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Comment RSSHi-Tech Redneck Camping
15.10.08 # 19:49 # Adventures in Real Life # 54 Comments
Camping means different things to different people. To some it means roughing it all the way - hiking in five miles, lean-to’s made out of branches, sleeping on the ground, eating pork n’ beans right out of the can with your fingers after you smash it open with a rock ’cause you forgot the can opener. Those people aren’t me. These days we use a travel trailer so we don’t have to sleep on the ground anymore. I have a lot of back troubles, and I need a real bed or I’m just not having any fun. We don’t have a television set or a DVD player, but we do bring our share of technology with us.
We spent plenty of time camping in Sebekia last summer. There were between 3 and 5 families each time we went out, meaning we had up to 12 children stampeding around the campsite. Add to that 5 dogs (good thing none of us has a dog allergy) and 10 adults, and it becomes a pretty busy place.
On occasion, we had to fire up the ‘ole chitty chitty bang bang, my antique PC laptop, and see what was going on out there in the real world. Thanks to the invention of the aircard, hi-speed internet can be found anywhere you can get cell service, even in our Redneck Paradise. I never take my Mac camping. It doesn’t like to rough it, even when I pack it in one of those special computer backpacks with extra padding and a gajillion pockets for extra goodies.
You can probably imagine how hard it is to fit everyone around the campfire. With all the kids crowded in there with their chairs, it makes for some excitement. As long as no one gets a flaming marshmellow in the face, or a a jab with a hot dog stick, we consider the evening a success. A couple of times we built two separate fires; one for children and one for adults. The toddlers stay with the adults of course!
Some nights the alcohol consumption is a little high. It’s amazing how much Blue Beaver Beer a bunch of redneck campers can drink! But most of the time we are a pretty mellow bunch of campers. We camp pretty close to home so that every couple of days we can all toddle off to our respective farms and make sure all the livestock and whatnot have enough food and water. We rarely go to a conventional campsite, since we like to make up our own rules and get away from all the other people. Our private campground is fairly isolated and we don’t have to worry about intrusive campers making noise all night and such. Unless we stay up late and do it ourselves, that is!
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Hey Tim, When I was younger, I was into backpacking. My friends and I would plan and judge a hike based on how much ground we could cover each day. We often ended up setting up camp and eating dinner in the dark. These days I’m more into car camping, when I even get the chance. I guess that happens with age. I’m not sure I could get an internet signal at any of my campsites though. Wow. ~ Steve (aka Mr Trade Show Display and former full-of-energy backpacker)
PS. I’ve never forgotten a can opener, but I have forgotten a wine bottle opener.
PPS. Does Blue Beaver have a twist top?
Steve: You could just smash the top of the bottle off - I saw that in a movie once so it must work.
. Blue Beaver Beer is twistoff, except for the cans, of course
Camping with the laptop– classic.
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Oooo! I like the new look! I miss the pic at the top though.
I know this has nothing to do with your post, but when I read “camping” I spaced out. LOL That and I have a scorching case of ADD today.
To the casual observer, me and my friends camping look like a bunch of guys passed out in the woods surrounded by empties …
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Hi Tim,
Good to know that the Blue Beaver bottle is twist-off. I’ve never tried the “smash the top off” before, and guess I’m not man enough to drink the random glass shards…
In all seriousness, though, a friend did show me how to pry the cap off a beer bottle with a spoon. You’ve got to hold the neck in one hand and use the back of your thumb as a pry point. It hurts a bit, but it’s a great party trick, and again, is much better that drinking glass shards…
~ Steve (aka the trade show display guy)
I’ve never taken a laptop camping, but I have used the heater in the car to blow dry my hair before while camping. ;o)
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It seems that there are no more camping trips without a laptop. One advice, bring a Mac with you and you won’t even need a fire, these are so hot you can cook dinner on them.
Ninas last blog post..Cheap Foam Mattress
there’s nothing better than tech + camping
Gotta agree with Florida Girl above…camping with a laptop IS classic. And what do you mean - you’d rather NOT take a $2000+ mac with you out around a campfire with marshmallows and alcohol involved? I can’t imagine why not.
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Florida Girl: Hey, I gotta fit all my important online activities in somehow!
Corrina: Yeah, I miss the pic of the bar too. That template was geting tired for me tho.
Canucklehead: I think I’ve seen you and your friends camping before. Does any of you drive a blue 1979 Ford Bronco?
Steve: Hey, thanks for he bottle opening technique. Too bad that won’t work on a wine bottle too.
Tammy: I can see you positioning yourself in front of the vent - kinda awkward, eh?
Nina: you’re right, they get a little warm. On the other hand, there’s no noisy fan blowing air out of the side. I still can’t believe PC laptops have fans - weird! My old one could blowdry Tammy’s hair, and it makes noise much like a blowdryer.
Pete: My wife doesn’t bring out the good china either
this sounds like a great time (sans the kids anyway) - of course, anything involving alcohol usually is a good time in my book.
And I’m still loving the template. I just dig the beaver! (not THAT one- the blue one)
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Petra: There’’s enough activities where we camp to pretty much keep the kids out of our hair. And, we have a bunch of parents handy, so we all keep an eye out for each other’s troublemakers.
I’m the one who think camping is rough..but it sounds a lot of fun camping at your place, with friends at kids
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@petra agreed anything with alcohol is great!
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I used to do a lot of backpacking in New Mexico and Colorado, real campaign. I thought this post was funny because nowadays I also bring a laptop and frequently drive into town to get Internet service. How things have changed
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John: I’m writing this comment from a “campground” which is actually a service RV lot, with Wi Fi. I didnt expect to get internet for days, let alone a full service campground with washrooms and showers. Convenient for working away from home, but not really camping like we do in the summer. Of course, it is way below freezing every night now up here.
It’s really nice to go for camping. I observed that you brought a laptop and it’s a good idea. I think i will do the same, if ever i will go for camping.
Camping is so interesting.The only thing i hate is the annoying mosquito.How do you take care of that?
Camping ain’t camping unless you’re roughing it. That’s why I don’t do it.
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I love to camp, if by camping you mean staying at a 5-star resort. Actually, the only part of camping I like is the food (and I’m not talking about raw pork-and-beans, either). Give me a stick, a hot dog, and a roaring fire. If there aren’t any marshmallows, no problem. I’ll just get room service back at the hotel.
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I know camping is interesting. But camping with the laptop, it’s cool.
David: mosquitoes are a real pain. If you light a real smoky fire, that chases them off. It also makes it a little hard to breath… haven’t really come up with a good answer except piles of insect repellent.
Corey: I know what you mean. We don’t do “real” camping, but no one does. Unless you know someone that hikes in 10 miles with nothing but an axe, a knife, and 2 onions, then kills some wildlife with his bare hands, builds a shelter out of tree branches and makes his own sleeping bag out of freshly skinned animal outsides, and has the animal insides for supper roasted over a fire he made by rubbing two pieces of wood together using his shoelaces to make a bow. Nope, people just ain’t as tuff as they used ta be…
JD: hey, thanks for stopping by! I love hot dogs and smokies cooked over a campfire. But what kind of hotel will get you marshmallows from room service?
I’ve only gone camping a few times in my life, and I’ve never brought a computer along on the way. That’s not to say I wouldn’t have liked to, and I don’t even think they made travel Internet cards the last time I went camping, which was like seven or eight years ago.
Justin: those airsoft rifles sound like just the thing to take out camping with you. Probably more fun than an aircard anyways
Dosen’t all of this technology defeat the purpose of camping. It is intended to get away from all that stuff and enjoy the great outdoors. But hey, it looks fun!
This is one of the posts which are very interesting. Thanks for posting it
Nah, I don’t take much time off and when I do I want to get as far as possible away from the world. No laptop, no mobile, just me and a fishing rod.
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Few people like to actually rough it when camping these days. With cell phones, fancy tents, air mattresses, coolers full of fresh food, it is a lot more convenient, but does not seem as fun to me any more.
They have this thing here in New Zealand called Glamping…basically it is Glamor-camping. Typically it involves some sort of long hike into a remote bush…but the cool part is the organizers boat or helicopter your pack in for you, so you don’t have to carry anything. Once you get to your location they cook you a gourmet meal, and you have all sort of luxuries…pretty sweet if you like that sort of thing.
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I only experiencing camping when still in high school and now I kind of miss that activity. Wish I had time for that and a friends with same idea too!
I agree with you no sleeping on the ground for me anymore. It was fine when your a kid and it did not take you long to jump out of the sleeping bag and get going. Each year it gets harder and harder so why not make it comfortable atleast. You should take a clue from the nascar fans and bring trailer with hot tub and fire place on it also.
Just because you’re roughing it, doesn’t mean you can’t bring a few comforts of home along with you. I think once you get a certain age, the attraction of sleeping on the ground fades.
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I never understood why people think you have to sleep in tent or on ground. Your camping to be outdoors and have fun not sleep in puddle of water or mud. One thing that makes it so fun is the camp fire and food so who cares if you bring motor home or tent.
Weird, I just looked at one of the photos and imagined a mac book on top of one of those firewood logs
This is too funny. It’s high-tech redneck camping. The last time my friends and I did this…I think 50% of the people had laptops with wireless connections. Ahhh, the great outdoors
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I’m surprised the air card works at you camp site. Usually these range only around the city. Congrats on your fun time. I agree with the bed, however would leave the laptop at home.
Camping to me is all about being outside and roughing it a little. There is nothing like drinking a bunch of beer, eating the worst food possible for your, and not taking a shower for a couple of days. That is camping!
I used to dream about camping with a laptop, since the connection is a problem back then, now we can really do it. Actually I know some of the tech companies would fly a group of people to Asia and let them work in a hotel as a treat for a few weeks. We could work from everywhere now!
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Hi Tech stuff is cool, but shouldn´t camping be better without tech equipment?
I mean wouldn´t it be better for the REAL camping experience?
A laptop!? You must be kidding. Getting rid of that one is one of the reasons for camping.
Mosquito repellent is another thing. I’m fed up with the DEET stuff, maybe I’ll get the thermacell, but I’m not sure yet.
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Your post was great, Thank you for taking the time to post it.
theres other hi tek camping things that arent mentioned that are much more utilitarian than a laptop for catching up with the news or whatever. how bout a GPS? or would you rather ‘rough it’ and get lost?
Well I think you’re on to something with your idea of finding your own far out unmarked camping spots. After the last few times of going camping and being stuffed in tiny little camping spots while the neighbors blast rap music I’ve about had it.
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I know what you mean by avoiding the other campers and their noise. It’s amazing how noise bothers you unless you are the one making it.
I agree with you. You do not have to be uncomfortable to have a good time. Your camping to be with freinds in the outdoors and that does not mean sleeping on the ground. Why wake up more tired than when you went to sleep. Give me a rv or cabin over a tent any day.
3 weeks ago I managed to go sailing for a week.. Without taking any electronics - my mobile, laptop, hanheld, ANYTHING. And I’m proud of that, because usually i find it difficult not to use all those things at least one day a month.. Anyway, putting up fire, sleeping on a boat was worth all that and I guess I’ll do it again this summer.
Cheers!
a lop top on a camping trip! That should be against the law! haha just kidding… Like you mentioned, there are different levels of camping for every person. I think its hilarious that you mentioned the beans being busted open with a rock because i have definitely been in that situation before!
It sure is a good experience to go camping while having all your hi-tech equipment with you. Kind of like mixing old school adventure with new age technology.
Now a days advances in battery technology certainly helps. Netbook PCs now run up to around 10 hours and that kind of long lasting laptop certainly is good when you go camping.
why would you take your laptop camping? Inst the whole point of camping is to get away from all this hi tech stuff and go back to basics?
Shame shame shame! Is that a laptop? It’s never ok to take your laptop with you when you go camping! This is supposed to be a time to get away and avoid all this crzy technology that takes over in our every day lives.
I don’t think I could go camping. Having no bed and no bathroom kind of turned me away.