I left work early today to go camping. Kathy and Nancy worked hard to get everything ready, including picking up and packing Frank’s truck, while Teddy and I sat around waiting for 3 o’clock to come.
We met over at Nancy and Ted’s house. Got underway after gassing up at 4:30. Just in time to join the rest of Atlanta heading North on 85. Ted, Nicole, and Danny and I road in the truck. Kathy, Nancy, Shawn, and Brittany road in the Toyota. Frank, Stephanie and Lauren would meet us at Tate Branch later, driving Ted and Nancy’s car.
We arrived before sunset after winding up into the mountains to Clayton, then east, looking for Tate Branch. The Tate camp sight was closed because of a broken water pump.
Fortunately there was room at another site a mile or so down stream. We got busy setting up the pop-up trailer and the two other tents. We also gathered some wood, before it got dark, to start a fire. Our site was big and right on the stream. Ted kept calling it a river.
The bigger tent had been packed damp and the top cloth had rotted. It ripped as Ted and I tried putting it up. Ted tore it down in frustration. As it got dark and started getting cold.
About 9:30 Nicole, Danny, and I drove a few miles back to the main road to find a pay phone. I found one and left a message for Frank to bring a tent in the event they had not left or had come back. I was sure they were lost in the darkness. In fact, the kids and I pulled over, shut off the car lights, and laid down next to the car to look at the millions of stars. The Milky Way was bright across the sky. We don’t get to see the sky like that in Atlanta. I’m not sure Danny ever has.
Frank and crew left about 7:30 with directions that failed to explain a critical turn. The two-hour trip took them four hours. They drove up very tired and frustrated at 11:30. I was impressed they found us at all in the pitch black.
The kids were asleep, and the rest of us soon turned in to end the end of a frustrating beginning. It was awfully cold. Kathy and I slept in a small dome tent. Frank, Stephanie, and Lauren slept in the back of Frank’s truck.
Camping Lessons:
1) Set up your tent before you leave to make sure a) It’s ok and b) you know how to set it up.
2) Bring Bic lighters for every adult.
3) Bring some rope for carrying a bundle of sticks from the woods.
4) Bring a swiss-army knife.
5) Bring a small wood saw.
6) Children under 4 are a triple-problem. a) You worry about them, b) every minute, c) and you feel guilty sticking them with anyone else.
7) Bring less changes of clothes for yourself and more for the kids.
8) Shoes for walking on the rocky river bottom are a must.
9) A Coleman lantern is worth it’s weight in street lights.
10) A mountain morning dew will wet down everything exposed as well as any rain.
11) You don’t have to drink beer. Water makes it easier to wake up.
12) Give everyone directions and everyone go together. That way you all get lost together, which is more fun.
13) Plan to use someone’s voicemail (or mother… no… father) in case you get split up. Don’t put the voicemail directions on the camp site directions. You’ll need the first in case you lose the second.
14) It will feel 20 degrees colder than you think it will be.
15) A good sleeping bag is worth 5 times its weight in blankets.
16) Wool socks are worth the itch.
17) Bring four flashlights. Maybe one will work, and maybe you will be able to find it in the dark.
18) Obey all rules. Rangers may not bother you, but it’s not worth worrying about.
19) Buy your firewood. It’s easier on the back.
20) There are going to be bugs.