Water and Wildlife Camping

Despite the availability of cabins, we chose to rough it in a campsite with no electricity to be as close as you could get to the river without getting wet. On Saturday, Robert enjoyed kayaking in the river as I sat in my sun chair at the river’s edge half studying for an exam and half watching chapter members splashing around.

            Five years later, we camped in the Florida Everglades National Park. Robert’s family set up tents for the men and boys with a spectacular view of Florida Bay. I escaped the mosquitoes and flies by staying with Robert’s sister and cousin in a cottage with air conditioning, a bathroom, and kitchenette. Even though the campers laughed at us, they didn’t hesitate to visit for food and amenities.

Robert accepted that poisonous snakes made swimming inadvisable,but he ignored the if-you-don’t-bother-them-they-won’t-bother-you advice when confronted by a growling alligator. When the canoe he shared with his niece unexpectedly disturbed an alligator resting on an embankment, Robert tried to convince her not to paddle away until he got a photo. She had the sense not to listen to him.

We rang in the New Year of 1996 sleeping in a pup tent in New South Wales, Australia—one week camping with my sister Deborah and family at Myall Lakes; the other with my brother Greg and family at Kiama.

Myall Lakes included relaxing in the water, riding a Jet Ski, and sight-seeing the lakes in a boat. However, Robert’s Jet Ski joyride turned into terror and the scariest three hours in his life. He got lost; went numb in the cold water; his joints hurt from cutting through the waves; and the weeds clogged up the Jet Ski, twice. When he finally found his way, he was most upset to have missed seeing a huge goanna lizard take a leisurely stroll through our camping ground.

The rain dampened our plans at Kiama, but the tree frogs had a blast. Greg’s attempt to quiet them down at night by yelling and throwing cans was futile, albeit entertaining to watch. When our tent got soaked, we moved into the family tent. We amused ourselves reading, shopping, going to the movies, and playing cards. The weather cooperated enough for us to visit a wildlife park where we walked among and fed the kangaroos.

So tell me about your camping stories.

This post is excerpted from our camping experiences discussed in “Pass Me Your Shoes,” the second book in my dwarfism trilogy, chapter 10, Season of Travel; chapter 13, Family Highs and Business Low; and chapter 14, What a Difference Ten Years Makes. Buy links are available on my website at https://angelamuirvanetten.com/pass-me-your-shoes/.