It’s almost camping season. If you are not into camping, you are missing out. Getting back to nature is something most all of us should do. The fresh air. The wildlife. The near silence. And then there are the stories around the campfire, the gooey smores, and a hot cup of coffee in the morning. I am relaxing just thinking about it.
Now, to be honest, my definition of camping today does include an air-conditioned RV, but it wasn’t always that way. Jolene and I spent many weekends in our younger days tent-camping with friends. Once we had kids, we wanted them to experience this, too. So we packed up the minivan, strapped in the young kids, and we drove an hour to a state park after work on a Friday evening only to hear, “Sorry, folks, the campground is full.” I looked in the rearview mirror to see the kids all holding back tears. All I could think of was the Griswolds’ trip to Walley World in the 1983 movie, “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”
The park attendant directed us to another nearby campground, which we quickly learned was located next to a stock car race track. After a few hours of “vvvrrroom, vvvrrroom,” silence finally set in. We got ourselves ready for a good night’s sleep, and a massive thunderstorm rolled in. Within minutes, our tent filled with rain. We put up a good effort for an hour or two, but the kids were crying, the sleeping bags were soaked, and Jolene and I were exhausted. In the pouring rain, we tossed the wet tent and sleeping bags in the back of the minivan, secured the kids in their car seats, and drove home.
The next week, we bought a pop-up camper. A few years later, we upgraded to a travel trailer. A few years after that, we bought a nicer travel trailer with more features. Unfortunately, by then, the kids no longer wanted to be cooped up in a home on wheels with their parents, so we sold it. Several years went by, and I sought out a small recreational vehicle to use as a base for our growing company events, community parades and festivals. You may have seen it around town with our publication logos plastered on it. This has worked out great for our business, and it helps fulfill our occasional quests in the great outdoors while promoting the company’s brands, too. It is cozy and convenient, and a wonderful way to connect with the fresh air, the wildlife and the near silence once again — without the wet sleeping bags and the vvvrrroom, vvvrrroom.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 |
