Camping

Summer arrived here yesterday (06/20/24) at 4:01 p. m. (per NWS). I’ve already been seeing vehicles—large and small—heading out of town with all sorts of camping gear towed, or stowed on top, as they whiz by. I identify with them. I grew up on a farm (basically out in the woods) away out in the country but never went camping; there was no Boy Scout Troop available. However, I enjoyed the outdoors on the farm and often read, in the school library Boys Life, the Scouting magazine. Camping out (bivouac) in the Army National Guard in the swamps of Ft. Stewart, GA should have dissuaded me from camping fever. Even Paige’ s initial negative response to my camping suggestion did not divert me. She said, “I do not intend to sleep in the woods, on the ground, with snakes crawling around!”

But when Paige discovered pop-up campers that we could tow behind our vehicle, she warmed to the idea. A lot. In our third year of marriage we rented—not bought—a pop-up camper for a trip to Stone Mountain Campground. Awkward, but a success. Each succeeding year brought more joy, innovations, successes, (and bloopers)–as we became a camping family. Over time—we camped from Orlando, Florida to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and in between. Memories of the smell of bacon frying in the morning mountain air still mesmerize me. Blue smoke from an evening campfire, and cool breezes among the night sounds are siren calls to my soul.

Paige’s mother got into camping spirit before her too-early death. Early on, Mama D bought a “zip-on” room for our camper; it was one where our toddlers would have more room to play during rainy weather. We thrilled at the opportunity to hitch up our camper and head off to a state or national park for a weekend—or a couple of weeks. I especially remember early one Fall—Paige, a teacher, our girls were toddlers, and school had not started; we were in a private campground in the Cherokee National Forest—no one else was there for the whole week. It was exhilarating!

Living in Atlanta—such a large city—I am grateful for the parks, trails, and playgrounds in the area. The “The Path” under development now passes near our neighborhood. It connects more and more networks of Metro-area nature trails —ultimately connecting trail networks—from Stone Mountain to Alabama. Although there is no camping on the paths, they do connect to parks and campgrounds. Myriad campgrounds populate the area, and are being well used, creating wonderful opportunities for outdoor adventures.

A Post Script for today; when Zach, my grandson was working his way in Scouting to Eagle rank—I as chaplain of his troop—I joined them on one segment of the famous Appalachian Trail for a few days. Although I will never trek that nearly 2,200-mile AT, I do marvel at what it offers in scenic and other adventures. In Georgia, it starts at Springer Mountain, and ends at Liberty Springs, New Hampshire. The hiking the AT makes me think of Psalm 121, I will lift up my eyes to the hills…

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2024