp cot, it was too uncomfortable.]

Here is what it looks like with a 'dog pile' on a nice cushy camp mattress [3 inches thick!] and piles of blankets.

The dogs love it. I do too, they can sleep on the thin mat next to me or scoot in to keep warm.

I read until I was sleepy, then last night out we hit the sack.

The part that feels so free to me is the fact that I never checked what the time was. It was dark and the moon had not yet arrived.

Monday night we didn't have a fire because the smoke would have blown right into the tent. 

We heard much of the same serenades as we fell asleep. I woke up with a start as Hannah growled. 
I listened.
And then I laughed. There was a turkey not far off trying to roost in a tree and making clucking noises. A bit later I was awakened when I heard a mule softly snort not far off.

I thought, oh how nice, the mules are here.

Then I became fully awake. The mules couldn't get back by us!

The moon was out casting silver light. I peeked out the window and there was the shape of a deer standing not far off. I guess it didn't expect us to be there.

I got back to sleep rather quickly and the dogs crept under the blankets with me.

The dogs love pre-dawn. Hannah is the first to get up and annoy Charlie into getting up. In turn, they both annoy me to get up.

I open the tent flap and out they go for their morning duties. Both dogs leave the camp area to do their business. I like that.

In the predawn dark, we walked back home. I feed them and make coffee for me then head back out. I can have some quiet time with a thermos of coffee and watch for deer.

And....

 I'm successful. These two does come out every morning like clockwork when the sun just peeks over the neighbor's trees to the east.

I have my coffee and sit watching the meadows. One would think that this is the time of day where I think deep and poetic thoughts. The world dissolves into just breathing and being.

My mind is quiet.

I watch the day come alive and that is good enough for me. 
I watch. 

I see the fog, the morning light, and listen to the sounds.

I still pinch myself wondering exactly how lucky I am to witness this in the mornings.

When the coffee is gone, I walk back home and start my day.

And...

I know I can't wait to do this again.

Air BnB um, not...

Another Friday night out.

I set up camp even though it was hot. The 'Hickory Grove' always seems to have a faint breeze and the shade is delightful. 

Some thoughtful pup placed a bone on our bed just in case I might feel the need to chew in the middle of the night. Or perhaps she thought it would clean my teeth and brush my gums.

Of course we had a tiny little fire. That was how we had to camp, right?

The old 4 wheeler and the garden cart goes with us, it carries all of the stuff we need including the dogs. I could carry it all back to the grove, but this saves me trips.

As soon as darkness started to fall, I failed all the things I was going to do. Like read, contemplate nature, and the meaning of life. I had a little book light, I brought my tripod so I could 'shoot' the Milky Way and lightening bugs...however...
 

I didn't even make it to full dark. I'd had a full day of doing yard work and a great workout at the gym. 

In short, I zonked out as the evening slipped by.

I woke up much later when I heard a deer whistling at something close by. Then a Barn Owl called in the distance. That is a call that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. It sounds like a murderous screech.

Sometime later and much closer, 'Who Cooks for You' became the song from a Barred Owl. Two of them sang for a little while and as their songs faded, the coyotes began their hunt and night music.

Charlie and Hannah sighed and snuggled a bit closer. I listened to the night sounds and smiled inside. I wasn't getting a great night's sleep, but I was listening to the living forest around us. The dogs perked up when a tiny hickory nut plunked on the tent top. 

Eventually I fell back asleep to awaken to Hannah slowly doing the otter crawl up towards my face. I opened my eyes to dim light and her nose. Her eyes stared into mine. She tilted her head one way and another as if to see if I were alive ... or maybe she was just being adorable.

I pulled back the door flap and was surprised by faint light and a meadow of thick fog. I pulled on my pants and turned the collar light on Hannah. When I pulled back the flap two little black dogs jetted outside. --- oh, well maybe they just had to go pee!

I think they like camping as much as I do. 

Everything was soaking wet. I walked out to the meadow with the pups and trotted back into the tent for the camera.

Layers of color, layers of fog. Blue hour? Fog hour? 

I took a few exposures with my supervisors watching me. Hannah still had her collar light on. Soon, the pair was watching for rabbits and giving chase. It's what dogs do and I let them go for it.

The rabbits were never in danger. 

The photo above is part of the revamped Meadow that my Grand daughter dubbed the Merry Meadow. The name has stuck. I've been mowing it every other week so we can take multiple daily walks without the grasses and weeds being above the dog's heads. 

Yes, the gals get in there when we are not using the Meadow. They seem to like the forested area much better.

Go figure.

Waning Crescent Moon over the neighbor's meadow.

I was torn between just looking and figuring out how to photograph the scene. My two canine cohorts were busy with exploring the grass and doing their business. 

Good pups.

Below is the scene from the tent. 
Of course it was humid. I mean hu--mid! So damp that icky slugs had climbed the outer walls of the tent to get to dryer ground. 

[gross!!!!!!] 
Hannah tried tasting one and immediately shook her head and spat it out.

😝😧---> Pups!

I was in coffee deficit so we packed up the 4 wheeler and headed back to the house. Hannah ran alongside the 4 wheeler. Charlie insisted on riding shotgun in my lap.

Below: our tent and 'camp' is in that grove of trees that is fogged in.

My home away from home.

I love this place. I am at peace here.

The decision to have this area cleared with a Forest Mulcher may have been the best decision I've ever made this year.