Each year , our family enjoys a well-deserved camping vacation . In years past , we primitive camped . For various reasons , we seemed to usually arrive late to pitch a tent in the dark or worse sometimes in the rain . We would inflate an air mattress and set up a cot then toss in some bedding , rummage through the cooler to grab a latenight snack , and finally bear-proof our campsite before going to sleep . A great big beautiful tomorrow awaited us .

Our memorable trips have included some excellent outdoor adventures and a few not worth repeating . Among our more enjoyable camping vacations , we tent camped along California ’ s Big Sur Coast and in Yosemite National Park , on a mountain top in the Great Smoky Mountains , and on the shores of Michigan ’ s Great Lakes off the Straits of Mackinac . One exciting summer we visited several historic sites and state parks throughout

Lance C . Ball , Esq . Ball Law Firm the eastern United States . We ’ ve watched the bison roam at Big Bone Lick State Park in Kentucky . We ’ ve explored the chilly caves of Tuckaleechee Caverns in Tennessee . We ’ ve whitewater rafted down the Nantahala River in North Carolina , traversing the rapids . We ’ ve hiked up Amicalola Falls ( near the southern end of the Appalachian Trail ) to Georgia ’ s tallest waterfall . And , of course , we ’ ve tube floated the pristine , spring-fed waters of the Ichetucknee River in Florida . But our camping experiences haven ’ t always been trouble-free . Definitely , our worst experience was a miserably hot summer beach stay in the Florida Keys during No-See-Um season — ouch ! Those little buggers came right through the tent screens .

Our fondest memories , though , involve sharing time together and connecting at family reunions . For example , during our annual wilderness Thanksgiving camping trip we would start a fire early in the morning and brine the turkey . We boiled water for French-pressed coffee and cooked bacon , eggs , and toast for breakfast . Then covered large potatoes in tinfoil and carefully placed them in the hot coals to bake . We wrapped and set the turkey , stuffing and veggies over the fire , rotating each periodically . In a few hours , our holiday dinner was ready . We would play fun games , including cornhole , cards , chess and more , as we chronicled life ’ s ups and downs from the previous year .

Times have changed , however , and our camping has evolved . During the summer of the Covid- 19 Pandemic , we bought an RV travel trailer to camp safely and stay healthy . On the day of our maiden voyage , we finished packing , hitched up the RV Camper to the truck and ensured that the trailer brakes and lights were in proper working order . Then after a quick bite to eat , we were on the road , lumbering along while trying to avoid all the crazy or distracted drivers . When we finally arrived at the campground — a quiet and serene state park filled with wildlife and scenic nature trails —

See CAMPING , Page 19

The Docket · June 2021 13

The Docket June 2021 | Page 13

COVID calls for a different take on camping vacation