I haven't been camping since I was a boy scout many years ago. I also haven't had a vacation in many years. I also work in a small office where my ears are under constant assault by several loud voices and ringing phones all day. So I really need a vacation.
I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos of woodcraft and such and it just strengthens my desire to get out in the wilderness. I don't want to hike or anything; I just need some time out away from the office and away from people and office phones, just me and my little dog in front of a fire, breathing fresh air.
But years of sedentary work have left me out of shape, another reason I don't have interest in hiking. So even chopping firewood wouldn't be easy for me. I'd probably take a Sawzall.
I also have no clue where to go. I'm in the western suburbs of Chicago. I'm thinking I'd go to southern Wisconsin, but I don't know where. So I guess I should give a little more detail so you have an idea of what to tell me. I'm just going to ramble here, so please tell me what I'm forgetting, what I'm planning wrong, etc.
More of what I'm not looking for: RVs, cabins, other people. Only interested in being in a tent or lean-to. I'm not sure why anyone would go camping to stay in an RV; it doesn't make sense to me. So I'm thinking of putting things in the bed of my pickup, using that as a, well, pantry isn't the right word... But when I was a scout, I remember all the stuff we had to tote, like the huge water containers, cooler, etc., so I'd have that in the bed of my pickup, and I think I want to pitch a tent off of it. Not one of those that sit kind of on top of it cross-wise so you're up off the ground; I want to be on the ground, warmed by a fire. But otherwise using the truck as a frame to pitch the tent off of. I mean, I'd be close to my supplies that way. I just don't know how that would work. I've never seen such a setup.
And I've watched the youtube videos in which they build a gravity-fed fire so it keeps it fed all night. So I'd want to do that. And I think I'd bring a porch swing out there so I can relax off the ground during the day. Is there a stand-up tent for showering and a toilet? I know such showers exist, the ones you put in the sunlight to heat up. I just want an enclosure, probably right off the tent or truck, to shower, change, and have my camp toilet. I'm guessing you pitch it on a slight incline, just enough for the water to roll down away from you, and you use biodegradable soap? It's been years since I heard of those. I'm guessing they've changed since then.
Let's see...starting a fire...either dryer lint stuffed in a toilet paper tube or that...what's the fire starter called that was on Shark Tank...? Kitchen supplies...already have a cast iron skillet, though I have yet to use it. Cooler full of food plus some that doesn't need cooking...dog food... Cooking and eating utensils...
A campsite... going to a park would probably mean other people and noise, right? Where else would I go? It has to be somewhere I can drive in to and somewhere I can build a fire. What kind of regulations are there about harvesting trees for firewood? Wouldn't regular camping areas get denuded of trees?
Are there bears in southern Wisconsin? I know northern Wisconsin has them, and southern Wisconsin has coyotes and I hear there's even a wolf pack somewhere between Beloit and Janesville. Not afraid of coyotes, except for my dog. Wolves, though?
And though I want to be away from civilization, I'd prefer to be around a T-Mobile cell signal, in case I want to look up "Why is my fire not starting?" or something like that. I realize being away from civilization but still having a phone or wifi signal is...perhaps an oxymoron, but it is what it is.
So, what would you tell someone who's essentially a novice camper but wants to go out alone like this? I want to do it while there's still a chill in the air. Don't want to fight bugs and I'd rather be cold and warm myself up than go out when it's warmer with no way to get the temperature down. I'd take vacation so I'd have up to a week, but I doubt I'd stay that long. And where do I rent camping equipment? If it turns out to be something I don't care to do again in the future, I'd hate to tie up a lot of money in it and just have it all sitting around. Comments, suggestions, etc?
I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos of woodcraft and such and it just strengthens my desire to get out in the wilderness. I don't want to hike or anything; I just need some time out away from the office and away from people and office phones, just me and my little dog in front of a fire, breathing fresh air.
But years of sedentary work have left me out of shape, another reason I don't have interest in hiking. So even chopping firewood wouldn't be easy for me. I'd probably take a Sawzall.
I also have no clue where to go. I'm in the western suburbs of Chicago. I'm thinking I'd go to southern Wisconsin, but I don't know where. So I guess I should give a little more detail so you have an idea of what to tell me. I'm just going to ramble here, so please tell me what I'm forgetting, what I'm planning wrong, etc.
More of what I'm not looking for: RVs, cabins, other people. Only interested in being in a tent or lean-to. I'm not sure why anyone would go camping to stay in an RV; it doesn't make sense to me. So I'm thinking of putting things in the bed of my pickup, using that as a, well, pantry isn't the right word... But when I was a scout, I remember all the stuff we had to tote, like the huge water containers, cooler, etc., so I'd have that in the bed of my pickup, and I think I want to pitch a tent off of it. Not one of those that sit kind of on top of it cross-wise so you're up off the ground; I want to be on the ground, warmed by a fire. But otherwise using the truck as a frame to pitch the tent off of. I mean, I'd be close to my supplies that way. I just don't know how that would work. I've never seen such a setup.
And I've watched the youtube videos in which they build a gravity-fed fire so it keeps it fed all night. So I'd want to do that. And I think I'd bring a porch swing out there so I can relax off the ground during the day. Is there a stand-up tent for showering and a toilet? I know such showers exist, the ones you put in the sunlight to heat up. I just want an enclosure, probably right off the tent or truck, to shower, change, and have my camp toilet. I'm guessing you pitch it on a slight incline, just enough for the water to roll down away from you, and you use biodegradable soap? It's been years since I heard of those. I'm guessing they've changed since then.
Let's see...starting a fire...either dryer lint stuffed in a toilet paper tube or that...what's the fire starter called that was on Shark Tank...? Kitchen supplies...already have a cast iron skillet, though I have yet to use it. Cooler full of food plus some that doesn't need cooking...dog food... Cooking and eating utensils...
A campsite... going to a park would probably mean other people and noise, right? Where else would I go? It has to be somewhere I can drive in to and somewhere I can build a fire. What kind of regulations are there about harvesting trees for firewood? Wouldn't regular camping areas get denuded of trees?
Are there bears in southern Wisconsin? I know northern Wisconsin has them, and southern Wisconsin has coyotes and I hear there's even a wolf pack somewhere between Beloit and Janesville. Not afraid of coyotes, except for my dog. Wolves, though?
And though I want to be away from civilization, I'd prefer to be around a T-Mobile cell signal, in case I want to look up "Why is my fire not starting?" or something like that. I realize being away from civilization but still having a phone or wifi signal is...perhaps an oxymoron, but it is what it is.
So, what would you tell someone who's essentially a novice camper but wants to go out alone like this? I want to do it while there's still a chill in the air. Don't want to fight bugs and I'd rather be cold and warm myself up than go out when it's warmer with no way to get the temperature down. I'd take vacation so I'd have up to a week, but I doubt I'd stay that long. And where do I rent camping equipment? If it turns out to be something I don't care to do again in the future, I'd hate to tie up a lot of money in it and just have it all sitting around. Comments, suggestions, etc?
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