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October 2013 camping trip....
This past weekend, I dragged out the camping gear and headed to John Bryan State Park, in Yellow Springs OH, to get away from it all and to get back in touch with nature.
Fri 10/18: I was hoping to get to the campsite before it got dark. But it was not to be. I was at a client's site, working with a rep from a regional office equipment supplier, helping to set up an OCR system on the client's copier. I left the client's site at 5:30pm. I stopped at my storage unit to get some camping gear, and then to my house to pack a duffle bag of clothing. And I was off. I got struck in a traffic jam on I-675 northbound. I didn't get to the site until sometime between 7:30 and 8:00pm. I bought two bundles of firewood at the camp office, and set up my tent using my car's headlights as my light source. I also pumped up my air mattress with a hand pump, but the air didn't stay in.
I was hoping up to meet up with a ladyfriend from Columbus, but alas, she had other plans this weekend, and those got canceled when she needed to take care of some paperwork for her son. And so I camped alone. Thankfully, the folks at the site next to mine were very gracious and generous, sharing their fire, food, and beer with me. They were a group in their late 20s or early 30s. Brandon and his wife Brooke, and some of their friends, were there.
I ended up having a minor asthma attack that night. I didn't have my inhaler or any Primatene tablets with me. I think this was caused by the dust and dirt that accumulated on the wool blanket that I keep in the car.
Sat 10/19: Woke up early. At around 9:00am, it started to rain. My neighbors went into town to have breakfast at the Emporium in Yellow Springs. I stayed behind and cooked bacon and eggs on my Peak 1 camping stove.
After my neighbors came back from breakfast, I headed to the Spirited Goat Coffee House in Yellow Springs to catch up on email and to send out resumes. I returned to the campsite and began working on lunch: chili with red beans, diced tomatoes, and textured vegetable protein (TVP) instead of meat. It turned out pretty well.
We listed to the Ohio State football game on the radio, and played Kan Jam, a Frisbee-like game. While my neighbors worked on making pizzas, I set up my Hibachi grill and cooked some marinated chicken breasts. (I use Chiavetta's marinade, which I get in Buffalo. It's vinegar-based, with salt and spices. The Chiavetta family is famous for their chicken barbecues at church picnics and the Erie County Fair.) I also made some instant mashed potatoes and spinach salad to round out dinner. Once again, everything turned out great.
We closed the evening sitting around the fire and chatting. I brought out a bottle of mead and shared it with a few folks.
Sun 10/20: I woke up at 7:30am, packed up my gear, and left for home. I loaded up the garage with my gear, and took a long, hot shower.
Fri 10/18: I was hoping to get to the campsite before it got dark. But it was not to be. I was at a client's site, working with a rep from a regional office equipment supplier, helping to set up an OCR system on the client's copier. I left the client's site at 5:30pm. I stopped at my storage unit to get some camping gear, and then to my house to pack a duffle bag of clothing. And I was off. I got struck in a traffic jam on I-675 northbound. I didn't get to the site until sometime between 7:30 and 8:00pm. I bought two bundles of firewood at the camp office, and set up my tent using my car's headlights as my light source. I also pumped up my air mattress with a hand pump, but the air didn't stay in.
I was hoping up to meet up with a ladyfriend from Columbus, but alas, she had other plans this weekend, and those got canceled when she needed to take care of some paperwork for her son. And so I camped alone. Thankfully, the folks at the site next to mine were very gracious and generous, sharing their fire, food, and beer with me. They were a group in their late 20s or early 30s. Brandon and his wife Brooke, and some of their friends, were there.
I ended up having a minor asthma attack that night. I didn't have my inhaler or any Primatene tablets with me. I think this was caused by the dust and dirt that accumulated on the wool blanket that I keep in the car.
Sat 10/19: Woke up early. At around 9:00am, it started to rain. My neighbors went into town to have breakfast at the Emporium in Yellow Springs. I stayed behind and cooked bacon and eggs on my Peak 1 camping stove.
After my neighbors came back from breakfast, I headed to the Spirited Goat Coffee House in Yellow Springs to catch up on email and to send out resumes. I returned to the campsite and began working on lunch: chili with red beans, diced tomatoes, and textured vegetable protein (TVP) instead of meat. It turned out pretty well.
We listed to the Ohio State football game on the radio, and played Kan Jam, a Frisbee-like game. While my neighbors worked on making pizzas, I set up my Hibachi grill and cooked some marinated chicken breasts. (I use Chiavetta's marinade, which I get in Buffalo. It's vinegar-based, with salt and spices. The Chiavetta family is famous for their chicken barbecues at church picnics and the Erie County Fair.) I also made some instant mashed potatoes and spinach salad to round out dinner. Once again, everything turned out great.
We closed the evening sitting around the fire and chatting. I brought out a bottle of mead and shared it with a few folks.
Sun 10/20: I woke up at 7:30am, packed up my gear, and left for home. I loaded up the garage with my gear, and took a long, hot shower.