Saturday, April 29, 2017

Car camping... literally

Wendy mentioned earlier in the week that she was hoping to go camping this weekend. I am, of course, always down for camping. But with the rainy weather we didn't think it would happen. Well while we were grabbing a bite Friday I suggested that maybe we could camp out and sleep in her Acadia. The weather was terrible so she wasn't too impressed with the idea and I completely agreed.

So we're headed out of town on 220 to go camping. We actually got pulled over for having a head light out. He let us off with a warning but the funny part was when he asked where we were going. We said quite truthfully "camping". Snow was quite literally falling and I'll be damned if he didn't raise one eyebrow. Apparently camping in the snow is pretty low on the list of bizarre destinations that the police hear.

Wendy maintains these BLM  campsites with her (developmentally handicapped) participants at NOWCAP. Well she knew of a campsite that had some wood somebody left behind that they would have to carry off next week. So we stopped by and picked it up on our way to where we were camping. We also brought some nice dry wood from the gas station and after some difficulty with everything being wet we got a nice fire going.

We inflated an air mattress in the back of Wendy's Acadia and piled on many, many blankets and after the fire died down went to bed.

The sun woke us up at an ungodly 6:00 in the morning. We remained quite snug in all our blankets for a while but eventually we built another fire and cooked pudgy pie cinnamon rolls. The best breakfast ever. We went for a walk and our campsite was right near the river. As we passed a boat ramp I mentioned that I was pretty sure I needed to get in. Snow was still around us and we could see our breath. Wendy, naturally, flat refused to let me get in the river.

So I grab may favorite Absorber Synthetic Drying Chamois towel and head back to the boat ramp. I don't have a swimming suit but no one is around so I strip down to my altogether. As my feet enter the water there is no other way to explain it other than pure pain. Like little knives stabbing into my skin. I wade out to about my knees, turn around, give Wendy a smile as she shakes her head. And plunge full body and head into the icy water.

I emerge and panicking hustle toward the shore. Half way there I stop, gather myself, take a deep breath, and walk the rest of the way more stoic. I dry off with the help of the angel Wendy. My poor toes as this point, the first in and that last out, are completely numb. After getting dressed my first few steps were pretty wobbly just from having no sensation in the little piggys.

We doused the fire and packed up camp which was pretty easy considering we slept in the car. The drive back was uneventful and eventually my toes regained feeling.

It's a sickness. I have to get in.

2 comments:

  1. Brian's father here. I want to assure everyone that, although I have had my share of adventures, jumping into ice water is not genetic.

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  2. Always an adventure with you. You make life so much fun. I'm thinking you should do the polar plunge challenge. At least that way you could raise money for a cause while you expose yourself to frost bite and hypothermia. Happy to accompany you in all your randomness.

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