It's been 10 years since I last slept in a tent. I remember why I wasn't in a rush to go campaign again. Pre-kids, Lyn and I went camping in the middle of the summer and spent the night sweating and as the main course for every kind of bug in the woods.
But that was just a tactical error because there really is something spiritual about a campfire, hot dogs, smores, a tent, sleeping bags and an 8 year old son. That's why, I imagine, the leaders of the men's ministry at Gracepointe Church in Franklin, TN held a father-son camp-out Friday night. And this was the best way to get back into it, because this was anything but roughing it. We were on the church property along side a creek and big firepit. The indoor bathrooms were open. The air is still cool at night.
This one night suburban adventure compelled me to acquire some gear. A new tent, sleeping bag for Ross, air mattresses with battery powered pump for inflation and deflation and, of course, tiki torches with fuel that burns in different colors. Add to that my standard tailgate set-up and we were better off than in a Super 8 Motel.
My friends Joel and his son Jacob plus Devin and his son Campbell joined us. About 50 other fathers and sons pitched tents scattered around the field with the large fire pit at the center. Before igniting the bonfire, our fearless leader Steven set up smaller piles of charcoal around the edge of the pit to roast hot dogs and marshmellows. After dinner, the fire was lit and the kids broke out a couple cases of glow sticks.
Ross and a lot of the other boys ran and played hard until after 11pm. The guys had a lot of laughs and tried not to be too concerned about the Lord of the Flies dynamic that was taking shape amongst the boys. Finally we crashed in the tent. Once we fell asleep, it was very very peaceful.
Roosters at a neighboring farm started making noise about 4. It got light outside a couple hours later. We got up, made coffee, fried up some bacon and broke down the tent. Ross and I were back home before 9am.
The experience has me surfing State Parks web sites this morning looking for another opportunity to camp. As summer approaches, this time around I am looking for camp sites at a higher elevation.
Good, good times.
