So to round off my travel for the last few weeks, I made tracks up to Lehighton, PA to go to The Woods, which is a campground I visited last October (pictures), but decided to visit again. The reason for this visit is because I have forever heard about attending one of the theme weekends there, and so I decided to go for it.
I left work Friday afternoon and drove straight up there. Thanks to GPS I was able to avoid the hellacious traffic on I-95 and I-83 and make it there in a decent amount of time. I got to the registration desk and the woman there recognized my last name as Italian and therefore after that I was known as "paisan." She also remarked that I needed to grow my hair longer (my DL photo has me with longer hair) but I said I only did that during the winter. She said I need to "winterize it" then. I think I'll stick with my short hair until I have to stop wearing sandals outside ;-)
I got out to the field and got my tent set up. Strangely enough I was actually not hungry that evening so I did not bother cooking. Instead I headed over to one of the sites where I knew that a friend of mine, DB, and the group he had come up with were staying. They had left to go to dinner in town, so I wandered around the campsite and looked at how all of the permanent sites were decorated since last time most people had already packed their things up for the winter. I also took a walk around the lake. Thanks to all the rain this summer, the water was actually coming over the dam and into the creek.
I got back and ran into DB and his crew and hung out with them for most of the evening. We went over to where there was the bonfire and such and chatted with a few folks. I had to stick my fingers in my ears at one point because I could hear someone butchering "Last Dance" over at karaoke. I refuse to let anyone ruin Donna Summer for me ;-) Friday night ended up being chilly with plenty of dew by 10 PM, which made for a chilly tent, but luckily I managed just fine.
Saturday was spent hanging out by the pool for the most part. It both helped and hurt that it was overcast out (storms were going to come along later). Still was enjoyable for the most part. Nothing really to report there except for laying out and having a few beers in the afternoon before heading back to the tent to fry up some burgers for dinner. Afterward I was over at one of the sites hanging out with buds until the thunderstorms started around 9ish. For the next five hours or so it would pour rain and flash lightning. Things looked okay at first, but then the ground ended up saturated and so the water started to run. I was concerned because I was towards the bottom of a slope. However, nothing got wet in my tent, thankfully. I did get to fall asleep listening to the rain.
Sunday most people left by the afternoon, however, I stayed because I had Monday off so there was no reason to drive back towards DC and have to fight traffic with all the other folks who were coming back from their weekend getaways. DB was staying as well since I had my planned trip to Dorney Park, which he had never been to before. I was able to move over to his site by paying the difference between what I paid for the field and what the cost of a site was, in this case a whole $2 since it was a weeknight. I really had to break the piggybank for that one.
It turned out to be a gorgeous day so we headed out to chill by the pool. Towards dinner time we ended up chatting with a few of the perm site campers, and one of them told us to visit his site and go meet his partner. We did so and ended up invited to have ribs with them and play cards since the folks on the site basically do dinner and play cards on Sunday nights. Let's see, ribs vs hot dogs/hamburgers for dinner...which would you pick? ;-)
So DB and I went back and got our S'mores stuff to offer for dessert. The ribs and side dishes were awesome and there was more than enough for all of us. We then started a round of Wizard before going and making S'mores. After S'mores we all hung for a bit before DB decided to head up for bed. I wasn't tired so I decided to stick around for while longer. I eventually did head back to the tent and crawled into bed as well.
Monday morning we got up and I fried up some eggs and bacon on the Coleman before packing up my car and driving to Allentown, PA to visit Dorney Park. Once again it was another Cedar Fair park so it meant free access for me, and I found a discount ticket for DB. The first coaster was Talon, which was a lot of fun. DB didn't ride that one because it seemed like he couldn't quite fit the seat (the arms are a bit narrow) but it turned out later that he needed to slide into it rather than just try to sit down from the top. Anyway, we moved on to Hydra, then Thunderhawk, and then Steel Force. When we came to Possessed (formerly known as Voodoo) I rode that one on my own. The last new coaster for DB was to ride the Wild Mouse. From there, it was a matter of repeating any other coaster rides. We did try going to Talon again so DB could get a ride on it but it broke down right before we got there. It actually stopped on the lift hill, so they had to let everyone off of that. I didn't see it get back up and running the rest of the day. I know in a situation like that it's usually because some fail-safe went off on the coaster itself, likely a problem with one of the restraints for whatever reason. Better safe than sorry, perhaps that's why you don't hear of any major accidents at a place like Dorney Park, plus at least they work on trying to fix it rather than look like they're just screwing around up there.
Anyway, so we repeated a number of the coasters, which is something I love to do anyway. I was reminded of why I like Steel Force even though it doesn't look like anything fancy. It is a long ride with lots of air time from the hills, and even someone who gets dizzy from coasters could ride it since there's no loops or major curves. I also love Hydra because that does have some sick turns.
Late in the afternoon it was time to head back to DC. I knew there was going to be traffic, but that was just how it was. I really need to teach my GPS to avoid I-95 because it seems to try to send me there because it thinks it's faster, even with the traffic delays factored. We took a bit of a scenic route on the Baltimore Pike (US-1) to get past a lot of the traffic crap before finally getting me home to drop my stuff off, and then getting DB to his place so he could drop his stuff as well.
So it was another fun weekend for me, that's for sure. Now I just need to plan when the next roller coasters come up :-D
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
July 20, 2009
October 26, 2008
Woods Pictures
Pictures from my trip to The Woods are up on Flickr. You can click through to see all of the fall colors and the area. The one thing you will notice is that there are no shots of people, besides myself. Since this is a private campground, the few shots I do have with other people in them are not posted as I do not have their permission to have their faces shown. Click the trees to see just what I got to see.
October 23, 2008
Review of The Woods
What made me decide to go up to The Woods in the first place was because a few friends I know in DC have been there and recommended the place. I checked out their website and what I saw sounded good, there was stuff to do on the weekends, they had a pool and a small private lake as well. Besides that there were hiking trails to go walking around on, and when you wanted to relax, there were hottubs available to unwind in as well. Along with that their rates for sites were very reasonable. What I would have spent for a hotel in Virginia Beach in the off season, I would spend the same to get a campsite that had electric available. It was worth the price, though I could also get away with just camping out in their field, simply because it's what I'm used to for camping. From what I hear, the place gets crowded enough during the summer months that unless I reserve a site in March, I'm sleeping in the field. I will point out that the rates double for a holiday weekend, but that would happen anywhere you go.
Besides the electric sites and the field, there are also sites with electric and water; electric, water, and sewer hookups; cabin sites; and a luxury trailer that can be rented as well. Also, there are a number of campers who have a permanent site so they have brought in trailers and built additions on them. So whether you want to rough it or not, there is likely a place where you can stay. I'd consider renting a cabin if I was bringing a few friends up here to split the cost.
Amenities are nice to cover the basics. Besides the pool and hottubs, there is a cafe where you can take your meals if you don't feel like cooking during the weekend, and some theme weekends will offer free food or drinks at some events, depending on the weekend. There is also a supply store if you forget any camping stuff. I bought a small wax log for fire starting and a long fork for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs for a very good price. There are two comfort stations that have toilet facilities and outdoor shower stalls, along with sinks to groom and a sink to wash dishes in. If the weather sucks or you're feeling self-conscious, you can head to the clubhouse, which has separate indoor men's and women's bathrooms and showers. There is a large deck with picnic tables and lounge chairs, and music playing throughout the day. It is a good place to kick back and read a book. Behind that is a sand volleyball court if that is your sort of thing. I'll have to get in on a game next year.
The lake is a bit further back, it is a 5 acre lake, and there are a few paddle boats available and a canoe or two. I am not sure what the rules are on swimming or fishing in the lake, I just know they definitely tell you not to drink the water. There is a walking trail that runs around the lake with a few park benches you can sit at and watch the views. It's all shaded so you will stay fairly cool during those summer months.
The staff that run the place are friendly, they know what they're doing and are willing to help out if you have any questions. The owner himself leads hikes into the area around the campground, to me that's good to see an involved owner. As for the other campers, you will encounter a very friendly bunch of people. There will always be other people walking around and most of them will give you a wave and say hello and exchange a few words. You can ask many people questions about the grounds or for help if you need to borrow something, and they will usually oblige. One camper offered me a chair after we were hanging around their fire for a while, which was cool considering that we had met maybe an hour before. Throughout the weekend I would meet many new people, including a few I still keep in contact with. The general attitude I got from the other campers was that they were willing to look out for one another with no strings attached. What a change from the city, where it seems that help tends to come with a price.
The other big thing about The Woods is that it is a private campground. You fill out a form and pay a small fee ($10) a year for the privilege of staying there. If you break the rules, you're outta there. Add on that there are police officers that stay in the camp, and you know you won't be messed with. However, what it also means is that your privacy will be respected, they dont allow outsiders to come wandering in. Most people you meet you will basically know on a first name basis. I don't think any more than 3 people that weekend learned my last name. In fact, there were a number of people who are not out that stay there because of the fact that their privacy was respected. Also because it's private, it's also clothing optional. Yes, there is the potential to see people walking around with nothing but shoes on, especially during hotter summer months. It doesn't mean you have to, everyone has their own comfort level on that. However, you might want to remember that ahead of time so there are no surprises when you get there. Besides, it is more fun to go naked into the hottub ;-) Just because the place is clothing optional, that doesn't mean you can just have sex anywhere you want. Public sex is not allowed on the site, and if you get caught, you will be banned from the place for life. If you're fooling around in your tent or trailer, that's another story, have at it, but don't screw around in the pool, hottub, or lake, unless you like having your name on a blacklist.
Next year I will know more about activities, but from what I saw in the end of the year slideshow, there is a lot to do no matter what weekend you want to come up, but no one says you have to do them. If you want to hang out in a chair by your tent and enjoy a drink while reading a book or watching eye candy, you can do that. No one is twisting your arm to do anything, unless you have a boyfriend that doesn't like to sit around.
Overall, I found my weekend at the Woods to be a great experience. It enabled me to get away from the city for a few days and I could have both quiet time and social time as well. Thanks to the friendly attitudes of the people who come out to camp, I got to make a few friends as well. If that's one thing I liked, it was that people were actually approachable. The camp itself not only had everything I could have wanted, it exceeded my expectations. I also like that it is a private campground because it seemed to put some people at ease about being who they are. It's a worthwhile place to check out and consider spending at least one weekend at. Also if I want to satisfy that roller coaster junkie side of me, Dorney Park is only 30 mins away, :-D
I have already put in my application for membership in 2009, and when reservations open up next year, I will definitely be planning for a few weekends. In my mind, it's worth
Besides the electric sites and the field, there are also sites with electric and water; electric, water, and sewer hookups; cabin sites; and a luxury trailer that can be rented as well. Also, there are a number of campers who have a permanent site so they have brought in trailers and built additions on them. So whether you want to rough it or not, there is likely a place where you can stay. I'd consider renting a cabin if I was bringing a few friends up here to split the cost.
Amenities are nice to cover the basics. Besides the pool and hottubs, there is a cafe where you can take your meals if you don't feel like cooking during the weekend, and some theme weekends will offer free food or drinks at some events, depending on the weekend. There is also a supply store if you forget any camping stuff. I bought a small wax log for fire starting and a long fork for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs for a very good price. There are two comfort stations that have toilet facilities and outdoor shower stalls, along with sinks to groom and a sink to wash dishes in. If the weather sucks or you're feeling self-conscious, you can head to the clubhouse, which has separate indoor men's and women's bathrooms and showers. There is a large deck with picnic tables and lounge chairs, and music playing throughout the day. It is a good place to kick back and read a book. Behind that is a sand volleyball court if that is your sort of thing. I'll have to get in on a game next year.
The lake is a bit further back, it is a 5 acre lake, and there are a few paddle boats available and a canoe or two. I am not sure what the rules are on swimming or fishing in the lake, I just know they definitely tell you not to drink the water. There is a walking trail that runs around the lake with a few park benches you can sit at and watch the views. It's all shaded so you will stay fairly cool during those summer months.
The staff that run the place are friendly, they know what they're doing and are willing to help out if you have any questions. The owner himself leads hikes into the area around the campground, to me that's good to see an involved owner. As for the other campers, you will encounter a very friendly bunch of people. There will always be other people walking around and most of them will give you a wave and say hello and exchange a few words. You can ask many people questions about the grounds or for help if you need to borrow something, and they will usually oblige. One camper offered me a chair after we were hanging around their fire for a while, which was cool considering that we had met maybe an hour before. Throughout the weekend I would meet many new people, including a few I still keep in contact with. The general attitude I got from the other campers was that they were willing to look out for one another with no strings attached. What a change from the city, where it seems that help tends to come with a price.
The other big thing about The Woods is that it is a private campground. You fill out a form and pay a small fee ($10) a year for the privilege of staying there. If you break the rules, you're outta there. Add on that there are police officers that stay in the camp, and you know you won't be messed with. However, what it also means is that your privacy will be respected, they dont allow outsiders to come wandering in. Most people you meet you will basically know on a first name basis. I don't think any more than 3 people that weekend learned my last name. In fact, there were a number of people who are not out that stay there because of the fact that their privacy was respected. Also because it's private, it's also clothing optional. Yes, there is the potential to see people walking around with nothing but shoes on, especially during hotter summer months. It doesn't mean you have to, everyone has their own comfort level on that. However, you might want to remember that ahead of time so there are no surprises when you get there. Besides, it is more fun to go naked into the hottub ;-) Just because the place is clothing optional, that doesn't mean you can just have sex anywhere you want. Public sex is not allowed on the site, and if you get caught, you will be banned from the place for life. If you're fooling around in your tent or trailer, that's another story, have at it, but don't screw around in the pool, hottub, or lake, unless you like having your name on a blacklist.
Next year I will know more about activities, but from what I saw in the end of the year slideshow, there is a lot to do no matter what weekend you want to come up, but no one says you have to do them. If you want to hang out in a chair by your tent and enjoy a drink while reading a book or watching eye candy, you can do that. No one is twisting your arm to do anything, unless you have a boyfriend that doesn't like to sit around.
Overall, I found my weekend at the Woods to be a great experience. It enabled me to get away from the city for a few days and I could have both quiet time and social time as well. Thanks to the friendly attitudes of the people who come out to camp, I got to make a few friends as well. If that's one thing I liked, it was that people were actually approachable. The camp itself not only had everything I could have wanted, it exceeded my expectations. I also like that it is a private campground because it seemed to put some people at ease about being who they are. It's a worthwhile place to check out and consider spending at least one weekend at. Also if I want to satisfy that roller coaster junkie side of me, Dorney Park is only 30 mins away, :-D
I have already put in my application for membership in 2009, and when reservations open up next year, I will definitely be planning for a few weekends. In my mind, it's worth
October 20, 2008
Disconnection Day 4
It was an enjoyable four days of camping, but I was ready to come home and finally be back in my nice warm bed. I broke down camp, which was rather easy thanks to tenting, and slowly made my way back to civilization. Interestingly enough thanks to the cold, I never had to buy any more ice since Friday. I had put 2 bags into my food cooler, I think only about 1 bags worth melted. I have pictures of how much was left in my cooler when I got home.
I drove down the turnpike, called into a radio show and teased one of the hosts since she is a dolphins fan, and made plans to meet with a friend of mine, CR. He works on the turnpike on their radio communications and I was passing by his shop anyway, so I was able to stop and have a chat with him before heading down further.
Got through PA and DE just find, had some issues in Baltimore because someone got into a wreck by the toll plaza at the inner harbor tunnel. Got home, unpacked, let a few people know I was home, then made a run over to Costco to look for a new car battery. They didn't have one in my size so I had to hit the auto parts store. This morning my battery was slow to turn over, and it is nearly 5 years old, so it was time for a new one. Testing it at the store proved it, so now there's a new battery.
Now I am just watching movies and relaxing. My tent is laying flat so that it can air out since it has a campfire smell. I am feeling very relaxed at the moment, and tired as well. I should head to bed shortly since I have had a long day and I have work in the morning. I will post later about the campground itself and some of the things I thought about and learned over the weekend. Besides that, I have pictures to put up on flickr.
I drove down the turnpike, called into a radio show and teased one of the hosts since she is a dolphins fan, and made plans to meet with a friend of mine, CR. He works on the turnpike on their radio communications and I was passing by his shop anyway, so I was able to stop and have a chat with him before heading down further.
Got through PA and DE just find, had some issues in Baltimore because someone got into a wreck by the toll plaza at the inner harbor tunnel. Got home, unpacked, let a few people know I was home, then made a run over to Costco to look for a new car battery. They didn't have one in my size so I had to hit the auto parts store. This morning my battery was slow to turn over, and it is nearly 5 years old, so it was time for a new one. Testing it at the store proved it, so now there's a new battery.
Now I am just watching movies and relaxing. My tent is laying flat so that it can air out since it has a campfire smell. I am feeling very relaxed at the moment, and tired as well. I should head to bed shortly since I have had a long day and I have work in the morning. I will post later about the campground itself and some of the things I thought about and learned over the weekend. Besides that, I have pictures to put up on flickr.
Disconnection Day 3
Sunday had to be one of my laziest days in a long time. Most of the other campers packed up and left by early afternoon. T gifted me with a beautiful homemade crocheted hat and scarf that will come in handy this winter. Thanks to Sirius radio, I was able to hear the Ravens break their losing streak. After the game I went to the memorial garden that is nearby the site. It's a very quiet place where people leave memorials to those who have passed. It is also a good place to sit and meditate as well, which I did, besides taking a few pictures of the streambed.
Had dinner of some leftover soup and S'mores for dessert. It may have been about 7 years since I last did it, but I still have my fire starting skills, and it was a great bit of warmth for a cold night. It was a very chilly day and the night was even colder, but luckily I prepared with extra blankets and clothing, so I was able to get through the night without freezing to death.
Had dinner of some leftover soup and S'mores for dessert. It may have been about 7 years since I last did it, but I still have my fire starting skills, and it was a great bit of warmth for a cold night. It was a very chilly day and the night was even colder, but luckily I prepared with extra blankets and clothing, so I was able to get through the night without freezing to death.
October 19, 2008
Disconnection Day 2
For Saturday Morning I set my alarm to wake up at 8 AM, I didn't crawl out of bed until about 8:40. I was met by B, who made several apologies for some of his behavior last night, apparently he was drunk. Eh, whatever, I am still keeping my guard up. Cooked up some bacon and sausage for a quick breakfast before meeting at the clubhouse for a hike. The plan is for a 2 mile hike to see the fall foliage, which there is a lot of in the area. There are so many colors around here, lots of reds and yellows with the occasional splash of orange. Of course there is plenty of brown on the ground from where the leaves have fallen.
The hike itself was good, there were nine of us who showed up to hike. The route would take us through a meadow and along a set of high power lines. We would cross a road and then slowly head up a steep hill. That part of the hike was hard, but I did well considering it's been at least a year since I did any serious hiking. We got to the top and the views were just plain gorgeous. You could see nothing but blue sky and colorful trees. Our guide did point out where Beltzville Lake was, along with the names of some of the mountains, and off in the distance a ski resort.
(2 minute warning, Ravens lead Dolphins 27-13, thank you Sirius for letting me hear my boys win :-D)
After many pictures being taken, we headed back down the hill towards the camp, taking a detour to another forestry road to see even more of the trees. Eventually we went back to camp and I headed to my own site to grab the personal items and hit the showers because I was feeling pretty grungy by then.
After the shower I took a walk around the camp, saying hello to a few folks before heading to the clubhouse and kicking back in the sun in a lounge chair to read a book. Ended up in a conversation with T, who was visiting for his last weekend of his season. I had actually seen his site while walking by (RAVENS WIN! What great revenge for Cam Cameron) which was unique because they had hung out some knitted hats and scarves in well known color patterns.
Came back for another sweater and had some lunch before heading out around the lake to take even more pictures. Heading up the stream that feeds into the lake, I got to see some of the rock formations that various members have built and rebuilt. There were plenty of arches and birds, it was fun to see just what people have come up with.
Came back and hung out over at T's site for a bit since there was an invite to stop by. I met his partner of 20 years, A, and their boy, F, who had actually been on the hike with me earlier in the day. Actually it was surprising he had make the hike because he had a knee brace on and he had just had shoulder surgery. However, he did it, and got some amazing pictures (this just feeds into my lust for an SLR digital) as well.
As the afternoon wore on, I got things together and went and made a double batch of sausage soup for the evening meal. This evening they were holding a potluck, and this was perfect for the fact that it got cold up here. It truly feels like fall, and within the next few weeks, it will be intolerable to be up here if you're in a tent like I am. I will be fine for now because I have a warm sleeping bag, another warm blanket, and two woven Mexican blankets that I can throw on, besides my warm clothing. Thanks to the wind coming up, it was definitely a night for the leather coat. Along with that, there were a few people who offered to let me bunk with them since they had heat in their tent or trailer. Clearly some of them felt sorry for me because I was only camping in a tent, but I have a good tolerance for cold, and I did somewhat prepare for this cold weather.
Got to the potluck, enjoyed plenty of food, though I couldn't finish it because I think the cold killed my appetite. I got to taste some homemade wine and beer as well, which there were some talented makers there. I especially loved the apple wheat beer.
After dinner was the slideshow of pictures from events from throughout the year. Seeing that has given me an idea of what weekends I would like to come back next year. Christmas in July, Illumination, Olympic Gaymes, and the Octoberfest that I am at now look like clear winners. I have put in for a membership for next year, so I will definitely be back a few times next year.
The slideshow being done, I headed back to my site, changed, and then walked to the clubhouse to sit in their hot tub, which was perfect because it had probably dropped to about 40 degrees by then. Some people are not going to like reading this, I sat in that thing for 2.5 hours, which you are not supposed to do. However, we made sure the water was not intolerably hot, and I made sure not to get dehydrated. The only thing that was not fun was for a while B stopped by and yammered on for about an hour about stuff. B is a nice guy and all, but goddammit shut the fuck up. Seriously.
That night there was another dance and bonfire, however, no one came over, I think most decided to just hunker down in their campers or trailers rather than make the journey across the field. Their loss I guess. I can't really talk, I was sitting in the hottub and could see the dancefloor inside and listen to the music. Eventually, after getting out and quickly drying off, I went back across the field and headed to bed. It was close to midnight, and I was tired out from all the walking I did during the day.
I am liking this camp more and more as I stay here because the people are quite friendly, and most of them don't have a hidden agenda for being friendly towards you. Of course you have some folks who do, but it's easy to pick them out and not bother with them again.
The hike itself was good, there were nine of us who showed up to hike. The route would take us through a meadow and along a set of high power lines. We would cross a road and then slowly head up a steep hill. That part of the hike was hard, but I did well considering it's been at least a year since I did any serious hiking. We got to the top and the views were just plain gorgeous. You could see nothing but blue sky and colorful trees. Our guide did point out where Beltzville Lake was, along with the names of some of the mountains, and off in the distance a ski resort.
(2 minute warning, Ravens lead Dolphins 27-13, thank you Sirius for letting me hear my boys win :-D)
After many pictures being taken, we headed back down the hill towards the camp, taking a detour to another forestry road to see even more of the trees. Eventually we went back to camp and I headed to my own site to grab the personal items and hit the showers because I was feeling pretty grungy by then.
After the shower I took a walk around the camp, saying hello to a few folks before heading to the clubhouse and kicking back in the sun in a lounge chair to read a book. Ended up in a conversation with T, who was visiting for his last weekend of his season. I had actually seen his site while walking by (RAVENS WIN! What great revenge for Cam Cameron) which was unique because they had hung out some knitted hats and scarves in well known color patterns.
Came back for another sweater and had some lunch before heading out around the lake to take even more pictures. Heading up the stream that feeds into the lake, I got to see some of the rock formations that various members have built and rebuilt. There were plenty of arches and birds, it was fun to see just what people have come up with.
Came back and hung out over at T's site for a bit since there was an invite to stop by. I met his partner of 20 years, A, and their boy, F, who had actually been on the hike with me earlier in the day. Actually it was surprising he had make the hike because he had a knee brace on and he had just had shoulder surgery. However, he did it, and got some amazing pictures (this just feeds into my lust for an SLR digital) as well.
As the afternoon wore on, I got things together and went and made a double batch of sausage soup for the evening meal. This evening they were holding a potluck, and this was perfect for the fact that it got cold up here. It truly feels like fall, and within the next few weeks, it will be intolerable to be up here if you're in a tent like I am. I will be fine for now because I have a warm sleeping bag, another warm blanket, and two woven Mexican blankets that I can throw on, besides my warm clothing. Thanks to the wind coming up, it was definitely a night for the leather coat. Along with that, there were a few people who offered to let me bunk with them since they had heat in their tent or trailer. Clearly some of them felt sorry for me because I was only camping in a tent, but I have a good tolerance for cold, and I did somewhat prepare for this cold weather.
Got to the potluck, enjoyed plenty of food, though I couldn't finish it because I think the cold killed my appetite. I got to taste some homemade wine and beer as well, which there were some talented makers there. I especially loved the apple wheat beer.
After dinner was the slideshow of pictures from events from throughout the year. Seeing that has given me an idea of what weekends I would like to come back next year. Christmas in July, Illumination, Olympic Gaymes, and the Octoberfest that I am at now look like clear winners. I have put in for a membership for next year, so I will definitely be back a few times next year.
The slideshow being done, I headed back to my site, changed, and then walked to the clubhouse to sit in their hot tub, which was perfect because it had probably dropped to about 40 degrees by then. Some people are not going to like reading this, I sat in that thing for 2.5 hours, which you are not supposed to do. However, we made sure the water was not intolerably hot, and I made sure not to get dehydrated. The only thing that was not fun was for a while B stopped by and yammered on for about an hour about stuff. B is a nice guy and all, but goddammit shut the fuck up. Seriously.
That night there was another dance and bonfire, however, no one came over, I think most decided to just hunker down in their campers or trailers rather than make the journey across the field. Their loss I guess. I can't really talk, I was sitting in the hottub and could see the dancefloor inside and listen to the music. Eventually, after getting out and quickly drying off, I went back across the field and headed to bed. It was close to midnight, and I was tired out from all the walking I did during the day.
I am liking this camp more and more as I stay here because the people are quite friendly, and most of them don't have a hidden agenda for being friendly towards you. Of course you have some folks who do, but it's easy to pick them out and not bother with them again.
October 18, 2008
Disconnection Day 1
Every year around this time it is fast becoming a tradition that I go for a long weekend somewhere, and I head out on my own, go to a place where I am unknown, and don't bother with back home that weekend. No e-mail, no phone, no text, just me out there doing whatever I want, whenever I want.
Typically I would head to the beach, this year I changed it up and have headed out camping instead. I went to a GLBT campground up near Lehighton, PA called The Woods. I had heard about it from a few friends who liked it, so I figured why the hell not. I made the reservation, signed up with their E-mail listserv, and prepared to go. Along the way there was a guy who E-mailed me and while I asked for general information, he decided to ask when we were going to meet and proceeded to give me his personal stats, including how big his dick was. I called him on it and he told me that he wasn't a slut and not to E-mail him anymore. Nice try, if you're going to tell me the size of your dick when I didn't even ask for it, I know what's on your mind, and no, you can't have it.
Anyway, I took off this morning after a stop at the grocery store for groceries, and the beer and wine place for a case of Yuengling. It was a 3 hour trip to get there, luckily it was all highway. I got in, got my tent set up (after some work to figure out how to set the rain flap), and started to meet some of the other campers. Generally the campers have been friendly, I've been hanging out with A and M, who are staying across from me. J has been coming by as well to hang out with us, and then there is B who annoys the hell out of me, but more on that later.
Tonight it has been being around the campfire chatting, and later going over to a bonfire near the clubhouse. Tomorrow is when the activities really get going. There is a hike, massages being offered, a potluck dinner (I am making sausage soup), a dance, and slideshows. Since it is later in the year, it is a bit chilly, but I am fine because I have a warm sleeping bag (Thanks Brian!) and warm clothes. I have extra blankets if I need them. However, I am used to cooler weather so this isn't bothering me as badly.
in my life. It's time to enjoy who I am and celebrate my independence.
Typically I would head to the beach, this year I changed it up and have headed out camping instead. I went to a GLBT campground up near Lehighton, PA called The Woods. I had heard about it from a few friends who liked it, so I figured why the hell not. I made the reservation, signed up with their E-mail listserv, and prepared to go. Along the way there was a guy who E-mailed me and while I asked for general information, he decided to ask when we were going to meet and proceeded to give me his personal stats, including how big his dick was. I called him on it and he told me that he wasn't a slut and not to E-mail him anymore. Nice try, if you're going to tell me the size of your dick when I didn't even ask for it, I know what's on your mind, and no, you can't have it.
Anyway, I took off this morning after a stop at the grocery store for groceries, and the beer and wine place for a case of Yuengling. It was a 3 hour trip to get there, luckily it was all highway. I got in, got my tent set up (after some work to figure out how to set the rain flap), and started to meet some of the other campers. Generally the campers have been friendly, I've been hanging out with A and M, who are staying across from me. J has been coming by as well to hang out with us, and then there is B who annoys the hell out of me, but more on that later.
Tonight it has been being around the campfire chatting, and later going over to a bonfire near the clubhouse. Tomorrow is when the activities really get going. There is a hike, massages being offered, a potluck dinner (I am making sausage soup), a dance, and slideshows. Since it is later in the year, it is a bit chilly, but I am fine because I have a warm sleeping bag (Thanks Brian!) and warm clothes. I have extra blankets if I need them. However, I am used to cooler weather so this isn't bothering me as badly.
As for the encounters with folks so far, B is one of those campers who comes here on a fairly regular basis, and has been for the past few years. Unfortunately, he comes off as a bit of a know-it-all and hasn't learned when to shut the fuck up. It is so bad that when he gets going, none of us can get a word in edgewise. Already once tonight we have had to come up with an excuse and run away because the man can't stop talking! Of course, he's also made offers for me to go cuddle with him, I turned him down flat because that's not what I am looking to get out of my weekend here. Now he is being like the big brother and thinking I need to be protected if someone is bothering me. No, sorry, I can take care of that myself thank you very much.
J decided tonight was his mission for me to find a Mr. Right Now. That certainly didn't happen, not because I couldn't have found someone to nail, I didn't want to find someone to nail. That's not my reason(s) for coming out here, if I wanted to spend my time going out and working to get laid, I could have saved myself the 3 hours and just gone to a bar in DC or Baltimore. No, my reason for being here is to just relax, do my own thing, and enjoy being here. That doesn't mean I have to go nail some guy in the woods in order to have an enjoyable weekend.
What it does remind me though is of one of the traps I have fallen into in the past. One of my complaints about being single is that suddenly people think I need to be with someone, even if it's just for a night. You know what, no I don't. If I want to be with someone, it's because I choose to be with them, not because in your mind you think I should be with someone, or I should be with you. Then there is also all the work that does go into dating, such as going out there, trying to meet people, which can either be hit or miss, then you meet someone and you go out and see if it works out, and it does or it doesn't. Maybe you find that this person is just looking for some ass, which is not what you're aiming for, and it just gets annoying after a while. I think because of things like this I tend to get into more serious relationships because it takes that bit of pressure off. No more, the time has come to make sure more work is put in to learn more about myself and what I want, and then to search for the person that fits just what it is I want. Trust me when I say that I am becoming pickier and pickier.
in my life. It's time to enjoy who I am and celebrate my independence.
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