Camp fires!

Jeff left Terri this note yesterday!!!!

Sunday, January 24, 2010. WE are in Fruitland Park, FL on the shore of Lake Griffin. When we drove back in last night the camp fires were going, folks around roasting wieners and talking. Young people probably finding a cheaper way to see Disney World. It is only 25-30 miles down the road. Old folks gathered around telling tales, some truth some tall. LOL

WE don’t have a fire as often as we once did. A campfire is something special. It goes with being out in the woods. On the Appalachian Trail we were known for our camp fires. We couldn’t hike the long hours or distances the kids did, so we stopped early about 3PM. Sherry would find a hiding place to wash off with baby wipes and I would start gathering wood for our nightly fire. If the camping area was conducive to company kids and other hardy hikers would start showing up about 5-6. They never had a fire unless someone else built it, they were tired. The kids hike from 16 to 25 miles a day, and they are beat. Many, many times we were thanked for the fire that they only had to collapse around and tell about their day.

Camp Fires, like waterfalls bring out the best in folks. On several occasions we have had both in the wilderness. I loved hearing the dreams of the youngsters, we could sit back and enjoy them and remember when our future was only dreams.
WE met many older hikers, and loved hearing of their lives and past experiences. WE were amazed when we got interested in the Appalachian Trail, of the community that develops with its followers. WE have met many college kids, between years or just finishing and wanting to get out away from studies. WE met the pastor of a large Methodist Church in Knoxville who was out to relax away from phones, etc. Met one airline pilot and the head engineer of a sky scraper being built in Charlotte, NC. Artists and writers, wild kids and young folks with a real head on their shoulders.

WE met the smartest man in the world and a lady who was hiking with no supplies. We met two guys who were ‘only’ hiking three hundred miles to a buddies wedding!

There was young girls alone like Cricket and Grandmas hiking alone.
WE met many around Campfires and learned a lot there.

Thanks for coming this way.l
Nite Ships Log,
PS: On getting older:
When you needed the discount you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything .... movies, hotels, flights, but you're too tired to use them.