“Thank you for visiting your national park.” We’re open! (Except for boat tours on the lake. No Visitor Centers. Plus, we hid the shark.) Oops, did it sound like “full access?” My mistake… “Phased Reopening,” means: No Pinnacles Road Or East Rim Drive. Only guests eat at the Lodge. No Ranger Programs. Some hiking trails … Continue reading Crater, Crater, Now or Later?
Camping
My New Hope Shorts
Reading a detailed plan in yesterday's news about the reopening California following COVID-19 closures, one quote jumped out at me that the plan would, "not be based on hope." While I understood the meaning — that it would be based on science, and not on desire — the quote disquieted me all day and into … Continue reading My New Hope Shorts
Bodie Referee
“Morning fire! Morning fire! Build it higher! Higher! HIGHER!” “Chill, spaz.” “Be nice to your brother.” “Please chill, spaz. How was that, mother?” “What do you vote we do today?” “Swimming! Rafting! Biking! Hiking! To Barney Lake! The waterfall!” (Yawn) “Boring. How far is the mall?” “I KNOW! We could explore a cave!” “You’re too … Continue reading Bodie Referee
Learn to Burn
You're going camping. You're making a list Of what to bring, so that nothing is missed. Bring matches? You should! And an axe? You could.*** Anything you should NOT bring? DON'T. BRING. WOOD. *** Two more campground rules we need to cover For all of our self-professed tree lovers: "Buy where you burn it." Don't … Continue reading Learn to Burn
Road Tripped
Greetings, Campfire Tale-ians! I've been on an excellent vacation, but I hope you enjoyed the frame and poetry posts I left for you before I took off. I also hope you enjoyed Independence Day. I did! I traveled back in time on many (oh, so many) levels. I don't even know where to start. Seriously, … Continue reading Road Tripped
Camping Cuisine: Campetizers
Perhaps you prefer to keep camping cuisine simple: hot dogs and canned beans. (Plus fruit cocktail for dessert. Look, pals and gals, you chose "simple." Enjoy your syrup-drowned, hard chunks of fruit. Live with your choices.) Conversely, maybe you want to keep meals gourmet: you probably aren't camping. We are! Having gone over the basic … Continue reading Camping Cuisine: Campetizers
Camptivities: Camping Cuisine
As promised in a previous post, the only recipes on this blog will be ones that are possible to make while camping (traditional camping, not glamping). Sorry, peppermint ice cream. Sorry grasshopper bars. Sorry, all the pies and more pies and cakes and more cakes I've referenced here over the years. As delicious as you … Continue reading Camptivities: Camping Cuisine
Reservation Reservations
New Year's came, went. Goals: Dreamt. Set. Pursued. Missed. Valentine's Day: Chocolate, eaten. Lips, kissed. In a hot second, Christmas will be here. Have you decided where to camp this year? I must be kidding? Wrong! Don't take a chance, Reserve your campsite six months in advance. High desert, by a lake, near the ocean … Continue reading Reservation Reservations
Campfire Tales Invitation
Come close. Join us! Warm up by the fire. We're telling tales. Like this pyre, "blowing smoke," With only trees and stars as witnesses. You go first. Wait, come back! That was a joke! ~ Camp Host Chad
Camptivities: Apple Picking
In my last post -- (No, silly, not the post called "Humor" that had zero content that many of you clicked on, probably only to wonder, "What's the joke? Is this ironic, like 10,000 spoons without a knife?" Side note: Maybe all those spoons are for the Maniacs, in which case I say, "Keep hiding … Continue reading Camptivities: Apple Picking
Campfire Tales 