Friday 7 of us arrived at the Atsion State Park where first we purchased our camping permit. Turns out that the Pine Barrens are under a stage 2 fire alert. Translation? We can`t build a wood fire. That sucked. But being as hot as it was it was probably a good thing. Upon receiving our permit, we took a back road that looked like the Texas Chain Saw Murderer must have been raised in them parts and decided that we must have gone the wrong way. Of course it took us nearly an hour to figure out that we weren`t headed toward a camp site. When we arrived back at Point A, we discovered that the actual camp site was across the road from the camp office where we got our permit. What a maroon!

We set up camp. The women went to get the groceries. The men finished setting up. If this isn`t an obvious illustration of gender roles in the 50s I don`t know what is. Turns out that after laboriously making a temporary home for ourselves, the men each cracked open a bottle of brew and (BAM!) flashlights in their faces. They all got ticketed for open containers. Didn`t know there was an open container law. So they got busted. Sucks too, cuz how can you BBQ at a camp site, and not have a beer?

Saturday we went canoeing. I hadn`t gotten a single insect bite over the hot musty night and I was feeling lucky. John and I paired up, so I was feeling even luckier knowing I`d have an experienced canoer with muscles to help me out. The first leg of the trail was great. We managed to stay neck and neck with Brian and Jane with little difficulty or problem. Then lunch came. I don`t know exactly what happened but from that point on, we just couldn`t catch a break on the river. I felt as though I was working 10 times as hard with my paddle (and so did John) and making less way. Do you know how frustrating that is? Eventually, we grew hysterical and stopped, laughed our heads off, cracked open a beer, lit a cigarette and just plain chilled. That was probably one of the best parts of the trip. We surrendered ourselves to the river and decided to take it easy. The rest of the trail turned out to be beautiful and therapeutic...and well worth the hassle it took to realize we just had to sit back and enjoy.

Saturday night we moved camp to a private site where alcohol was permitted.

Journal Index


Home