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Sons Who Like to Camp

 


Sons Who Like to Camp

Thomas and Keith are my two sons. They are 3 years, 3 months and 2 days apart in age, with Thomas being the older brother. 

When their father, Norman, and I were still married, we attempted camping in several different ways. 

First, was the Ford Econoline, school bus yellow in color, that had bed and cabinets built in to the side walls for early camping adventures. This was before Tom and Keith were born. 

Then, we had a small canvas side tent which attached to the side of this same van. Later, we had a pop-up camper that we towed to our camping locations. We had several outings with friends from our Homewood Reformed Church group. Camping sites included Potato Creek State Park, The Dunes, Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area and Pokagen State Park - all in Indiana.

EVERY SINGLE time we went camping there were adventures! 

We camped in rain, sleet, snow, hotter than hot weather and more. Nearly every time, I vowed I would never go again! It was too much work. The prepping, packing, loading, unpacking, setting up the campsite, taking it down again, traveling back home and then unpacking, laundry, repacking for another time. It was exhausting! My idea of camping was always to have been a lodge or hotel where you stay in climate-controlled atmosphere and only venturing out if the weather was just perfect. 

But that was not to be. That was not the Coyle Family! We were going to be adventurers and have fun...even if it killed us - or ME, whichever came first. 

Funny thing about camping adventures...they are a lot of work, but when you are cooking outside by your camp stove or grilling on the fire pit or enjoying the smell of fresh morning coffee outdoors in the dew heavy air or laughing with friends late into the night...the preparations seem to fade away like the smoke of a nearly extinguished fire.  It's all about the fire, right? and the thoughts while sitting outside, in nature, close to God.  

Photo credit: Norman T. Coyle, Father, 1984-1985

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