Camping... a "balance battery" recharger

What a fun, fun, fun time we had camping last weekend!

It had been two years since we last packed up the car with all our gear and set out for the wilderness. Richard and I knew we were likely to feel somewhat "rusty" with the whole experience, but in fact it came naturally as though no time had passed. Travelling and setting up side-by-side camps with three of our closest friends made for a great time! Even Diva, our little Abbysinnian camping-cat came along and did pretty good!

Lund, B.C. is a teenie-tiny coastal community "at the end of the road." Lund itself has charm and appeal (plus the world-renowned cinnamin buns at Nancy's Bakery!), but the real magnet for arriving tourists is to travel over to the old-time feel of Savory Island... a fifteen-minute water taxi ride from Lund. The island life is like stepping back to a time in the 50's when the pace of life was considerably slower, bicycles are the main way to get around and the lack of electricity invigorates creativity in ways we just don't see much of today. It is no wonder why so many people are excited about summering on this lovely California-like island. We'll go again.

Our camp cooking was definitely one of the highlights of the weekend for me! What fun it was to pool our groceries and energy to create such tasty, healthy meals in camp. A little imagination went a long ways a few times, especially the evening that the tortellini got cooked up. (We love you, Bob!) The highlight of the camp cooking, though, was Richard poking a stick through a raw egg then cooking it perfectly over the campfire without it exploding... one of his wilderness survival tricks from long-ago, something he's bragged about being able to do for a long time and finally got to demonstrate. Needless to say, we were all pretty impressed!

I knew that getting away from the intensity of work and day-to-day life then getting out in nature would be impactful... and it was!... but it was being with our special friends that made the biggest impact for me. We have always been close with our friends, but how great to experience the deepening that happens with significant time together, over and above the usual visits of dinner or brunch together. Sitting around the campfire sharing stories and histories, cooking meals together, hiking, seeing each other in the morning before coffee, etc. has made for knowing each other even more, enriching our friendships. Camping has a way of getting us closer to our mates, too... for time spent slowing down in wilderness helps to connect hands and hearts.

I was thinking on our return trip home that true friends are, in a wonderful way, like extended family members... they're important ingredients to a good life. We're grateful that our lives have been blessed with these three special people... thanks for a wonderful time Ash, Rob and Bobby! Let's go off in another camping direction again soon... that was a blast!

I am now back at my work and studies feeling much more rested, my "balance batteries" having been recharged. If you haven't spent significant time with your friends lately, I highly recommend you do so in some capacity... who knows, camping might be a cool way for you to recharge your soul and friendship, too.

Warmly, Carolyn
Inner Fitness(R) Programs

All photographs taken by Carolyn Clarke (C) 2006
For more of my photos, visit my gallery at www.cafepress.com/earthimages