procouple
Baltimore Md
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Joined: 05/11/2005
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Hmmm about 20 yrs ago we were in a Va. campgound on the Blue ridge pkwy. We had a remote camsite near the edge of "Gooney Creek". After setting up camp it
started to rain, by the middle of the night it changed to a downpour and my borning we were no longer near the creek but in it. Needless to say packed up and left.
Vickie, Me, and "Charlie" our dog make THREE
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LazyWeekendWarrior
Oklahoma
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Joined: 07/12/2005
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Went to a lake Friday after work. Got there as it turned dark. This wasn't an issue because I've set up camp in the dark before. Get the car unloaded and everything ready to go. Put down the mat, threw the tent down and look! No poles! Last user of tent (not myself) had stored them separately, not in the usual tub'o'supplies. I was lucky to have large amounts of bug repellant and a big bonfire.
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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Joined: 05/27/2005
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Probably it was the time we camped in our canvas cabin tent in Acadia National Park in mid-October. A nor'easter blew in that night, rain, wind, very cold. We were not well equipped - had air mattresses and sleeping bags but they were inexpensive - and we hadn't brought enough warm clothes. I literally shivered all night long.
Can kinda relate to the stolen tent too. My BIL got a new dome tent as a gift, and set it up in his parents' front yard. Went in to dinner and within 1/2 hour the tent was gone. I don't remember if he ever found it; I tend to think he did eventually. He was NOT a happy camper!
2007 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 5.7L V8 w/ tow pkg, Equal-i-zer
2008 Flagstaff 831RLSS
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retiredtraveler
Woodstock Il --- GO HIKING!!!!
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Joined: 08/16/2002
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We've had a few 'storm stories' over the years as far as getting wet in a tent, but the worst camping, as a generalizaton for us, is going to campgrounds on weekends where it's wall-to-wall "partys".
We will not camp in state campgrounds, or privates, on a weekend again. All we can hear is loud music, screaming, dogs barking, even horns honking ---- just like being downtown in the "city of your choice..........".
Pup: 2007 Jayco 1206 w/slide-out + shower
surge brakes, 54w solar panel
TV: 2005 Nissan Xterra 4X4, manual trans
25 years tent camping, 4000+ miles of hiking, lots of biking
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kennyzzz
buffalo new york
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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went camping with friends,well we get their late Friday,I am hungry,so I get campfire going,Cook dinner,one of the helpers hangs a garbage bag on a tree,well it's dark now so I set my tent up,off to side in the woods,,next three days all kinds of noise outside my tent all night long,turns out,there was small garbage bag that you carry groceries with,,it had the meat wrappers,so that's what the critters were going for all night long,did not find it until Monday morning when I was taking the tent down,talk about mad,of course they said was just accident,,,felt like I was set up,,because tree was six inches from side of my tent!just never seen the garbage bag...
Chevy 2008 1500 X-cab 5.3 373 posi 4x4 z-71
2003 jayco quest 190 4059 lbs.
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TTBeachBum
in the woods but near the water, Long Island
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Joined: 07/13/2004
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Weather wise: The last two years that we tented Memorial Day Weekend upstate NY. One was during what seemed to me like a monsoon, obviously everthing was saturated. One year it was so cold, I stayed in the laundry room popping quarters into the dryer and kept my feet on the front. ($.25 for 20 minutes) when I finally retired to tent, I woke up freezing at dawn. I went out (to return to reclaim my spot by the dryer, there was snow on the ground! Part was my ignorance in packing, but I never expected snow!
CG wise, there was a CG that we stayed at in Upstate NY right off the Deleware. Our spots were so close to the highway, it seemed everytime a tractor trailer drove on this highway bridge they would blow their airhorns all night long. The facility was horrible. Memorial Day weekend they decided to 'renovate the ladies room for two days. By Sunday, it was open and disgustingly dirty, used hygiene products in the shower. You needed to wear wrist bands, without it, you were evicted. The crowds were rowdy. We had our pup with us (6mos Rottie - he was scared!)
I guess the plus of this Good Sam CG was rotties were allowed.
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Joe N.
East Texas
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Joined: 03/10/2004
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About 7 or 8 years ago I went to my favorite state park to spend a few days in solitude. It was late April, school was still in session, and I was camping Monday through Thursday so I was the lone camper in the tent area. I had enjoyed 4 almost perfect days, no insects, no snakes, no people, but it all changed my last night in the campground. Just before dark I began to hear some thunder rumbling in the distance and the wind picked up a little but nothing serious. It began to rain slightly but I sat under my tarp enjoying a cup of coffee and the thunderstorm's light show. Soon the rain changed from light to torrential and the breeze turned into a wind storm. I decided it was time to get inside the tent and that is when my trip turned miserable. I had just purchased the tent, a cheapo from Wal-Mart, and had forgotten to seal the seams so when I stepped through the door I saw little streams of water falling from the ceiling in several places. I had taken two sleeping bags and both were soaked along with all my clothes. I was so disgusted I dismantled my camp in the rain and stuffed all the wet gear in a heap in the back of my pickup.
I began driving home in a very bad thunderstorm and saw a car off in the ditch. I found a place to turn around and started back to check on the car and found that a huge oak tree had fallen just behind me. Several other motorists and I took turns with an axe cutting the tree in half and by the time we were through someone had helped the car out of the ditch and they were gone.
I got home late, wet, and tired and found out there had been several tornados in southeast Oklahoma where I had camped all the way to northeast Texas where I live. That was possibly my worst camping experience.
Joe N.
04 Dodge CTD 2500 Quad-Cab 4X4 48RE
04 Fleetwood Prowler Regal 330FKDS
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Joe N.
East Texas
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Joined: 03/10/2004
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Bad camping experience #2.
Another man and I were working with a group of boys at our church and one of the things we did was teach some campcraft skills. I was the leader of the group but had to work late so Greg took the boys out to his farm and they set up camp out in the woods. When I finally got off work I rushed home and threw my camping gear in the car and headed out to the camp. I got there just in time for supper and a few games and then it was time for bed. We were sleeping under the stars, no tents, and when I went to the car to get my gear I found I had gotten everything but a sleeping bag. The temperature dropped into the mid to lower 50s that night so it was chilly. I wrapped up in a sheet of plastic and kept the campfire going all night long trying to stay warm. Then a screech owl began making lots of noise so I got very little sleep that night. If I taught the kids anything it was how not to go camping.
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bigmike6970
Denver Co
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Joined: 03/12/2005
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I have been tent camping for may years in a lot of places and states.
I have had a few bad ones I think that the worst one was in Kansas
A couple of years ago, We get to the camp (KOA) about 4 pm - 5pm and it seems like it is going to be a nice afternoon and it is. Then about 7 pm it starts to rain, and rain, and rain. Pretty soon the lightning and thunder starts and it keeps up most of the night. The lightning was so close that the hair on my head and arms was standing straight out. I just laid there waiting for it to stop hoping that the tent would not get hit. The thunder would sound at almost the exact time you saw the flash of light and the ground would just shake. this went on for from about 9 pm to 4 am. I am glad that I am a heavy sleeper I would get to sleep and stay asleep for about and hour or so and then wake up again. When I got up in the morning the entire bottom of the tent was covered with about 1 inch of water, the bottom of my sleeping back was soaked but I did not get wet.
Chevy 2500HD D/A, Airlift, Shell.
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Freeman2004
Central CT, USA
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Joined: 08/15/2004
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This was about 14-15 years ago. Two adults and five kids went to the Catskill area of NY. Three small tents, stove, lantern, coolers etc. all crammed into a minivan. Arrived and set up camp, read in the info they gave that they have a raccoon problem and not to leave trash bags on the ground. Hmmm, what to do. The DW doesn’t want that stinky trash in the minivan. Don’t have a lot of spare rope, but I do have this little piece. Brilliant idea! I will run the rope from this tree near my tent over to one end of the tent and hang the trash from that! Problem solved.
About two in the morning the DW wakes me up. Someone is outside prowling our stuff! Suddenly the tent starts to shake like someone is trying to pull it down. She expects me to go outside and confront this person.
So, out I go like a good Dad and husband. Middle of the night under the trees and it is dark, can’t see stuff. Get the flashlight going and start investigating. Look at the side of the tent and what do I see. Poppa Raccoon is hanging from the rope trying to rip open the bag while Momma and the babies cling to the tree and rope.
Ask the DW what she wants me to do about it. Make them go away. Like how? Looking around I decide to gently use the little rack we have to encourage them to leave.
So now, picture this, a grown man in his shorts holding one end of a very short rake while a raccoon hanging from a rope attached to his tent is holding the other end of the rake and deciding he wants to play tug of war. DW is telling me to be careful and to stop shaking the tent so much.
After about 15 minutes, the raccoon family decides to head down the road for some easier pickings. Trash goes in the minivan and back to bed we all go.
Fast forward to next night. Trash is again in the van, everyone asleep when I discover that Raccoons know how to open coolers! Up and out, chase them away again and coolers in the van as well.
Learned a lot that trip. Never had wildlife problems again. Only human problems.
Scott & Karen
2004 Fleetwood Monterey
2003 Ford Ranger Edge in Very, Very Red
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