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Well my plans got shortened by a day because of a family illness, but I still got out for one night away.
I decided to go to Cuivre River SP which is close to me. It's a medium sized campground about 25 miles from home. The fishing is usually just ok, and I've taken my boat there many times but not camped there. Since this was my first time camping in a LONG time I put in a bit of time researching a lot of things and felt I was pretty well prepared to give my new gear a trial run before heading out with my wife and possibly grandkids.
Things I wished I had or missed on the list:
1. Iron skillet with a lid - This was on the lists a few different places but I opted to just take a small non-stick since it was just me. The propane Coleman stove cooks hotter than I'm used to and the heat wasn't even at all with this little non-stick junker.
2. A stocking cap - It got down to 39*. I checked the weather and knew it was going to be cool, but I hadn't planned on how breezed this new tent would be. However, I did take plenty of blankets and made due ok. A stocking cap would have made things much easier for me since I'm on blood thinners and get cold easily.
3. A 2nd dish pan - Duh! It's nice to have a pan to rinse the soapy dishes in.
4. A way to hang clothes and/or a light in the tent. Fluff, I know.
Things I learned
1. The checklists I found here made all the difference in the world between a good time away with things running smoothly, and a stressful disaster. Thanks again!
2. You can't be too prepared.
3. Checklists are king.
4. At 47 with one major back surgery I opted to get a nice cot instead of an air mattress. This was a VERY good choice for me. I slept very well and feel fine.
5. When searching around for a campsite take note of other campers with yappy dogs and pick a site on the other end. Even then, have earplugs handy.
6. Don't forget to use your checklist.
7. Firewood can be hard to come. Have a plan ahead of time. I'm not sure how widespread the Emerald Ash Borer insect problem is, but we have firewood issues in certain parts of the state. They don't want to spread this little pest around. So campers here need to plan accordingly.
8. Take notes of things you're missing and add them to the checklist as soon as you can or you may forget what they were.
9. My Coleman Sundome is 10'x10'x6.5tall. It's nice to be able to stand up to pull on my pants. And once there's two adults and two small grandsons it'll still be tight.
Here's a pic of my site. Very basic, nothing fancy, and a nice time away from home under the stars.
I decided to go to Cuivre River SP which is close to me. It's a medium sized campground about 25 miles from home. The fishing is usually just ok, and I've taken my boat there many times but not camped there. Since this was my first time camping in a LONG time I put in a bit of time researching a lot of things and felt I was pretty well prepared to give my new gear a trial run before heading out with my wife and possibly grandkids.
Things I wished I had or missed on the list:
1. Iron skillet with a lid - This was on the lists a few different places but I opted to just take a small non-stick since it was just me. The propane Coleman stove cooks hotter than I'm used to and the heat wasn't even at all with this little non-stick junker.
2. A stocking cap - It got down to 39*. I checked the weather and knew it was going to be cool, but I hadn't planned on how breezed this new tent would be. However, I did take plenty of blankets and made due ok. A stocking cap would have made things much easier for me since I'm on blood thinners and get cold easily.
3. A 2nd dish pan - Duh! It's nice to have a pan to rinse the soapy dishes in.
4. A way to hang clothes and/or a light in the tent. Fluff, I know.
Things I learned
1. The checklists I found here made all the difference in the world between a good time away with things running smoothly, and a stressful disaster. Thanks again!
2. You can't be too prepared.
3. Checklists are king.
4. At 47 with one major back surgery I opted to get a nice cot instead of an air mattress. This was a VERY good choice for me. I slept very well and feel fine.
5. When searching around for a campsite take note of other campers with yappy dogs and pick a site on the other end. Even then, have earplugs handy.
6. Don't forget to use your checklist.
7. Firewood can be hard to come. Have a plan ahead of time. I'm not sure how widespread the Emerald Ash Borer insect problem is, but we have firewood issues in certain parts of the state. They don't want to spread this little pest around. So campers here need to plan accordingly.
8. Take notes of things you're missing and add them to the checklist as soon as you can or you may forget what they were.
9. My Coleman Sundome is 10'x10'x6.5tall. It's nice to be able to stand up to pull on my pants. And once there's two adults and two small grandsons it'll still be tight.
Here's a pic of my site. Very basic, nothing fancy, and a nice time away from home under the stars.
A canvas campateer
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