When were planning our hiking trip this past weekend,
we had a conversation
that went something like this:
JD: There is this one trail that is really great, but we have to
be there at 8 am to get one of the passes to go on it.
Me: Ok.
JD: We should probably stay overnight there to get the pass.
Me: Ok.
JD: The only camping site they have left is called a
"rugged campsite."
Me: WOAW. (Actually, I have no idea how to spell the
sound I made upon hearing that.)
Dude, those are two words I am not a fan of and
certainly do not want to hear together:
Rugged and Campsite.
Is it in a wildlife path? Do they direct bad weather there?
How do they make camping more rugged than
sleeping outside?
(Picturing camping on a cliff in a bison migration path...
never mind that there are few cliffs and fewer
bison migration paths here in Ga.)
JD: (Laughs) I thought you may say that.
Me: Rugged camping for me is a hotel bedspread
that looks iffy.
(Much discussion with very valid points about our lack of
camping gear takes place.)
Me: We have sleeping bags but not mats to put under them for
comfort. (Error #27 in this conversation...
Kelli is still thinking comfort is an option.)
JD: We would put down pine straw.
Me: Listen, dude, we camped a lot when I was a kid
and no one ever used pine straw.
That may be some weird SC thing,
but I don't think that is...
oh, wait, you mean like under the tent?
JD: Yes.
Me: Oh, well, that might work.
I thought you meant inside the tent.
JD: No. There is also a Best Western not far away.
(Clearly he has a backup plan. Smart guy.)
Me: A Best Western sounds rugged enough for me.
We ended up hiking at Vogel State Park
and just making a day trip of it.
But not before showing my lack of camping knowledge and
slightly disparaging South Carolina for possibly sponsoring
odd camping practices.
That was 3 days ago and I am still recovering from the hike.
That is David in the picture that I have photo-shopped way up.
