People get on my case about going camping, especially solo. They want to know what is so great about sleeping on the ground inside a tiny nylon shell?
I figure if they have to ask, they will never know. Camping for me is refreshing. Okay, once, just once,. I was inside a gore-tex shell along a well populated bear path to water. That tent felt flimsy that night.
Ah, but you see, camping is more than the tent. It is the total experience. Outdoors I breathe fresh air, hear no traffic. Listen to the waterfalls and rapids in the river. Watch the birds. It is birdwatching from inside the home of the bird.
No I do not think of camping as a miserable way to sleep. Camping in my tent costs a LOT less than a hotel and is sometimes safer. You just have to be prepared with the right equipment, outdoor clothing and attitude.
Every season I yearn to lie on the ground and watch the stars. If I miss it, I feel cheated. Yes, I like to lie outside ON the Ground in almost the same place in each season. Sometimes I am so busy enjoying the stars I do not fall asleep until almost morning. (more or less).)
When I learned how to call owls by mimicking their sounds my camping adventures took a new turn. Now I look and listen for the birds of the night as much as I do the birds in daylight.
Right. Friends and family worry about me. They think I am crazy. Perhaps I am. I love being outdoors with nature. So call me crazy if you want. Now that is starting to sound a bit flakey but it is true.
A weekend in the wilderness with my camping gear and birding binoculars can recharge my spirit like nothing else can. I am in touch with all creation.