Primitive Camping
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
Gainesville, Florida
March 5, 2016 8:02am CST
I have been a lifelong, avid outdoorsman, going all the way back to my childhood days of hunting and camping with my father, to participating in Boy Scouts, and long into adulthood. I just thoroughly enjoy the great outdoors, and camping is one of my favorite activities.
It's been a while since I've been able to camp, due to my busy work schedule, but I have been able to get outside just about every weekend to go hiking with my son.
His birthday is coming up next week, and when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he told me he wanted to go camping! You can imagine not only my surprise that a child of the electronic age wanting to spend time outdoors, but that he also picked an activity that is one of my favorites!
And he doesn't just want to go to a campground, he wants to go primitive camping! And I know the perfect place! About 45 minutes south of Gainesville is the Ocala National Forest, a 400,000 acre pristine wilderness, where primitive camping is allowed anywhere in the forest!
Even though his birthday is on Tuesday, we won't have a free weekend together until two weeks later, so that's when we are planning to go camping. Which is nice, because it gives me time to prepare and gather the necessary supplies.
Are you a fan of camping? Have you ever been primitive camping (no electric, no water, no campground, just you and the wilderness)?
11 people like this
12 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
5 Mar 16
I prefer the other name, roughing it. So, my definition of roughing it...when room service stops at 10:00 p.m.
As you probably have figured out, camping? Not so much. We did that when I was a child, hated it. A friend suggested I go camping with her family because they did it right. Loved the group, hated camping.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 16
Elizabeth thinks just like me! Kindred spirits!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
I love your definition of "roughing it." That is hilarious! Nothing upsets me worse than finding out room service isn't available, or has limited hours, at the hotel I'm staying at! Well, at least one benefit of camping is that you have to haul all of your food with you, so you can have "room service" anytime of day or night out in the woods! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
@ElizabethWallace They close when it rains! That's interesting!
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Mar 16
@moffittjc I am sure that you will soon fall back into the camping routine. Hand on hips and mince along like a catwalk model.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
@Asylum That made me laugh out loud!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
I was such an avid camper too when I was younger. So sad that I have gotten away from it over the years. But now that my son has an interest, it looks like I will be enjoying it again!
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
5 Mar 16
My first time camping to me it was very primitive as I went with 2 girls that I knew and there were also 2 young children. We camped in a tent and had a place in the ground to cook some food, luckily there were toilet facilities not to far away. Then I camped in a travel trailer after that but boy ways were fun. I do also enjoy the outdoors.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
5 Mar 16
@moffittjc
I'm a lot like that I loved camping in a tent and in the camper.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
I think I'm one of those people who can be happy just about anywhere...in a hotel, in my house, in a tent, in a camper, and even sleeping in my truck! lol I just always tend to look for the best in every situation, so I just look to have fun no matter what the experience is!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
@Marcyaz As much as I camped in my younger days, I'm really surprised I've gotten away from it over the years. I really miss it, and I'm probably more excited to go camping than my son is! I think we are going to have an amazing time!
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar 16
I have a dream one day (after I retire) of taking off for two adventures: 1) hiking the entire Appalachian Trail; and 2) walking the entire coastline of Florida from one end to the other. It may take some time, but I'll have lots of fun doing it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar 16
@sallypup I've hiked 52 miles of the Appalachian Trail once over the course of a week. The first two days was brutal getting used to the mountains (not used to it from being from flat Florida), but after the second day it got better! Can't wait to get back on the trail!
@sallypup (69157)
• Centralia, Washington
7 Mar 16
@moffittjc I have read some intriguing accounts about the Applachian trail. You sound fit and strong. I envy your living in Florida. It must be gorgeous.
1 person likes this
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
6 Mar 16
Primitive camping is the majority of what I've done - it's really the best. Have fun!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar 16
Most of my camping experiences growing up have been primitive ones. I really enjoy getting back to the basics!
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
5 Mar 16
I have camped all my life with my family. These days of all my siblings I am the only one who still camps,. Nothing better than coffee in the morning listening to the birds chirp and the fish jumping in the lake. Have a great time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
Thanks! Nothing beats camping! It is one of my favorite activities of all time! Now that my son has shown an interest, I'm sure we will go camping all the time now!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
5 Mar 16
@moffittjc It's a great vacation, something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and can be done close to home and on weekends.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
@fishtiger58 Can't get better than that! Living here in Florida in the southeastern part of the the US, I can easily take a plane or boat to any of the Caribbean islands and enjoy a weekend getaway that is quick and inexpensive, similar to your experience! It's nice to have opportunities like that!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar 16
We are getting excited just planning for our trip!
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
5 Mar 16
I am a huge fan of camping and have been camping since the age of 8. I've done most every kind of camping, from primitive camping while backpacking to RV camping in a pop-up. Both my boys did the Scout trail from Tiger to Eagle so we did lots of tent camping over the years. Now, my wife and I prefer a bit more comfort when we camp so we just purchased a travel trailer and will be taking our first trip with it over Easter Weekend.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
Sounds like you have a fun trip planned for Easter weekend! Hope you enjoy the travel trailer!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
5 Mar 16
No I am afraid I like my comforts and luxuries far too much to give them up. I like to be waited on hand and foot surrounded by luxury! I would not dream of spending two seconds in a tent in case a snake slithered
in!
in!1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Mar 16
I only had a snake get in my tent one time in my life, and it was just a small rat snake! But I did have a bear one time claw it's way into my tent to get at some food I had stashed in there! That was the last time I made that mistake of putting food in my tent! lol
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
6 Mar 16
I go camping every summer. My sister and I started the tradition when my husband worked all summer and she, a teacher, was divorced and we wanted our children to know how much fun it was to camp. We camped at the state park that we grew up camping in. My parents were avid campers. The only time we did the primitive was when the kids were teens. We hiked one of the trails near our campground and slept in a lean-too and there was a outhouse there so I guess it really wasn't primitive. But it was exhausting and the mosquitoes kept us all awake all night. The hike was not easy, the lake that we slept next too was delightful, and we didn't have enough water. It was a lesson in life... I think its wonderful your son chose this trip.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar 16
It's going to bring back a lot of memories from my childhood, but I'm really looking forward to the trip wth my son!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
20 Apr 16
I've only been camping twice. First experience wasn't fun because it was with my dad, his then girlfriend and my ex. The ex that is a big turd hole. So that on it's own wasn't fun. Also because the tent had a flap that kept on opening on my side of the tent so I kept getting rained on lol And the blow up bed we had got a hole so when all the air came out of it, we could feel that we were laying on rocks. So wasn't the best time.
Second time was good because it was me and my friend. I was drunk the whole time driving down there lol I remember I had to pee and there was no where to stop so she pulled over, I literally fell out the car, then tried to walk into the bushes so no other cars could see me pee, and I fell over about 5 times trying to do so lol I am not really a big drinker, I only drink when something is bothering me and back then it was hell because of ex. So yeah. I drank but it was still fun.
I do like camping though. It's nice. Where me and my friend were was beautiful. Near a lake and nature. Could hear the birds early in the morning. I'd love to do it again sometime.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Apr 16
You should do it again sometime! There's nothing more relaxing than being outside in nature. Just next time, don't get so drunk! Remember....everything in moderation! LOL
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