“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir.

I have often written of my family’s tradition of going camping in the summer.  This was the cheapest way to get away from the city during the long summer holidays (or vacation, as they say in the US).  My parents owned a couple of tents, both probably second-hand, one of which was an ex-army bell tent, a huge canvas structure that easily slept five children, radiating out from the center pole like spokes on a wheel.

The term used nowadays is ‘primitive camping’, in other words, there is no electric hook-up; no water to connect to.  These were not ‘pop-up’ tents, that are erected in a flick of the wrist.  These required coordination, brute force, and numerous ‘guy ropes’ to keep the structure upright and secure.  One lesson soon learned was that canvas is watertight so long as nothing breaks the surface tension on the inside – so any object left leaning against the tent wall during a rain shower would get wet, and could easily introduce significant water.

I was maybe six years old the last summer we spent in those tents.  Since I was quite young for those camping trips, there is a lot I don’t remember.  One year, when it had been particularly rainy, the kids of course were going stir crazy.  That may have been the year that all three brothers and their families converged on the campsite, so there could have been a total of 13 or 14 of us cousins, and we had no doubt exhausted the board games and books we had brought along.  When the rain eased up, my father decided to set us a challenge.  We would go on a walk to the local shop, and whoever could get him to laugh first, would be rewarded with ‘sweets’ (aka candy) once we arrived at the shop.  Unfortunately, and I don’t know if anyone succeeded, when we all arrived at the shop, he denied all knowledge of us!

The beauty of those camping trips was the surroundings.  We had no technology to distract us (of course, 60 years ago the technology was limited to landlines and television!).  We probably had a radio, but apart from that we were free to explore the local woods, go on walks, climb rocks, and when the weather permitted, take a dip in the fiercely cold sea (yes, even in the summer).  The campsite was located by the sea in North Wales, within sight of the Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park, so there were always mountains surrounding us, unless covered in clouds. 

We would sometimes take a drive up into those mountains, to meet up with more cousins, and it would be guaranteed to rain! So, in the car park, the uncles would fire up the ‘Gaz’ stoves, water would be boiled, and hot drinks and sandwiches would be shared as we huddled out of the cold rain.  My memories of those places are painted in grey and green.  The hillsides would be many shades of green, while the buildings made of traditional and locally quarried slate would be slick and grey in the gloomy rain. 

You can imagine then what a contrast it was to migrate to Jamaica, that brightly colored tropical paradise.  Where, even if it rained, the sun would come out, and in no time the puddles would have evaporated.  We did not go camping on our summer vacation, but if we were lucky there could be a trip or two to the beach. And even though the drive may have taken two hours up over the winding narrow roads through the mountains, once we descended to the north coast, the Caribbean Sea would be warm and welcoming, the sun so bright we would soon learn we needed plenty of sunscreen.

Since retiring from full-time employment, I have had the pleasure of revisiting the camping life in Southwest Florida.  We have purchased a piece of land in an underdeveloped area near Lake Okeechobee.  The land itself is without amenities, and until we get those installed, we have been enjoying the land without the distraction of modern conveniences.  Some may think us crazy, and would not be able to imagine sleeping under a tent, (on an airbed), with no flushing toilet.  Some may even think us brave, since being close to nature includes insects and wildlife and other scary objects! But although it is fairly primitive in one sense, we also have the convenience of a solar generator, so are able to boil an electric kettle, power up our phones, supply a laptop, if we want to.

There is something totally relaxing about being away from the hustle and the bustle of the city, where the night noises include sirens, trains, the roar of nearby traffic.  When you are surrounded by trees, no neighbors within shouting distance, you can focus instead on the calls of the birds – we have seen cardinals, and woodpeckers, little warblers, big crows.  We can also watch swallow-tail kites gliding high above us, an occasional egret or heron heading out overhead.  The night noises are cicadas and frogs, occasional dogs and one night, a cow!  It is good to be back in the country.

This Friday morning, I hope you have some place to escape to that is away from the concrete jungle.  For some it is their garden, a place of carefully tended plants, a reminder of the simple beauty of a flower.  Being able to watch butterflies flit around, hear birds going about their business, is enough to remind you to breathe, to let go of stress.  I hope you are able to see the beauty around you, wherever you are.  It could be a sunset across a shopping mall, or a tree flowering in the center of a car park, but there are always reminders that Mother Nature has her own agenda, despite us.  In all of the stresses of everyday life, it is good to take a moment to stop, breathe, and be mindful of all of the things we have to be grateful for.  It’s good for your blood pressure and much more!

Have a wonderful weekend, Family!

One Love!

Namaste.