Tag Archives: camping

Roughing it

Roughing it means something totally different as you get older. I used to camp on the ground, in a tent. Then we started bringing an inflatable bed. Now we are renting a trailer that will be dropped off at the campsite for us… this is the third time we are doing this, and it’s as rough as we might get for a while.

I’ve been camping, years ago, where we had to carry everything in and out, and pump water through a filter in streams and add a couple drops of iodine to purify it so we can drink it. Then with kids we used to bring a foldable kitchen sink with us to make meal prep easier in drive-in campsites. Now we don’t camp anywhere that doesn’t have taps nearby and washrooms with showers.

Maybe some day I’ll do a big trip where I really rough it again, but for now, roughing it includes a fair bit of luxury, and I’m happy to enjoy the comforts… I’m still going to a campground and not a hotel so in my books, I’m still roughing it.

Fishing in a dinghy

The water on Lake Okanagan was nice and smooth this morning. So, after another early hike, I decided to hop into our tiny inflatable dinghy and do a bit of fishing. This is a somewhat comical experience. The dinghy is barely big enough for me. The small oars get in the way of casting. I’ve got a small backpack with my fishing gear, my flip flops for the rocky beach landing, and my phone in a waterproof case with a strap around my neck.

It’s not easy to cast, and trolling is tough because I can’t keep a consistent speed or direction. I did end up trolling for most of the hour I went out. I used a jig and a float so that my inconsistent paddling would help the jig move sporadically, without sinking to the weedy shore.

I didn’t catch anything. I didn’t expect to. I watched an osprey dive for a fish, it too was unsuccessful. Still, I went for a little fishing trip this morning and I might go out again tomorrow.

Upon returning I did the hike again with my wife and daughter. Then I made pancakes and bacon on our outdoor stove. I have to say that starting my day this way is really making me feel like I’m recharging my batteries this holiday break. Dinghy fishing may not be an ideal way to catch fish, but it makes for a pretty idyllic holiday.

What did we forget?

My wife and I have a game we play when we go on camping trips. We always forget something and we see how quickly we can figure it out. Today it was coffee mugs. We’ll use the provided mugs in the trailer we rented. We arrived at the campground and started to unpack, and then my daughter realized she left her bathing suite. So my wife and daughter are on their way to Walmart, and I’m headed for a hike with my buddy once he finishes dinner.

It doesn’t matter how many times we travel, how many things we have packed in advance, there’s always something we leave behind… and since we make it a game, it doesn’t bother us at all.