HOME AGAIN

WE MADE IT BACK HOME TO “THE MOUNTAIN” ON SATURDAY EVENING ABOUT 5:30 PM.

MARY DOES THE DRIVING AND LIKES TO AVOID THE CITIES, SO FROM SPOONER TO SOUTH DAKOTA WE SAW BEAUTIFUL RURAL MINNESOTA AND AVOIDED THE TWIN CITIES. WITH NO LESS THAN FOUR DETOURS I CAN GIVE YOU A CROP REPORT FOR MOST OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

WE TRAVELLED ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA ON INTERSTATE 90 SPENDING THE NIGHT NEXT DOOR TO WALL DRUG.

MARY SAW ON TV THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS GOING TO BE IN DENVER AND COLORADO SPRINGS, AND FROM THE BLACK HILLS TO NEW MEXICO SHE STAYED ON THE BACK ROADS OF COLORADO. NO CROP REPORT HERE, IT’S ALL HIGH PLAINS WITH CATTLE RANCHES AND HORSES.

NEW MEXICO HAD US BACK ON THE INTERSTATE AND MAKING GOOD TIME ONCE AGAIN.

THERE ARE  A COUPLE MORE VACATION BLOGS TO BE WRITTEN AND WE WILL GET THOSE POSTED THIS NEXT WEEK.

  “SUNNY & 80”

AIR FORCE MUSEUM

VISITED THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

MORE CAMP PHOTOS

I HAD A COUPLE OF REQUESTS FOR MORE CAMP PHOTOS AND STORIES.

DID IT RAIN?

YUP, THREE DAYS WE HAD SHORT SHOWERS, AND ONE LATE NIGHT THUNDER STORM. THANK GOD WE HAD ONE MOM IN CAMP TO CODDLE THE CRY BABY.

HOW WAS THE FOOD?

IT WAS CAFATERIA SERVICE, AND THE FOOD WAS ALL HEAT AND SERVE KID FOOD ITEMS. DIDN’T SEE A MUSHROOM, ONION, SWISS CHEESE, OR A COLD BEER ALL WEEK.

ANY WILDLIFE STORIES?

ONE LATE NIGHT RACCOON VISITED WHEN SOME SNACK ITEMS WERE LEFT OUT INSTEAD OF BEING LOCKED UP IN THE TROOP TRAILER. THANK GOD WE HAD ONE MOM IN CAMP TO CODDLE THE SAME CRY BABY, WHO WAS AFRAID OF COONS AS WELL AS THUNDER. THERE WAS ALSO A WEEK LONG WILDLIFE SCAVENGER PHOTO HUNT WHICH TROOP 466 WON DUE TO PICTURES OF A WILD TURKEY, AND WHITE TAILED DEER. GOOD JOB SCOUTS !

WAS IT HOT?

OH MY YES, AND IT’S NOT A DRY HEAT. I HAVEN’T SWEAT LIKE THAT FOR YEARS.

ANYTHING ELSE WORTH MENTIONING?

THE STAFF INCLUDED SEVERAL FEMALE MEMBERS. I’M NOT SURE IF I’D ALLOW MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO BE A STAFF MEMBER AT A BOY SCOUT CAMP FOR THE SUMMER? WOULD YOU?

AMENITIES?

THE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES WERE ALL TOP RATED. THE DINNING HALL WAS AIR-CONDITIONED, AS WELL AS THE EAGLE’S NEST, WHICH IS AN ADULT LOUNGE AND MEETING AREA. THE MONEY COMES FROM CORPORATE SPONSERS IN THE CINCINNATI AREA.

DID I GET MY STEPS?

AS YOU KNOW I CARRY A PEDOMETER WITH THE DAILY GOAL OF 10,000 STEPS. IN THE SIX DAYS AT CAMP I HAD JUST OVER 90,000 STEPS.

AMY’S PHOTOS:

 

CAMP FRIEDLANDER

CAMP FRIEDLANDER BSA

CINCINNATI, OHIO

I SURVIVED MY WEEK AT BOY SCOUT CAMP WITH MY TWO GRANDSONS. TROOP 466 HAD 14 BOYS AND 5 ADULTS.THE CANVAS WALL TENTS AND COTS HAVEN’T CHANGED IN 50 YEARS.

AT MY AGE IT’S EASY TO FORM A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD TODAY'S YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY’RE ALL THUMBS AND VIDEO SCREENS, OBESE COUCH POTATOES. IT DID MY MIND AND HEART GOOD TO SEE 600+ SCOUTS RUNNING TO OUTDOOR CAMPING ACTIVITIES LEARNING SKILLS AND ENJOYING CAMP JUST AS I DID 50+ YEARS AGO AT CANYON CAMP BSA. IT’S FROM EXPERIENCES LIKE THIS THAT SPAWNS THE LEADERS OF THEIR GENERATION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD AND LIFE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY I HAD A CHANCE OF A LIFE TIME TO BOND WITH MY GRANDSONS.

BE PREPARED, THE MOTTO OF A TRUE SCOUT!

BOY SCOUT CAMP

IT’S SUNDAY AND I FEEL LIKE I’M 12 YEARS OLD AGAIN AS I PACK MY GEAR FOR BOY SCOUT CAMP. I SPENT MY YOUTH BSA CAMPING AND FAMILY CAMPING IN THE OLD RED UMBRELLA TENT, AND I THNK IT ACCOUNTS FOR MY LIFE STYLE THE LAST 19 YEARS LIVING IN AN RV OR THIS MOUNTAIN CABIN.

I DON’T REALLY HEAD OFF TO SCOUT CAMP UNTIL A WEEK FROM TODAY, BUT I’VE GOT A LONG WAY TO TRAVEL FROM ARIZONA TO OHIO. I’M FILLING IN FOR MY SON IN-LAW AS AN ADULT LEADER BECAUSE DANIEL IS DEPLOYED WITH THE AIR FORCE IN PAKISTAN. I’LL BE WITH TROOP 466 INCLUDING ALAN AND EDDIE, MY GRANDSONS.

GETTING MY GEAR TOGETHER SURE BRINGS BACK A FLOOD OF OLD MEMORIES….

UNCLE AJ QUOTES COME TO MIND, “WHO WILL ADMIT NOW” OR “DAMN EAGLE SCOUTS CAN’T EVEN BUILD A TOAST FIRE”

I SPENT ALL MY TEEN YEARS SUMMERS AS A MEMBER OF THE CANYON CAMP BSA STAFF. THE WORST SUNDAY MEMORY WAS THE SUNDAY I HAD TO SAY “GOODBY” TO JUANITO AFTER HE SPENT A YEAR IN OUR HOME AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM EUCADOR. I SWAM LAPS IN THE POOL FOR A LONG TIME TO HIDE THE TEARS…..

OR THE TIME I FOUND HAIR CURLERS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL AFTER WE HAD SNUCK IN SOME STOCKTON GIRLS FOR A MIDNIGHT SWIM……

ENOUGH, I BETTER GET BACK ON TRACK OR I’LL FORGET SOMETHING….. LET’S SEE, 7 PAIRS OF SOCKS, BUG DOPE, PONCHO,

CAT,………. CAT?

WISH ME LUCK !!!