Not the Camp I Planned

The camp I had planned involved a lot of cycling, testing how I loaded my gear, and solitude.  It was to be the first camp of the season and a reorientation to spending time outdoors.  It was literally the first time it has been pleasant to be outdoors since May, but it definitely was not the camp I had planned.

First of all, the bike overnight solitude camp turned into a "car camp" when I invited a friend to join me.  It would be a great time to catch up, enjoy the outdoors, and get reacquainted with camping.  Maybe I could even do a little practice packing the bike to carry a camping load.

I was able to get the bike completely loaded for an overnight camp, with all shelter, cook set, and food.  I was even able to pedal around a little to test the handling...which was fantastic.  More proof-of-concept success.  For the less strenuous bikepacking I love, this bike is going to be perfect.  

Even with the shift to a more social camping experience, things were going well.  My buddy took charge of fire building.

About the time I was adjusting well to this completely different experience, a guy pulls up in a pickup pulling a trailer.  He says he and several others were planning to meet here at our campsite to begin bowhunting season.  I told him, yes, I too was surprised that the first 7 places I looked to set up were already taken on a Thursday afternoon...so here we are.  He wants to know how long we are planning to be here.  When we tell him we are only here for the night, he goes on to ask if he can join us and set up his trailer in our space.  In fact, he asked if I could kindly move my truck so he can put his trailer where it is parked.  I was stunned.

Inside, I was thinking, "Do you not have any sense of personal space?!  Why can you go find somewhere else to camp like I did?!"  But what I said was, "Sure, we can do that.  It's a spacious site and we can share it."  So I moved my truck and his trailer was parked 30 feet from my tent.

The surprising thing is that he turned out to be more friendly and respectful than intrusive.  He chatted with us a few minutes, retired into his trailer, left us to some solid campfire conversation, and was completely quiet the rest of the night.  What I initially resented turned out to be completely fine, even enjoyable.

In the morning, our "intruder" came by, offered a greeting, and promptly drove away to set up his portable deer stand.  Again, he left us to enjoy the morning campfire alone...at least until the herd of cows strolled in.  I had to laugh.

This camp was not the camp I planned.  Maybe it was better.  I was nudged by circumstances into a different experience that involved much less pedaling, much more socializing, and much more time to linger in camp.  The lingering allowed me to recognize and celebrate how delightful it was to finally have cooler air.  Take a breath, pondero, don't rush it.  This is the beginning of camping season.  There is time ahead for cycling and solitude.