My Next Great Adventure

As a boy I would often camp out in the woods behind my parents’ house. Although not more than a few minutes away from home I was physically, visibly, and emotionally alone. My memory of those times is that I enjoyed the peace and quiet, the solitude, and the opportunity to sneak a smoke without fear of detection. Often I would find myself camping alone with no one bu my dog Minnie to go with me. My memories of such adventures is that I enjoyed the solitude. I enjoyed doing what I wanted to do on my schedule. Recently while on a family camping trip with sons, grandchildren, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews I decided to recreate the experience and see if the memory aligns with reality. And so, tomorrow, I am off.

I will be spending the next three days alone in the not so primitive, wooded, campground at East Fork State Park in southwest Ohio. I am tent camping and the only modern conveniences I plan to bring are a propane camp stove, a 2-meter band ham radio, my iPad and iPhone. The ham radio is primarily for use as a source of monitoring the weather as I do not know if I will have any internet connectivity. The iPad as a music source, and the iPhone to play audio books as I hike, a pursuit I intend to do for nine to ten miles per day. Additionally, I will use the iPad to make a log of the adventure, possibly for later publishing.

I truly have no idea if this is a good planor one that will prove to be an experience either fraught with danger, totally embarrassing, or something in-between. I plan to “rough-it” as I will be living those days in a Ozark Trails 11 person tent, with occupancy being restricted to only one. I will arm myself only with a sheath knife because I believe firearms are frowned upon in state parks. Should I be attacked by a bear or a bevy of co-eds this may be the last time you see an update on the Townehouse Blog. The bear attack is unlikely and the bevy of co-eds is equally unlikely, but I am quite certain I would not survive either encounter.  However, if I have a choice on how to meet my demise, I choose the latter.

Thus concludes the pre-report of my next great adventure. When I return (if I return) I will file a post report of the trip. That is, assuming I have anything of interest to report. Of course, when I say “of interest” that is to say that I found it interesting. You may not.
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?

Feel free to comment, like, share, agree or disagree with this post. Please consider a free subscription. Options to like and subscribe can be found elsewhere on the page. Thank you for reading the Townehouse Blog.

This material may be published, broadcast, or redistributed. In fact, I encourage it.