CAMPING

Feckless(FP): Oddvark and I recently went camping with Mountain Man Tom (MMT) and the Pater Familias (PF). It had been a while since we had been out in nature overnight and Oddvark really enjoyed pretending he was a bear.

Oddvark(OC): That's right, I love pretending I'm a bear and I also love a good campfire. Thanks to Mountain Man Tom, we had a real barn burner.

MMT: The trick to making a good fire is to use as much free wood as possible. That's where the Pater Familias comes in. He is the best wood scrounger in Florida.

PF: I do love to scrounge wood for the fire.

FP: Yeah, Mountain Man Tom and the Pater Familias are the real camping enthusiasts. Oddvark and I are just a couple of amateurs.

OC: That's right, MMT & PF had their tents up in less than fifteen minutes. It took me and Feckless about an hour to set up our tents.

FP: That's because you had five Kamikazi cocktails while we were try to pitch the tents. It didn't help matters any that you were stumbling over the tent stakes while we were trying to secure the rain fly.

OC: I couldn't resist, the Pater Familias makes the best Kamikazi cocktails known to man.

FP: I have to admit he does. It was also nice of him to bring his I-Pod boombox. I enjoy listening to some tunes while relaxing next to a roaring fire.

MMT: Didn't you guys enjoy the nature walk we took?

OC: Oh yeah, we saw some gators, an armadillo, a rabbit, a garr-fish, and lots and lots of trees and bushes.

FP: What is more important is that we didn't see any snakes, spiders or scorpions.

PF: Not a single water macassin; how boring.

OC: Man those things give me the creeps.

MMT: We don't have to worry about water mocassins in Oregon.

FP: No, in Oregon we have to worry about those disgusting drop toilets.

PF: No worries here in Florida, the restrooms were immaculate.

OC: I know, I didn't have any excuse to do my business in the woods.

FP: Good thing Oddvark, you might have run into some nasty critters out there.

MMT: I thought you were going to jump out of your skin when that armadillo walked up to you in camp after we finished our burgers.

OC: He wasn't in the least shy. He just walked right up into the middle of camp.

MMT: In Oregon we had all those deer walk up into the middle of camp.

PF: Yeah, but that was at three in the morning. You slept through the whole thing. That armadillo walked up right after dinner while we were enjoying our postprandial libations.

OC: Exactly, he came in while we were having a postprandial libations and just before we started having our nightcaps.

PF: It's hard to believe you guys can remember any of what happen given your mid-day tipple, afternoon cocktail, aparatif, wine with dinner, post-prandial libation, and nightcap.

FP: We remember every detail. Oddvark and I drink for medicinal purposes. Strong drink actually enhances our memory. For instance, I remember throwing the frisbee around. It has been a long time since I last through a frisbee around.

MMT: The frisbee toss sweated some of the alcohol out of your system.

OC: We made up for that by doubling up afterwards.

PF: You guys are incorrigible.

OC: Thank you!

FP: Oddvark and I enjoyed all that fresh air, sunshine and fellowship. We think its healthy for everyone to get back to nature once in a while. For people who are on a budget, good tents can be purchased at very reasonable prices nowadays. They are easy to assemble and can comfortable sleep up to four people. In our case, each of us has his own tent, but families can all fit in one if need be. Oddvark, Mountain Man Tom, the Pater Familias and I all started out camping when we were very young. We still enjoy it many years later. It is an activity that children enjoy and provides many learning and bonding opportunities. Get your family involved in camping, it will provide a lifetime of memorable experiences.

OC: Plus, your kids can pretend to be bears.