This is a question I’ve been asked a lot recently. It’s weird to me. Camping isn’t extraordinary, it’s not so special that one should have to explain why they like doing it. I do also understand why some people don’t like it. That’s ok too. But insisting on making me feel crazy because I like camping seems weird!
Yes, I camp in the field located pretty much across the street from my dad’s place
I suppose that is what puzzle most people.
Why in hell would I choose to camp there, when I have a comfy bed available to me in a safe bedroom?!
I suppose it is a fair question! And I’m glad people keep on asking me such question because it got me to think about it. The simple answer seems to come down to freedom.
When I camp there, I feel free.
The little time I get before getting in my tent, there alone in the field watching the sunset, I feel free. I get all this space around me, the forest in the background, the moon and the stars… all for myself and I feel immensely alive and blessed.
Once inside my tent, the little time I get before falling asleep feels carefree. I only need to make sure that I’m comfy, snuggled in my sleeping bag… Nothing else. I don’t need to worry about anything… if the stove is off, if the door is locked, if the lights are off… None of the daily live’s worries come to mind. It is simply peaceful. The sound of the crickets and birds chirping quickly dissipate, as I fall asleep.
As I wake up in the morning, still tucked-in snuggly, I get to hear the wind blowing in the trees, or maybe the rain on the tent. Sometimes it’s the singing of the cuckoo that wakes me. Sometimes it’s all the forest coming alive a little too early.
I get up, wait for my coffee to sing too and sip it while watching the sunrise. There again, I feel free. I don’t have to worry about anything for another 15 minutes or so. 15 minutes of blissful ignorance of what might have happened in the World while I was sleeping, 15 minutes where nothing else than the promises of another day matters.
Meanwhile my dad is probably reading the news, or on his bike already and on his way to the baker. In that moment, I don’t want to think about him, if he is wearing his mask or else. In that moment, I’m not available for anyone but the sun, nature awakening, birds singing, the fresh smell of the dew in the grass, grasshoppers landing too close to my coffee mug and if I’m particularly blessed, a deer or 2, strolling in the distance.
When my mug is finally empty of coffee, despite me drinking it intentionally very slowly, I get out of this blissfulness. Then only, do I get ready to go back to my dad’s house. On my way, I usually turn around one last time, just before the neighbor’s plot corner, right before his hedge hides the sight. There I see my little tent in the tall grass, the sun playing with the trees and drawing shadows all over and filling the distant tree line with golden colors.
And right there and then, I’m ready for another day!
Yes, I’ve been scared a few times
Admittedly, I have been scared a few times. And this is one of the reasons why some people don’t like camping. Because of safety concerns.
The very first time I camped there was an extremely windy night and the sound of the wind rumbling in the forest, at the end of the field, kept me awake for much of the night. I laughed about it… a lot… afterward! I felt ridiculous, but during that night, every sound I heard felt like a direct menace!
That first night was just a test night! I had to sleep in the tent with my niece the next day and I said nothing about the previous night to her. Maybe I should have to see her reaction. But her mom would have not let her sleep there, if she had known and I didn’t want to spend another night alone!
That second night was much more peaceful and convinced me I had to try again. And so I did…
A couple nights after that, wild boars came to pay me a visit. Not sure if they were dancing around my tent or just passing by but they were pretty loud. Unsure what to do at first, I kept very quiet and tried to disappear in my sleeping bag. They kept roaming when I suddenly decided to clap in my hands. This little clap was enough and their grunts soon faded in the distance.
After that, wild boars didn’t frighten me anymore. I heard them often during my other camping trips, but didn’t even bother clapping.
Recently, and this may have been the most frightening experience, I spotted 2 slightly suspicious guys, a little further down the end of my dad’s field. There was no good reason for them to be there, at that time or any other time for that matter. Evening was coming to an end and it frightened me to see them there, roaming. I hesitated that evening and considered sleeping at home.
At that point, humans felt like the most dangerous species I could encounter, in my camping experiences. Let’s be clear that there are no bears, or any other dangerous animals, where my dad lives. Just wild boars, deers, rabbits, pheasants, squirrels, cuckoos, pigeons and cats! Since I was over my fear of wild boars, there was no other animals to worry about… except humans.
Despite fearing what could happen if these 2 guys were to realize that a woman was sleeping alone in the tent they probably spotted in the distance, I decided to not let them take my freedom away.
That evening, I waited for the night to come and carefully and very discreetly went to my tent. Walking in the dark, hiding in the shadows like a thief, I let my eyes acclimate to the night, to try to spot them. Once in my bed, I stayed awake a little longer too, listening for any unusual noise. After a while, I relaxed and felt asleep and… yeah well, nothing happened!
This was slightly unpleasant to say the least. Maybe these 2 guys were absolutely the kindest on Earth and had a good reason to be there (very doubtful). But generally, women have to be more careful and this was one of those circumstances where all your senses tell you to be. Yet, I didn’t want fear to take over this one thing I have, when I am there and which brings me so much peace.
This still served as a warning for my future camping trips.
The first night I slept in my tent alone is a night I still laugh about. The boars dancing around my tent while I sleep soundly, is a joke I still regularly tell people who ask me why I camp in that field! Those 2 guys? This isn’t something I will joke about because as a woman, I know there is a real threat there.
My future camping trips
If it wasn’t clear enough in the piece about my new tipi tent, I’m gearing up to go on road trips with Minty. And Yes, such trips shall include some camping!
The above experiences, in my dad’s field have taught me to be brave but not completely crazy! Well, crazy has a wide scale and I believe I’m still on the lower end. I’m on the lowest end on the bravery scale as well, to be honest.
Oh I dream of taking of on Minty and riding until I’m tired or I got to a nice place, somewhere I want to camp for the night. Have a nice carefree evening, a good night of sleep and my morning coffee before riding again. On repeat!
Realistically, my first trips will probably be more like my test drives. Going just a few miles out, camping for one night and coming back, probably exhausted after a sleepless night. Still most likely totally happy! Most likely also a little ashamed of how ridiculous my fears are still there!!
Realistically, after that I may take a slightly bigger trip. Such trip will include a fully packed bike, but probably with a first night in a nice hotel or B&B! Yes, chicken I am!
Hopefully, I will then venture to a nice campground. Not overly crowded, not deserted either.
And then? Well, we shall see!
You may laugh! I understand. Yet, I’ve also feel the burden being woman can be and with my plans, such burden has somehow gotten heavier. Being a woman isn’t a curse, but it can still be pretty damn dangerous.
I’ve done my share of travels, alone and I’ve always managed to stay out of troubles and enjoyed it.
But traveling alone, on a vintage motorcycle and camping alone feels next level.
Still need to train my self-awareness muscles
I feel like I have to build up my self-awareness radars. Not just for me to be safe but for Minty to not get stollen!
One thing that I have already accomplished is to stay safe on the road. I’ve always been good at anticipating other drivers’ mischief and it is something that feels even more important now that I have poor brakes! It is still a muscle that needs to be train constantly.
However, I have to get better at self-awareness in general.
I tend to mind my own business, lost in my thoughts and lacking a global read of a place and the people there.
For example, I recently read that as a woman, you should check if local moms are strolling the area you are on with their children. If they do, then it is probably a safe place. I was somehow amazed, as my first urge is usually to run away from such places!
Anyway, one can read as many articles or books they want on self-awareness and safety but one will never be ready just by doing so.
And so I shall gear up and try! I still have a lot to do, a lot of small steps to manage, before I can take Minty to the wild.
