Enjoying A Campfire

Skills learned in the 1960s came to the fore when I decided that my long-awaited trip to a campsite wouldn't be complete without a fire.

Despite the evening temps being mild, I needed to know I still could make a "One Match" fire like taught in The Scouts.

I had bought a small $5 bundle from the Camp Office, like a tourist, but brought with me a small tote of cuts and splinters of 1 x 2 pine from previous projects.

It was great to discover I still had it. Wadded paper, small kindling in pyramid shape, larger kindling, then match.

Once it caught. small log-splits added to build the fire, then slightly larger log-splits.

Once it got to roaring, larger log-splits were added periodically keeping the fire alive until 10:30PM when I let it die to coals. Then weak embers. Then bed time.

Watching the flames for all that time brought back thoughts I hadn't pondered for some time. I thought of people long unseen, and times long missed.

On the air mattress it was tough to get comfy easily. It was much like sleeping on a pool raft that wouldn't stay under me.

The open windows covered in mosquito mesh let in just the right amount of cool night air and cricket sounds.

The Camp-O-Van isn't high-value, nor was there a ton of money put into it; yet I enjoyed my time camping and exploring, and will do it again and again.