Remembering the Campgrounds!

Just a quick note of the camping that I remember.

Okmulgee Lake with Mom and Dad.  There were so many evening picnics with the Shirleys, Harlanss, Fidlers, Parkers, and the Vanderpools.  So many good time with friends and families.  I still remember the smell of the Bush Beer consumed by the adults,  and the ice that we had to get at the ice house before pulling out to the lake.  So much innocent fun and not one of us was bitten by a snake.  JUST LAUGHTER!

One summer the Fidlers and Harlans had a school bus converted into a camper.  We traveled to Tahlequah and camped on the river.  ("most likely the bus would not go any further.") It might have been the Baron Fork, a tributary of the Illinois River.  All I remember are the bunks and the freedom we had playing wildly along the river.  Yes, now that I think of it, the hunt for the "church keys," that made that wonderful sound of continual adult beverages being opened and shared.  All I know for sure is that EVERYONE WAS HAPPY AND CONTENT.

Okmulgee Lake 1959----2012

Going to school in Tahlequah called for much time on the Illinois River.  All of us were poor, but being in the outdoors was RICH, and full of fun and memories.  "We also had to have a church key up until we could afford the beers with pop tops!"  Correct me if I am wrong but I think Coors started having pop tops in the early 70s.  I do know for sure that we did not have to have block ice or go to a ice house to fill our ice-chests.  I personally remember a PINT being all you needed to make for a great day after summer classes ending around noon.

Little by little friends started buying tents and started investing in camping paraphernalia.  HUMMM PARAPHENALIA always made our camping trips more memorable.  So many great memories!

Then came the child bearing years and friends gathered to let their children run freely along the Illinois River or Tenkiller Lake.  Time seems to have come full circle.

It was the time I got to spend 6 weeks in Yosemite that I knew that the mountains, rivers, wide skies, waterfalls, and campgrounds were something I never wanted to forfeit no matter what.

My invitation to travel by motor-home with college friend Kevin added to seeing The Northern Rockies, Canada, and then the following year to venture out into Alaska.

Like I said, once you have smelled the pines, listened to a waterfall, hiked into uncharted territory or viewed a mountain lake..........you just can not close the book to wanting to continue to to find the ROAD LESS TRAVELED.

About 4 years ago THE COOPERS let me use their RV to see if I might want to buy it.  My friend Bill and I borrowed it for about 10 days and came to the very place where I am writing this blog.  Ouray, Colorado, Creed, Colorado and the Black Canyon.  We did pull a small pickup which allowed us to do some day hikes and sightseeing.

Today sitting under the awning of my own RV, hearing the light rain and thunder in the valley while drinking a little red wine just soothes my inner being.  NO CHURCH KEYS!

Tonight the ALMOST FULL MOON peeks out  whispering a GOOD NIGHT!

Good Night to All and to All a Wonderful Tomorrow.

PS  I am having a hard time thinking about coming home due to the HEAT.

Life is Good and the Memories of Mom and Dad are FANTASTIC.

2nd Place to Campout after buying The Little Lighthouse.

It's a Great Day FOR a MOONDANCE!