Building a Team of Explorers: Jack's First Campout
Gaining an appreciation for the outdoors is one thing; it’s another thing to talk about sleeping out there. As for me and my house, we camp! At least that was one of the conditions of our marriage. While I thought that was pretty clear, I soon learned that there were different ideas of what “camping” really was.
What is this thing we call camping?
To me, camping is leaving civilization behind. Being in the wild and feeling wild. Building your own Huck Finn raft, living off the land, and of course, when nature calls relieving your waters where’er you wilt. In fact, Jenn knows I prefer the later to the modern conveniences of a bathroom. There is just something about being completely…free.
In a jist, the only sounds you should be hearing are wild animals howling or crickets chirping. Jenn’s idea of camping was a whole-heap-of-a lot different from mine and included the following:
The list goes on…and on To be honest, I wasn’t about to argue with her. I wanted her to only associate camping with the best of feelings.
The Art of Inception
What she doesn’t know yet is that in my mind, I see all of us living in Africa in 2 years on a game park. In my dream Jenn and Jack are on a canoe helping me navigate the fierce Zambezi. I’m at the front standing with my one leg up on the bow like a handsome and healthy mix of David Livingstone, George Washington, and Captain Morgan. Jack is fishing for our next meal while Red and Russell stand guard. Jenn is in her safari outfit with her hair a frizzled beautiful mess, just reading out the map details with one hand while the other hand expertly holds to the steering paddle.
I’m slowly trying to use inception to plant this dream in my wife’s head as well (Jack is already a man of my own heart, so he won’t need much convincing). He may look like his mom, but you can be sure he has wild in his eyes!
Many of you are probably laughing right now, but just you wait. Every exceptional team of explorers had to start somewhere. And our brave little team christened the untamable life of an explorer where many of the greats have–Jolly’s Ranch.
Yes, it is true that many laughed us to scorn when they heard we were bringing two dogs and wee man child. Others thought we must be looking to prove something. In our hearts though, we knew why we were there: To join the GREATS and give up on the life of ease and comfort for adventure and glory!
So, with this dream we took every explorer. Red came reluctantly after being coaxed into the front seat and everyone sat in for a ride that would ultimately change our familial destiny.
Jenn stayed in her maxi skirt and cute blouse (as if that could hold back the rugged surge of change that would inevitably take place in all of us).
Surrounded by Infidels
We reached the campsite and found ourselves surrounded by infidels in RVs and campers. There was an overabundance of jovial music and it made me sick to say the least.
Didn't they understand the seriousness of the outdoors? Was there no decency?
While I knew that this was just an initiation process, I longed to take my team out to the wild, away from these heathen tweeners who wouldn't know the great outdoors from the kitty litter they grew up calling a sand pile at home.
We ignored everyone and pressed forward. I also ignored the fact that I had to pay a whopping $23 to enjoy what is rightfully mine as a son of Adam. I looked at the fact that our car was right outside as a test for all of us. No one was going to sneak out to find solace in the comfort of a warm car. By placing the temptation in front of us, we would prove our self-mastery and readiness for true adventure.
I set up camp and started the fire and Little Jack Clayton’s eyes lit right up when he saw it. There was an awe and respect for camping and it warmed my heart far more than those coals could.
The dogs stood guard as Jenn and I prepared our delicious s’mores. Soon Jack was ready to eat and hunker down.
Dissenter in Camp
Night snuck up on us fast, but we were ready. We all headed for the tent so Jenn could start feeding Jack when I started noticing something funny about one of our team members. Russell––of course! Always the misfit. I’ve never been sure about that one, nor did I choose him, but he is still has his part on the team…I guess. I’m still trying to figure out what that part is.
Anyway, Russell was getting antsy in the tent and making everyone nervous. I was trying to figure out what was wrong and told him to calm down and make like a rug. He did for a bit, but then I started noticing him creeping slowly to the tent door. By the time I noticed a little opening left in the door, Russell eluded us all and dove out into the wild.
Red dove outside in an effort to bite the coward and take him down, but fear had driven Russell mad. The sounds of the tent, the enclosed walls, it was all too much for his little dog brain. He was hyped on adrenaline and running around madly like a sailor with cabin fever.
I ran out to apply some sound military justice in order to maintain order in the camp but I was running barefoot on all sorts of sharp rocks and twigs, so Russell had the advantage. Red ran back into his corner of the tent, but Russell snuck into the shadows with his black coat hoping I wouldn’t find him. I snatched him by the scruff of the neck and he begged me with his eyes not to put him back in the tent. It was a fight to get him back in, but we did after Jenn coaxed him with loving words.
Sleep came easy for me, Russell stayed up all night with all of the sounds of course, and Jenn made a cute nest out of her sleeping bag for Jack, so she shivered there without a sleeping bag for a third of the night. As soon as I realized this, I took the sleeping bag and tucked her soundly inside and zipped it up. Sure we had to wake up several times for Jack to eat, but we did it together as a team.
Cigarettes...for Breakfast?
Morning came and it was time to try our cooking skills on breakfast. Jenn wanted to cook blueberry muffins inside an orange peel. Strange, but heck, people on pintrest said it was good, so we did it.
Turns out you need to have aluminum foil so as to prevent your orange muffin from tasting like a cigarette. Of course Red liked it and why shouldn’t he? He has had the addiction to leftover cigarette butts since he joined the team.
What we learned
We learned that sleeping next to other campers is less than desirable as you are being woken up every other hour (Jack was able to get them back with his midnight howling at the moon for food). We learned the demoralizing effect that nasty food can have on a camper. Just say no to cigarettes and orange muffins that have been cooked in ashes!
Next Expedition…
Our team is currently preparing for our next expedition to Grandpa Juan’s mountain, old Maple! The goal will be to backpack to the old salamander hole, camp overnight, summit, and then retain our sanity on the return home.
Kilamanjaro, we will be ready for you soon!
 |
| Jack & Red--Newest recruits catching sleep before first campout |
What is this thing we call camping?
To me, camping is leaving civilization behind. Being in the wild and feeling wild. Building your own Huck Finn raft, living off the land, and of course, when nature calls relieving your waters where’er you wilt. In fact, Jenn knows I prefer the later to the modern conveniences of a bathroom. There is just something about being completely…free.
In a jist, the only sounds you should be hearing are wild animals howling or crickets chirping. Jenn’s idea of camping was a whole-heap-of-a lot different from mine and included the following:
- A nearby hospital
- Access to our car (in case it gets too cold)
- Running water
- Bathroom
- Dogs inside the tent (just to keep them safe…?)
The list goes on…and on To be honest, I wasn’t about to argue with her. I wanted her to only associate camping with the best of feelings.
The Art of Inception
What she doesn’t know yet is that in my mind, I see all of us living in Africa in 2 years on a game park. In my dream Jenn and Jack are on a canoe helping me navigate the fierce Zambezi. I’m at the front standing with my one leg up on the bow like a handsome and healthy mix of David Livingstone, George Washington, and Captain Morgan. Jack is fishing for our next meal while Red and Russell stand guard. Jenn is in her safari outfit with her hair a frizzled beautiful mess, just reading out the map details with one hand while the other hand expertly holds to the steering paddle.
I’m slowly trying to use inception to plant this dream in my wife’s head as well (Jack is already a man of my own heart, so he won’t need much convincing). He may look like his mom, but you can be sure he has wild in his eyes!
Many of you are probably laughing right now, but just you wait. Every exceptional team of explorers had to start somewhere. And our brave little team christened the untamable life of an explorer where many of the greats have–Jolly’s Ranch.
Yes, it is true that many laughed us to scorn when they heard we were bringing two dogs and wee man child. Others thought we must be looking to prove something. In our hearts though, we knew why we were there: To join the GREATS and give up on the life of ease and comfort for adventure and glory!
 |
| What dreams are made of: diapers, wipes, and backpacks |
Jenn stayed in her maxi skirt and cute blouse (as if that could hold back the rugged surge of change that would inevitably take place in all of us).
Surrounded by Infidels
We reached the campsite and found ourselves surrounded by infidels in RVs and campers. There was an overabundance of jovial music and it made me sick to say the least.
Didn't they understand the seriousness of the outdoors? Was there no decency?
While I knew that this was just an initiation process, I longed to take my team out to the wild, away from these heathen tweeners who wouldn't know the great outdoors from the kitty litter they grew up calling a sand pile at home.
We ignored everyone and pressed forward. I also ignored the fact that I had to pay a whopping $23 to enjoy what is rightfully mine as a son of Adam. I looked at the fact that our car was right outside as a test for all of us. No one was going to sneak out to find solace in the comfort of a warm car. By placing the temptation in front of us, we would prove our self-mastery and readiness for true adventure.I set up camp and started the fire and Little Jack Clayton’s eyes lit right up when he saw it. There was an awe and respect for camping and it warmed my heart far more than those coals could.
 |
| Jack finds love at first site |
The dogs stood guard as Jenn and I prepared our delicious s’mores. Soon Jack was ready to eat and hunker down.
Dissenter in Camp
Night snuck up on us fast, but we were ready. We all headed for the tent so Jenn could start feeding Jack when I started noticing something funny about one of our team members. Russell––of course! Always the misfit. I’ve never been sure about that one, nor did I choose him, but he is still has his part on the team…I guess. I’m still trying to figure out what that part is.
Anyway, Russell was getting antsy in the tent and making everyone nervous. I was trying to figure out what was wrong and told him to calm down and make like a rug. He did for a bit, but then I started noticing him creeping slowly to the tent door. By the time I noticed a little opening left in the door, Russell eluded us all and dove out into the wild.
Red dove outside in an effort to bite the coward and take him down, but fear had driven Russell mad. The sounds of the tent, the enclosed walls, it was all too much for his little dog brain. He was hyped on adrenaline and running around madly like a sailor with cabin fever.
I ran out to apply some sound military justice in order to maintain order in the camp but I was running barefoot on all sorts of sharp rocks and twigs, so Russell had the advantage. Red ran back into his corner of the tent, but Russell snuck into the shadows with his black coat hoping I wouldn’t find him. I snatched him by the scruff of the neck and he begged me with his eyes not to put him back in the tent. It was a fight to get him back in, but we did after Jenn coaxed him with loving words.
 |
| The shame of dissenters! |
Sleep came easy for me, Russell stayed up all night with all of the sounds of course, and Jenn made a cute nest out of her sleeping bag for Jack, so she shivered there without a sleeping bag for a third of the night. As soon as I realized this, I took the sleeping bag and tucked her soundly inside and zipped it up. Sure we had to wake up several times for Jack to eat, but we did it together as a team.
 |
| S'up...that wasn't bad at all! |
Cigarettes...for Breakfast?
Morning came and it was time to try our cooking skills on breakfast. Jenn wanted to cook blueberry muffins inside an orange peel. Strange, but heck, people on pintrest said it was good, so we did it.
 |
| As advertized |
They lied Esteban...
 |
| Actual results |
What we learned
We learned that sleeping next to other campers is less than desirable as you are being woken up every other hour (Jack was able to get them back with his midnight howling at the moon for food). We learned the demoralizing effect that nasty food can have on a camper. Just say no to cigarettes and orange muffins that have been cooked in ashes!
 |
| Morning stretches |
Next Expedition…
Our team is currently preparing for our next expedition to Grandpa Juan’s mountain, old Maple! The goal will be to backpack to the old salamander hole, camp overnight, summit, and then retain our sanity on the return home.
Kilamanjaro, we will be ready for you soon!
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