The Campout

 So many people I talk to these days about camping tell me they just don't like it! What? My whole life revolves around camp and river trips. My wife would spend everyday of the year camping if she could. We love finding new places and meeting new people.  We pretend that weather does not matter, and we will prepare for camping in any environment. In fact, one of our favorite camp/river areas is Washington's Olympic Peninsula. We have spent a lot of time camping near some of the most beautiful rivers in the world here. Almost always in the rain!

 Lets explore why people are averse to camping.

 "I'm too old to sleep on the ground".

 There is a number of options here such as: the paco pad-http://www.jpwinc.com/pages/photo-pacopads.html, cots-http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2008/10/camp-cots.html, and the thermarest type of air mattress. In fact there are so many options to get those off the ground who have back and other physical problems that this is a poor excuse.

Car Camping with Thermarest pads

 "I hate bugs and mosquitoes".

 A little planning can help you out on this one. For us its easy, most of our camping is in shoulder seasons, such as fall and winter. Camp at higher elevations where mosquitoes are only active during the height of the day. Prepare with sprays and lotions, and use mosquito netting's. Don't let insects come between you and a camp trip!

 "I don't like the cold or the rain".

 Really? Its called a coat and long johns. (Who is John and why is he long? Mine are actually short)! Wool is your friend in the cold. Rain gear is essential to anyone that camps and hikes in the Great Northwest. Tarps can be really fun to sit under during a downpour!

We Do Not care about the Rain!

 Some purists will tell you that if you are in a Camper or R.V.s your not really camping. That is just plain Bogus! However you decide to get out of the house is better than staying at home. To be sure there is a difference between backpacking 60 miles in the wilderness, and partying  lakeside in a 100,000 dollar R.V. But both party's are enjoying the view and the benefits associated with camp life. Lets talk about benefits.

 There is Way too many to list here, so I will just list the big ones.

Fire Recharges the Soul

 Oxygen level. In the forest its right at 21%. In a polluted city, your looking at 12% and sometimes lower. So if you feel good in the woods, its not just the beer. Believe it or not, scenery plays a huge role in how we feel. Change of environment is good. Staring at a campfire. Kids love to play in the fire, and I say, "let em'". Fire is primal. We as humans don't spend enough time around it. Just watch the kids next time you have a campfire. The act of constructing a camp also is fun activity for everyone.

 I measure my life by the number of campfires I've been around this year and every year. We can all benefit from outdoor activity, so get out there!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Our new CD from our band, "The Lookouts-Hwy 97", has a song on it we wrote while we were camping called, "You Need a Campout". I am posting it here so you can enjoy. When you get to our site, scroll down the song list until you see the song. Go to our page at: 
http://www.reverbnation.com/thelookoutsband/songs I will be posting many more interesting blogs, so please subsribe and be "On the Lookout". Thank you.