USVI-On-Line

OK, I'll admit it. This is my third attempt at camping with S/O because he loves it. He was prepared to go by himself for two nights but I (being the good S/O that I am) said I'll go with you Went to Table Rock, SC. Of course, they were booked for the 4th weekend. We had a relatively decent spot if you consider being surrounded by motor homes that cost more than our house (now, that's camping!).

Let's see, where to begin. We set up our modest two person tent, blow up the mattress that GMD bought so his little flower could be comforable), GHM fixes up the inside for the most comfort possible. GHD knows how skeptical I am of going again so he bought me a battery powered hang up fan for the tent! We are chilling around the campfire, drinking our respective wine boxes (did I say no alcohol allowed in state parks? ) when all of a sudden out of nowhere at 7:30 pm comes the karaoke from hell. At first I thought it was karaoke but then realized it was recorded songs with about 50 people singing along in (insert the culture). Now, I am not one to put down another person's religion or culture but by God I thought I was camping in the great outdoors to listen to birds and squirrels and whatever else....but no, we had a songfest that lasted from 7:30 until 10:00 pm, clappy, clappy happy group. As I'm staring up the hill and the public restrooms/showers and listening to the door slam about every 30 minutes, I'm thinking what the hell was I thinking But with enough vino by 10:00 pm I had a smile on my face and had to go to bed.

7:00 am of day two and I'm sitting in my chair drinking coffee in my pj's and looking real snazzy in my flannel martini glass pj's with my hair stuck up on the top of my head when here comes Ted. Ted "loves everybody in the campground and everybody loves Ted" in his golf cart with a horn on it that he is honking every 30 feet that sounds like projectile vomiting...no shizzle He's picking up old ladies, dogs, whoever will ride with him. He makes this roll at least 50 times a day until he can't see to drive anymore. Oh my lord, just give me medication and let me crawl back in that tent (with the ceiling fan, I might add) and make them all go away.

8:00 pm of day two finds us drinking heavily waiting for what is to come. Happy, happy, joy, joy starts right on time this time accompanied by much tapping and clapping (sounds like a square dance) and many, many songs. The guy in the tent closest to us starts yodeling but it doesn't faze the (insert here religion and culture) crowd who are just so happy to share their religion with the other 500 people in the campground.

Morning of day three (today) finds us trying to light the Barbie to Go which turns out to be the Barbie Done Gone that wouldn't hold a light to the lovely charcoal interior. Guess we might have figured that at 2.99 each at Target it was a hit and miss. We would have used the firewood that we bought at the camp store, but alas it was damp...go figure.

Will I try it again? Only if I can hike in to a pristine spot by ice cold running water and nothing but the sound of birds, squirrels, wind, etc. Did I mention that I am deathly afraid of bears? I would risk it to be in that spot that didn't support really bizarre (where do they come from?) campers

Thanks for listening to my rant....I feel so much better now

I hear that, Pia! I'm looking for a villa for next August for 3 couples, 10 days. If I PM you, would you give me your suggestions?

I don't camp, unless a cabin with running water counts as camping!

My buddy at work has been trying to get my family to come camping memorial day weekend at his property in God's country. I told him to let me know when they have a toilet and a shower. And I am not talking about a SUNshower.

We love to camp and be in the outdoors, but in general our experiences at campgrounds, especially on holiday weekends has been similar to yours. I *hate* hearing music and/or singing when I am in the outdoors camping. The story about "Ted" cracked me up. We have met similar characters.

One 4th of July, we went on a camping and river tubing trip with our church and brought our teenage nephews. The couple next to us got sopping drunk and got into huge shouting matches all night long with lots of foul language. At one point, the girl said she was going to leave and commit suicide. It was awful. We don't camp on the holiday weekends at campgrounds any more.

Flip, I agree with you. It's taken me 3 times to figure out that I am not a camper. I really, really tried but it's just not in my moral fiber! It's good when you finally realize what your limitations are!

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We camp but we have rules

1. Never camp at a state park
2. Never camp on a holiday weekend or during a fishing tournament
3. Camp at a campground that has hot showers and a lot of seasonal campers
4. Reserve the exact spot you want. The campground that we go to sent us a map and we pick the site we want when we call to make a reservation
5. When choosing a campground, find one that has a gate or restricts access to guests after a certain time.
6. If the campground has too many activities for kids, we skip it. We camp to get away from people and since we don't have kids we don't like to be next to a family with too many kids. If there is a pool, big playground and crafts every day, we skip it.

I think it's funny, because I used to camp and haven't done it in about 10 years. I think the nostalgia is getting to me or I've repressed the memories, because yesterday I threw a hissy fit when I found out I can't pull a pop-up camper with my car (which GM calls a truck, but don't let them fool you). I used to do to the tent gig, but I've decided if I have to commune with nature, I will have AC, a bed and a fridge. Lol.

Seriously, though, for the most part, my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn Express. But it is a cheap way to see America, and kids love it, so I thought it'd be good for Shelby. Chris and I both have fond memories of times in our family campers...

Ah, trailer parking it was. I think we were insane to go to a state park on a holiday weekend. Live and learn! The prettiest place I've been camping is at Mt. Pisgah in NC, older campers, few kids. We saw a nice little pull behind called a TAB...might check into it. I'd love to do a walk in to a peaceful site by a mountain stream. Anyone know of such a place in NC?

Those Tabs look nice, but still too heavy for my stupid little car. I guess we have to rethink this whole camper experience.

Actually, we can get some pretty nice gear for tent camping for a lot less money...

It's been a while since I was last there, but I stayed in a cabin near Sparta and Roaring Gap in NC once upon a time, and we went exploring during the day and happened upon Stone Mountain State Park.

It was a far cry from the mountain of the same name in GA (but I used to like that a lot, especially pre-Olympics, also).

I think you could find a site next to a stream if I recall correctly. I was there in the dead of summertime and the place looked almost abandoned - maybe because it was so remote?

But I do have to emphasize that it was a loooong time ago (maybe 1986?) so it has quite possibly changed a LOT since then.

I'm laughing over your descriptions! It would make me nuts, too.

I really like camping, and to avoid the people that we mock (in trailers) we only camp in areas for tents only. We still get noise, but there's not much you can do about that, unless you're willing to do hike-in camping, and we haven't mastered the art of carrying all our gear (but I'm hopeful that we will do that someday.)

I like my creature comforts too... which in my case means a nice steak for the campfire and a bottle of red wine. (OK, I'll be honest... I use an air mattress too!)

We had a funny experience back in the single days. Big party at a friend's lake house; too many people to sleep in the house so lots of us were in tents outside. Apparently the neighbors weren't so happy about the party, because EARLY the next morning Mr. Friendly started making lots of noise right along the property line by our tents. First the lawn mower, then the chain saw, then (I'm not making this up) riding an ATV with the chain saw. We were so hung over it was painful, but we're still laughing about that guy driving around on his ATV revving the chain saw at 6:00 in the morning.

I too have experienced that type of camping and it s**ks! I will never do that again! We have gone with nothintoloose to a place in Mississippi that we drove into and it was totally private!

We had 3 tents set up and a big fire! The best part was having her SUV to collect the firewood on top of and to put the food in at night to keep the animals away! It was however 17 degrees! I know it is hard to believe that it can get that cold down south but it did probably because it knew I was going camping!

I like my creature comforts too si I brought a blow up mattress, queen size, our sleeping bags zipped together and I had fleece blankets inside to really cuddle up in. I also brought my pillow because sleeping on my rolled up clothes doesn't to it for me anymore. I did that hiking in thing as a much younger adult but no so much anymore.

I still get teased about the mirror I brought so I could make sure I didn't look totally insane during the day!

What an experience!

We have had a lot of nice camping experiences and a few like your. The last years we haven't been camping - except from our safari in Botswana a few years ago -but sometimes I miss it. I hope your next camping will be better!

Linne