All my camping memories — both the good and the bad — are about who I went with, and almost all of my attempts to plan camping are about developing relationships and community. That is the primary intention behind Campfire Tales. However, and maybe this is because of Campfire Tales, lately there has been a … Continue reading Can’t Spell “Friend” Without “F, I, R, and E”
Camping
Camping Cuisine: Dump Salad
Do you ever see these recipe books in the grocery checkout lane? Easy meals? Sign me up! Continuing the conversation from our last camping cuisine post, we're looking for "easy, fun, and requiring little to no refrigeration." Adding that all up, Campfire Tales recommends... Dump Salad! Easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. Gather ingredients: 2. … Continue reading Camping Cuisine: Dump Salad
The Long Night is Over
The thing about nights while camping is this: You never know what the drama will be From the moment you duly extinguish The evening fire to sunlight through the canopy. Maybe sound amplifies in the pitch black Because every small noise portends danger And suggests a threat. The slightest crack Can't be deer, the sigh … Continue reading The Long Night is Over
How to Bag Your Bag
After camping, do you throw everything into storage until the next trip? When you go on the next trip and unroll your sleeping bag, is it... musty, and a little sad? There are a lot of instructions out there about WHY to store a sleeping bag outside the bag it comes in (mainly, being compacted … Continue reading How to Bag Your Bag
Camping: Heading Out Alone
My friend Francine, in response to how she'd spent her birthday, sent some amazing photos of camping alone. Thank you for the birthday wishes. I spent the weekend camping in the mountains. I stayed at a campground, but was alone at my campsite. Here's my sweet little set-up. Small green tent on the right is … Continue reading Camping: Heading Out Alone
Save It From a Rainy Day
What with all the recent rain in California, I was reminded of the lower water levels at the Lake Nacimiento reservoir the last time I camped there with friends (and Scooter-Man) in 2015. So, I ask you, what better excuse to go camping than to check the status of the widely reported California drought? The … Continue reading Save It From a Rainy Day
Campsite Bandit
Many years ago, I crawled out of my tent to the sounds of chirping birds, glanced around the campsite, and discovered a raccoon had visited in the night. Among much evidence of the culprit's identity, the most telling piece proved to be the adorable paw print left on top of a soft cooler. I remembered … Continue reading Campsite Bandit
Camping Cuisine: Apple Rings
At my current job, all the snacks come wrapped in plastic. Here's my favorite: I haven't tried preparing or eating these while camping yet, but they seem like an obvious choice. Healthy, filling, portable, shelf-stable, and delicious. Please sign me up! There are actually two rings in the one ring pictured, and the peanut butter … Continue reading Camping Cuisine: Apple Rings
The Real Think vs The Real Thing
Forecasting a hectic day for today, last night I brewed a pot of coffee and filled my ice trays, then chilled both before going to bed, a ritual I occasionally practice in order to wake up to iced coffee.*** The smell of that coffee, though... Two hours later, still tossing and turning in bed, bone-weary … Continue reading The Real Think vs The Real Thing
Camping R.S.V.P. (Really Scared, Visiting Promptly)
A quick note: Thank you for the camping invite. I can't come. Wish I could. (Although, I still might.) I'm not only scared of the COVID bathrooms, Here's my list: Lyme Disease, poisonous mushrooms, Drowning, getting lost, falling over a cliff Or in a campfire while breathing a whiff. Also, bears. Snakes. Bigfoot. Hillbillies. Skunk … Continue reading Camping R.S.V.P. (Really Scared, Visiting Promptly)
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