bcp
In My Opinion
Looking back to 1968, a time of civil unrest due to the Vietnam War, a time of free love, a time of enchantment and learning for a 10 year old boy.
I still remember the day that my father came home with that brand new camper, A skamper pop up, 8 ft box on it, it was a thing of beauty and great pride. I watched as he opened it in the drive way, first one side lifted, then the other, pins placed in the proper holes to keep it from falling once up, then those wings, large and blue slowly pulled from each end, poles inserted to give support.
inside was a stove, an Ice box, a pump style sink two tables that turned into beds.
Our first trip out, My mother, father, sister, brother and myself all loaded into the car, off to some wonderful place that was kept secret from us.
Cederville state park was the destination, wooded sites, not too much to do, but we were camping, it was new and it was fun.
next trip, somewhere in western maryland, same, wooded, not too much to do, but we were camping.
Then it came, we were going to the ocean, camping.
As we neared the ocean I first started seeing signs for a campground that had a pool, big slides, an old west town, fishing, game rooms,, Oh it was wonderful, I sat back and dreamed of all the fun we would have at this campground.
At last, looking out of the window I finally spotted the campground, I could SEE the slide, and the pool.
In the name of safety, I mentioned to my father that the campground was right there, shouldnt he be slowing down?
no.
I remember my heart dropping as we passed by, clearly visible from the road were thousands of children having fun, riding bikes, swimming, playing.
a bit further and I saw yet another campground, even more wonderful than the first,,, I watched, face stuck to the window, hands on the glass to either side of my head as we sped past.
Assateague National Seashore is were we ended up.
as I looked around I saw not slides, or pools of fresh clean cool water, no game rooms, no snack bar, just sand. Sand is where we were camping this time.
over the years camping with my parents, this scene played itself out time and time again, even at 16 I remember longing to see what wonderful things were inside the gates of those spectacular campgrounds as we sped by to make it to our no frills site.
40 years later.
I chose campgrounds for what they have to offer my daughter, Jellystone campgrounds, the pool, that perfectly waxed slide, the sun sparkling off of every corner. the Golf course, the craft times, Ice cream socials, rental bikes.
KOA, we pulled up to Yellowstone KOA to see a large camp store, a game room, a huge indoor heated pool, an expresso stand in the parking lot.
I looked at my daughter and realized that the glow, and the smile on her face was what I longed for so many years before, I am now giving it to her.
In some way, I am living my childhood camping over through her.
We have friends that also have a trailer, we have been trying to get together for a camping trip for some time. We cant agree on where to go.
It seems that he likes the state parks. end of story. there is plenty for the kids to do he says, they can hike in the woods, they can have a campfire,,, but they cant swim, and they will not realize the big slide or the game room or the craft time.
we are going camping with them at last.
my childhood pain to be relived once again.
I wonder, as I pass those glorious campgrounds filled with wonder and joy on my way to the no frills state forest, will I once again be looking through the eyes of a 10 year old boy longing for just once to see how the lucky kids live?
I am going back in time, but this time, I am my father bringing the child to a weekend of certain doom and dispair.
oh well, at least she has a Wii in the camper, all we had was a 5 band radio. I can still hear that new Neal Diamond song playing as I sit in the bench, covered in sand, swatting horsefly's from my body....
wish us well.
I still remember the day that my father came home with that brand new camper, A skamper pop up, 8 ft box on it, it was a thing of beauty and great pride. I watched as he opened it in the drive way, first one side lifted, then the other, pins placed in the proper holes to keep it from falling once up, then those wings, large and blue slowly pulled from each end, poles inserted to give support.
inside was a stove, an Ice box, a pump style sink two tables that turned into beds.
Our first trip out, My mother, father, sister, brother and myself all loaded into the car, off to some wonderful place that was kept secret from us.
Cederville state park was the destination, wooded sites, not too much to do, but we were camping, it was new and it was fun.
next trip, somewhere in western maryland, same, wooded, not too much to do, but we were camping.
Then it came, we were going to the ocean, camping.
As we neared the ocean I first started seeing signs for a campground that had a pool, big slides, an old west town, fishing, game rooms,, Oh it was wonderful, I sat back and dreamed of all the fun we would have at this campground.
At last, looking out of the window I finally spotted the campground, I could SEE the slide, and the pool.
In the name of safety, I mentioned to my father that the campground was right there, shouldnt he be slowing down?
no.
I remember my heart dropping as we passed by, clearly visible from the road were thousands of children having fun, riding bikes, swimming, playing.
a bit further and I saw yet another campground, even more wonderful than the first,,, I watched, face stuck to the window, hands on the glass to either side of my head as we sped past.
Assateague National Seashore is were we ended up.
as I looked around I saw not slides, or pools of fresh clean cool water, no game rooms, no snack bar, just sand. Sand is where we were camping this time.
over the years camping with my parents, this scene played itself out time and time again, even at 16 I remember longing to see what wonderful things were inside the gates of those spectacular campgrounds as we sped by to make it to our no frills site.
40 years later.
I chose campgrounds for what they have to offer my daughter, Jellystone campgrounds, the pool, that perfectly waxed slide, the sun sparkling off of every corner. the Golf course, the craft times, Ice cream socials, rental bikes.
KOA, we pulled up to Yellowstone KOA to see a large camp store, a game room, a huge indoor heated pool, an expresso stand in the parking lot.
I looked at my daughter and realized that the glow, and the smile on her face was what I longed for so many years before, I am now giving it to her.
In some way, I am living my childhood camping over through her.
We have friends that also have a trailer, we have been trying to get together for a camping trip for some time. We cant agree on where to go.
It seems that he likes the state parks. end of story. there is plenty for the kids to do he says, they can hike in the woods, they can have a campfire,,, but they cant swim, and they will not realize the big slide or the game room or the craft time.
we are going camping with them at last.
my childhood pain to be relived once again.
I wonder, as I pass those glorious campgrounds filled with wonder and joy on my way to the no frills state forest, will I once again be looking through the eyes of a 10 year old boy longing for just once to see how the lucky kids live?
I am going back in time, but this time, I am my father bringing the child to a weekend of certain doom and dispair.
oh well, at least she has a Wii in the camper, all we had was a 5 band radio. I can still hear that new Neal Diamond song playing as I sit in the bench, covered in sand, swatting horsefly's from my body....
wish us well.
