Good People

[CajunCamper]

Several years ago, we took a family tent camping with us that had never been before. They were city folk to boot. One evening a middle aged woman stopped by our campsite at about 7:00 pm asking if she could buy some fuel from us so she and her husband could cook dinner on their Coleman stove. I told her the only gas I had was in my stove so I suggested that she just take our stove and bring it back to us when they finished eating dinner. She agreed and off she went. Our friends looked at me as if I was nuts and asked, aren't you going to find out where her campsite is? I said nope. They then asked aren't you worried you'll never see that stove again? I said nope again. I then told them that people that spend their leisure time in campgrounds with friends and family are special people. They are the warmest, most generous and honest people you will ever meet. I then said, I wouldn't be suprised if when she brings my stove back, she also brings some of her dinner to share with us. He just looked at me and said we'll see.

About two hours later, she and her husband came to our campsite with our stove as well as desert for all of us. By the way, it was peach cobler that she cooked at their campsite.

We invited them to stay and they joined us at our campfire for the next hour or so as we enjoyed their company.

Sure, you run into an occassional nuesance from time to time, but for the most part, we camping folk are good people.

I really love camping.

CajunCamper

[brainpause]

Great story.

Last year, we were camping in frigid conditions. Lows were in the low 30's/upper 20's. We were cozy in our popup, and Holly's sister's family had rented a popup.

One morning I had a pot of coffee on the fire, and me and Holly's BIL were enjoying a cup. Two older ladies climbed out of their tent, still bundled in clothes to keep them warm in an (apparently) unwarmed tent. I heard one of them say they were going to hunt for a cup of coffee. I told them to grab their cups and come over for a cup. Not only did they enjoy some of my campfire coffee, they plopped themselves down in a couple of chairs and enjoyed the morning campfire for a little while with us. My BIL and family were impressed with how open we all were.

Larry

[GeneF]

DW and I have often invited people over for coffee, to share a campfire or whatever and we have enjoyed doing it.  Met a great bunch of people over the years being friendly.

In March, we spent a month at a cg in FL.  Most of the campers there were snowbirders who are at the cg for three to six months.  Some had been coming to this same cg for over 15 years.

Naturally, this being our first time there, we did feel a little out of the loop as all the other people knew each other.

We were there a few days when this lady came over and said, Bingo is tonight and we'll stop by and get you around 7 pm.  Didn't matter if we wanted to or not.

At bingo, she introduced us to several other people that were in the cg.

Because of her taking charge, dw and I had a great visit there, met some great people (that we are looking forward to seeing again in Jan), and got involved in some of the cg activities.

Also while we were there, a couple from Wis. came in in a Class B.  They were there about a week when DW met them.  Woman said she liked the place very much but didn't get off of the cg much because it meant putting the camper together.

DW invited them to go into town with us.  As a foursome, we hit it off and took some trips around the St. Augustine area.  Even played miniature golf.  They will have the site next to us in March.  DW emails the woman and we are all looking forward to getting together.

So meeting people and people meeting you is a two-way street.

To me and DW, the funniest thing about meeting people in cg's and sharing a cup of coffee is that you seldom get to the last names.

[brainpause]

So meeting people and people meeting you is a two-way street.

To me and DW, the funniest thing about meeting people in cg's and sharing a cup of coffee is that you seldom get to the last names.

And I'll never forget that cup of coffee that Terry made for me (and you) as the five of us shared your picnic table in July 2002.

Larry

[Azusateach]

Maybe this is why I like camping so much -- it redeems my outlook on humanity, especially after a long week of dealing with particularly he**ish parents at school.

[OC Campers]

Fourteen years ago (pre-popup) we went tent camping with some friends.  Each of us had 2 year olds.  We were seasoned campers and they were not.  Unfortunately, the campground we chose was in bear country.  Didn't bother us but our friend's wife went hysterical when the bear rolled the trash can down the road.  She made her husband pack up and take her to a hotel the next night.  The next day they came back for breakfast and the older couple next to us (camping in a motorhome) overheard us talking and offered their extra bed to her and her son.  Our friends wife and child slepted in their motorhome for a whole week.  We kept in touch with this couple for a couple years afterward until the man passed away.   To offer your motorhome to complete and utter strangers was a true act of kindness that we will never forget.

Jacqui

[harleywolf]

I have to echo Azusateach

[cyclone]

I'm another who has had the good fortune to camp next to the GeneF's.  Yep, they shared their coffee and the company is even better!  

The last name thing actually got me thinking a couple of weeks ago.  We have known and camped with TPUC (now TN Kampers) for several years.  A couple of weeks ago one family was camping nearby and several of us joined them for part of the day.  On the way out there, I said "I sure hope they don't ask us for the name of the people we are visiting, as I have no clue what their last name is."  I have camped with these people at least 5 times in the last two years.

[txsarge]

I don't have any really cool stories like those but I can say I have never had any bad experiences camping either.  I enjoy the fact that I can set up my campsite, go fishing or swimming, and all my stuff is still there!  Try going to a motel and leaving you room door open all day while your gone   .

[AustinBoston]

We were camping in Wyoming some years ago, and a couple of "redneck-looking" guys with thick southern accents came by asking for a match.  I handed them a Scripto, and they were very grateful - invited us to camp on their land down in Georgia - and very insistent that we do so if we are ever in the area.  When they came back, they repeated the offer, and I said I would look them up if we were ever down there.

On another occasion, had someone go out of their way to give us a jump when we left the dome light on all night.

We have had two pieces of gear disappear from back in our tent days, but I have to be honest and say I don't know if or where they were stolen.  They probably both disappeared at the same time, and I don't know if it was from a campsite, or if we failed to pack them and drove off without them (we know we did that with one piece of gear), or if they were stolen out of storage.  I most strongly suspect the latter.

Two items, probably one incident, and probably not campground theft.  Our pop-up has been in hundreds of campgrounds in 28 states, and has 30,000+ miles on it without a theft incident.  We tent camped for 19 years, including campgrounds in at least 10 US states and several Canadian provinces, with maybe one incident.  You can trust campers.

When it comes to other types of bad incidents, I can count 2.  In both cases, they were small enough that if I had known with a certanty that the incident was going to happen, I still would have gone camping where and when we did.

We've given away firewood, lighter fluid, white gas, bad-aids, and in one case bandaged a serious cut on a finger (should have been stitched, an I told them so).

We've recieved jump starts, free food, matches, and a few other things that escape me now...

Campers are one of the best bunch of people out there.  Strangers, sure - but strangers with one important thing in common - we like to sleep outdoors.

Austin

[waygard33]

We just did 4 nights at Detroit Lake in Oregon. As usual, we met several nice people. Only about 4 Pups in the whole place but one was right across the way and that's an instant conversation starter.

Interestingly enough however, we did have two incidents...both turned out fine.

First...I lost my digital camera or should I say I left it in the public restroom. I told myself not to forget it and sure enough...walked right out without it. A couple hours later I realized what happened and ventured down to the ranger station. They had it but unfortunately someone had erased all my pics. After looking it over, I suspect it was the rangers themselves who did it on accident. The only photo on it was a pic of the 2 waste baskets under the rangers desk. Oh well...at least some very nice folks turned it in.

Second...Several folks had their boats and SeaDoo's anchored just off shore overnight. This is much easier than taking everything out of the water every night. One morning, a woman was going site by site, telling everyone her seadoo was stolen because it was missing. We all got a little worried because now we were thinking about the need to better secure our wallets and keys. This is something we hadn't really considered before. But, just a couple hours later, a good citizen found it floating about a mile away and rode it back to the site. It was a nice feeling to know our thoughts about criminal activity were an over reaction. There is hope for humanity yet. :p

Actually, there was a 3rd incident. Late Thursday night, a very noisy group arrived at the site around the corner from us. The Mom was extremely loud and continued way after quiet time. F-Bombs were flying out of her mouth on a regular basis. Everyone overheard her tell someone they were just kicked out of another cg earlier in the evening. Early the next morning...the rangers kicked her out of this one too! Everyone was happy with the swift justice.

[AustinBoston]

First...I lost my digital camera or should I say I left it in the public restroom.

Something just strikes me as wrong about bringing a camera into any restroom.  :yikes:

Actually, there was a 3rd incident. Late Thursday night, a very noisy group arrived at the site around the corner from us. The Mom was extremely loud and continued way after quiet time...Everyone overheard her tell someone they were just kicked out of another cg earlier in the evening. Early the next morning...the rangers kicked her out of this one too! Everyone was happy with the swift justice.

I'll bet she left with more language, and never did figure out why they were kicked out.  Must be some kind of persecution.  One nice thing, people like that will eventually decide not to go camping at all.  "Just no fun getting kicked out of every f#%&^%$ campground we go to."

Austin

[Hargus]

I'm another who has had the good fortune to camp next to the GeneF's.  Yep, they shared their coffee and the company is even better!  

We're yet another family that have been lucky enough to camp near GeneF and Terry. The conversations could have gone on for hours and my 6 year old was well entertained. Can't wait for our next group camp.

[GeneF]

LOL

Thanks for the compliments people but could you please keep it a secret.  My truck is only a 3/4 and won't hold the ton of coffee I might need if you keep this up.

Terry and I did enjoy having you all over and you are welcome anytime.

Maybe it is my Italian background that I got from my mother.  Her thing was, Come in and eat, now what is your name?  Terry learned this from my mother also.