Camping in modern times....

[TxPhotoShooter]

means you really don't have to rough it. We are at a campground that does not have any kind of connection to watch tv. There is no internet connection available. Which I guess you would expect since one is camping out. But I just can't be disconnected for the sports world.

So I connected my laptop to my cell phone. Tapped into my cable from home with our slingbox. And with just a click, the Aggies and Huskers appeared. So, for now it moon and campfire can share my attention.

[Imagebuffet]

That seems to defeat the whole idea behind going camping, but whatever makes you happy.

What drives me nuts is when I go camping to get away from city life, only to find people foisting their city life on me. I don't understand why someone would go out into nature, take a breath of fresh air, then light up a cigarette. If you wanted polluted air, you could have stayed home!

[Jeff_Green]

As I just got back from camping a couple weeks ago, I can say this amuses me. I went with the largest group I had ever been with... we had about 5 camp sites with almost 40 people. I have never seen so many cots/air mattresses, and even a camper. If you want to go camping then camp. If you want to stay indoors, stay in a cabin or hotel/motel!

Nothing is better, to me, than waking up at 6am, starting the coffee, and starting the fire, getting ready for a relaxing day... outdoors.

As for lighting up a cigarette, I agree. If it was a basic tobacco product like a cigar or pipe, I would be more for it as from the ground, it continues it's natural purpose... a cigarette has too many chemicals to have a natural purpose!

[movingex]

Originally Posted by TxPhotoShooter

means you really don't have to rough it. We are at a campground that does not have any kind of connection to watch tv. There is no internet connection available. Which I guess you would expect since one is camping out. But I just can't be disconnected for the sports world.

So I connected my laptop to my cell phone. Tapped into my cable from home with our slingbox. And with just a click, the Aggies and Huskers appeared. So, for now it moon and campfire can share my attention.

Good to see you doing things your way. If it makes you happy to watch the game while camping, why not do it. It's not like you're forcing it on anyone else.

[dlanter]

I haven't been able to do it in several years, but when I use to say that I was going camping that meant that I would be hiking into a remote location with only what I could carry on my back. I've had several memorable trips like that I wouldn't trade for anything and wish everyone could experience it at least once.

Now when my sister & brother in law say they are going camping that means gas up the 30 something foot RV that cost almost as much as my house and isn't missing any kind of modern appliance. To my wife, roughing it on a vacation means the hotel doesn't offer room service.

[ronocnikral]

why are we so critical of the style in which people choose to camp? i say, good for them. unless the campsite is full and they just snatched up the last spot i was trying to get into. joking.

my camping this year has ranged from backpacking to car camping (with space heather and laptop to watch movies). in college i used to be camping snob, turning my nose up at even car camping. now that i am "productive member of society," i can appreciate any opportunity to get away from the city. sure, it's not to the good old days of living in colorado and utah, but the city will wear a person down.

[camera shy]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

why are we so critical of the style in which people choose to camp? i say, good for them. unless the campsite is full and they just snatched up the last spot i was trying to get into. joking.

my camping this year has ranged from backpacking to car camping (with space heather and laptop to watch movies). in college i used to be camping snob, turning my nose up at even car camping. now that i am "productive member of society," i can appreciate any opportunity to get away from the city. sure, it's not to the good old days of living in colorado and utah, but the city will wear a person down.

Exactly what is car camping? It sounds like something I could afford.

[rab3rd]

Car camping is my favorite kind of camping. @ Camera shy: its camping out of your car, you drive to the camp spot, get out your tent and other camoing stuff and setup camp. It can still be roughing it except you dont have to hike to your camping spot. Its what you see when you see tent campers in state parks and such, car camping.

[rab3rd]

Car camping and day hiking have provided me with some great memories over the years.

[camera shy]

Originally Posted by rab3rd

Car camping is my favorite kind of camping. @ Camera shy: its camping out of your car, you drive to the camp spot, get out your tent and other camoing stuff and setup camp. It can still be roughing it except you dont have to hike to your camping spot. Its what you see when you see tent campers in state parks and such, car camping.

This is more like what I envisioned as car camping. I don't have a tent.

[ronocnikral]

can be. tents aren't expensive, especially if you buy second hand. our car camping tent is about 12 years old. our stove is about 12 years. we sleep on an air mattress (the kind you get at target or wally world). we don't use sleeping bags while car camping, just big quilts and blankets. the expensive part is the texas state parks....

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Car camping can also be as simple as sleeping in the back of your SUV or Van, kind of hard to do in a Prius but may be possible also. Sometimes car camping can be better than a tent in a park setting if the people around you are loud and obnoxious since the inside of the car is more quite than a tent.

What about just the old bedroll rolled out with no tent?

As to the rolling houses I just don't see that is camping but I do see where it can be usefull for snowbirds and NASCAR folks who are on the road for months at a time-nice to have a bathroom at hand and a cooking area that goes on at the flick of a wrist or a punch of a button.

[cfortner]

Yep if I'm fairly certain I'm not going to get rained on, then the sleeping bag just goes on the ground by the campfire... my favorite way to camp :)

[ronocnikral]

i spent 4 nights out at city of rocks this july. all under the stars. learning to camp in minnesota and sometimes in the winter, i'd advise not to sleep under the stars. in the summer, i'd suggest leaving the rainfly off--the skeeters will eat you alive!! "under the stars" isn't always ideal (or tolerable).

[Imagebuffet]

I camped at Monahans Sandhills State Park one night. When I awoke, I grabbed my camera that I had lying next to me, and snapped a photo of the first thing I saw when I awoke:


_MG_4019r_l_s1024 by Pooua, on Flickr