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!
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.
sounds like fun! my family is going camping this weekend. we will have a dvd player for my 4 year old. helps her sleep at night.
That sounds like a good camping trip! The upgrade to a trailer is a good one and the experiences while camping can’t be replicated anywhere else.
Recently my wife and I went camping and of course there was blue sky until 5 minutes before we got to the ranger station. lol You guessed it! We got our site and setup in the rain. It never stopped raining except for a few short breaks the whole time until the day we left. It’s all good fun, and we still got the campfires and well I’ll be a gentleman, but it was fun. Of course I couldn’t go without the laptop to play games on or work while my wife was reading.
Enjoy an awesome summer!
Growing up on the coast of Oregon I never had to worry about camping in a campground, myy backyard (the mountains) and my front yard (the beach) offered a multitude of places to camp in privacy. Oh how I miss those days.
I love to camp, but no electronics allowed at camp sites other than a cell phone
Camping is what i need to lessen my stress. You gave me idea! By the way, great job for having Hi-tech camping.
I think that picture of the fire should have the laptop thrown on it. Camping is old school, and computers shouldn’t be allowed except for emergencies.
I really like camping in a tent and I can’t imaging bringing a computer along. The whole idea is to get away – right?
! We got our site and setup in the rain. It never stopped raining except for a few short breaks the whole time until the day we left. It’s all good fun, and we still got the campfires and well I’ll be a gentleman, but it was fun. Of course I couldn’t go without the laptop to play games on or work while my wife was reading.
I used to go camping for a living …….. in the army. For that reason camping is not one of my favorite pastimes.
The only way you would get me camping now is with a fold up bed, hot and cold water, sit down toilet, a fridge to keep the drinks cold …….. and of course the laptop.
It’s all good fun, and we still got the campfires and well I’ll be a gentleman, but it was fun. Of course I couldn’t go without the laptop to play games on or work while my wife was reading.
I used to be Irish but now I live in England. What I mean is even though I live in England I’m still Irish…sure ya know what I mean. And haven’t had a drop pass my lips today.
The one thing I don’t take camping is my laptop. It’s nice not too stare at the screen all weekend since I’m on one 18 hours a day. Beer is a must. Thanks to whomever invented those folding chairs with the beerholders! We somteimes bring a tv to watch our favorite college football team!
When I was a child camping was tents, sleeping bags, firelight, communal toilets (or dig it yourself!) and sausages. These days it is comfortable hotels with a good wine list!
I think some of these posts are hilarious. I’ve got to forward these on to some friends. They are half redneck (father from Mississippi, but don’t tell anyone).
Camping is great but i do not think it’s a good idea to bring computer with you to camp there is no fun bringing technology in to wood’s.
I love camping, and camping with a computer and cell phone coverage makes it even better!
Camping lessen my stress. Bring laptop, psp and cellphone is great idea.
Yes Joseph I also believe that when I am or camping that I just want the family and have there attention so that we can connect and spend quality time together. As we lay in our double sleeping bag and telling jokes. After that I am ready to take on the world agene. We do not have the prevalence like Tim to camp near our home, so we do it just two times a year but it is worth every minute.
Gert
Camping is not new to me. Well, i need to try to bring laptop and cellphone next time.
Good Post! The older I get the less “roughing it” I like to do. And I really don’t go anywhere without my laptop and USB wireless broadband connection. I enjoy your sight.
In theory it sonds great camping without “technology” and such, but let’s face it- some of us have to stay in touch with the work wold and laptops and cellphones make it possible- even when we are camping! I think this is a great idea.
What freaks me out the most about camping is that some creepy four legged creatures might me camping on me during night time
We RV Full-time so I have my computer with me all the time. The RV Parks and campground are becoming much more high tech and most of them offer free Wi-Fi service and cable TV. The market has changed and very few people really rough it anymore. Good Post!
We have no Rv camps here in North Cyprus. But I have 83 VW Caravelle Camper (T25)
And I love to camp near the sea all weekends in summer.
Camping is a lifestyle.
But using technology is not that bad. I use my laptop as media center for nights. Where it plays movies music and tv.
Oh i miss the times when I was young. Hiking for 6-10 km, making barbeques for dinner, and sleeping outdoors. The life of a kid, I wish I can do that now with my family.
Technology camping has also taken it’s toll on campground fee. You use to be able to find a campground for under 20 bucks, now they’re all over $40.
As the new technology is coming people are becoming more and more busy.Now they don’t have the time for picnic ans hangout.
People are now use to gadget in every single work.
Tim
Great post, it brought back many memories of camping with my children in the White mountains of New England. Some of my best memories. I also can relate to your comment on not sleeping on the ground any more. Been there done that
Tom
I used to be hardcore into camping…packing all the junk into the woods on my back, etc.
Now I’m a total wimp. I have to have the temperature just right, and need my CPAP (snoring machine) plugged in to help me breathe well all night. Now THAT’s a gadget that isn’t made for camping.
You gotta love the real-time access to the internet while camping. You can upload photos to your Facebook and let everyone share your camping experience!
thanks for sharing your experience with the users.nowadays it too difficult to get time for these camping.but still i will try to go on campaign.
Sure, a laptop isn’t “roughing it”, but neither is wearing shoes when you think about it.
In our busy life its difficult to make a holiday. Camping is always fascinating when I get time I try go out side of town with my friends. Anyway thanks for your share.
Personally, I find the satisfaction of camping in not having any sort of communication. My favorite part of going on vacation is turning my phone off.
well i love to do camping with my friends and i already did such type of stuff before.
and technology camping, it sounds cool but the only condition is resources must be available. thanks for sharing
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Today’s ultra advancing technology seems to be way ahead of us sometimes and surprise us more and more each day. The customers are highly impressed as the manufactures of computers ,laptops or notebooks perform their best to impress them.Anyways like your campaign.
Soon internet will be everywhere, which can be both good and bad. My wife and I are planning on starting a full time RV lifestyle as soon as we can. The good thing is that I make more money on the internet then I did in my Land Surveying business. So, having access to internet at campgrounds will allow me to run my online business while enjoying the beauty of our world.
Surely you cant take your Laptop with you camping. I thought the whole idea was to go camping, drink beera nd leave the real world behind.
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I love camping but I have to have my cell phone…I just do, ya know? oh and a very nice roomy tent!
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This is a little off topic but appropriate for the name of your site. I watched a program on history channel called Hillbilly; The real story. In it it describes the origin of the term Redneck. It turns out that the coal miners used the red nekerchief tied around the neck to identify them during a skirmish with the mine company. It was the beginning of the much needed union for the coal miners to give them decent wages and a safe working environment. Turns out that redneck is a badge of honor and is not demeaning at all.
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I would think camping is more an excuse to get away from society and the “rat race” to which we all live in. To say that “hi-tech” camping isn’t really camping is a little absurd since we are so dependent on technology for our day to day activities. This is kind of meeting both needs.
I think this idea of “hi-tech” camping is a great idea.
Great post. Thanks
I like camping so much.
This info is very usefull to me.
Thank you
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Ahhh yes, redneck camping at its best: beer and a campfire. I personally like a tent rather than a trailer, but as long as the beer is cold count me in!
I love camping but I have to have my cell phone..
A great way of cooking fish on the campfire I have found is to wrap them in either bannana leaves or the leafs of corn on the cob and then just chuck them on the bbq.They make a really tasty simple no fuss way of cooking. – nice article btw
Although going camping is often seen as a way of getting back to nature, sometimes it is necessary to take along some technology. Some pieces of technology are obvious, such as mobile phones, but others can also come in useful, even if just for entertainment on rainy days when you don’t want to go out.