While Camping, Finding a Silence as Sweet as Honey

Letting go can take a while. When I take off for an overnight or three-day bike tour--or even a long day ride--I find that I don't really let go until I'm ten miles down the road. I'm riding and thinking about all those things in my daily routine, things to do or that I want to do or that I should have done. Then there comes a moment when the attention settles on the riding, on the spinning of the pedals and the body's working, on the bird sounds and the wildflowers along the roadside. 

The same experience of settling into the moment and letting the tipsy-turvy mind settle certainly added to the enjoyment of my walk on a lakeside trail yesterday here at Honey Creek State Park in SE Iowa. Although I had enjoyed some short bike rides during my two-week stay here, I hadn't found any trails continuous enough for a longer hike. I was tired of my choices being either campground or asphalt. I had taken some longer walks along Rathbun Lake (and more on that later), but they were more ambles because I had to walk slowly, watching my step to avoid twisting an ankle on the rocks. Therefore, when I struck a trail that skirted a smaller arm of the lake yet stayed above the lake among the trees, I joyfully strode off for some exercise and the serenity of the trees, and again was happy to just settle into the moment, after about a quarter hour of hiking. 

What is true for the bike ride or hike has also been true for this camping season's "staycations," where I've camped at one site for a couple of weeks. Arriving at the campsite, the initial first days focused on setting up camp and establishing a camp routine. After a few days, though, I had the thought: "I could go back to camp and cook lunch. It's almost noon. But I don't have to. I can just keep walking along the lake and get back a little later." Not exactly a mind-boggling, life-changing epiphany, but the perspective behind the thought was significant to me. 

My "time-sense" and "schedule-sense" was easing up. I was remembering what it was like to be off the clock. My individual time was remembering that it is just a drop in the ocean of cosmic time. We all have moments of intense activity. Even indigenous cultures were busy, but that "business" was much more embedded in the rhythms of nature. I think our minds and bodies miss that elegant and stately flow of time passing in nature, as opposed to living on the clock. It's not that we've lost cosmic time when we are on the clock; it's more that we deny an essential aspect of ourselves, like the drop of water declaring itself "non-ocean." 

I think we can have both--the cosmic and the individual--but we have to familiarize our mind and bodies to recognizing that both exist. Yes the ticking of the old-school clock is real. I mean, just listen! We can hear it. However, our attention becomes so absorbed in the ticking that we lose our awareness of the silence between the tick-tocks of the clock. We forget that without the silence, there would be no "tick," only a continuous chaos of white noise. Hmmm . . . sound familiar? We are both individual and cosmic, and being in nature reminds us of that. Even if our ego is not convinced, our mind and bodies feel some freeing from the confines of boundaries labeled "lunchtime" or "rush hour" "10-minute break."

This morning I awoke early and watched the dawn. A light rain was falling, and as the night sky lightened, the dawn was a gradual increase of shades of gray beneath the cloudy sky. The gray drizzle outside my tiny camper's windows, though, and the soughing of the wind through the trees and the rich smell of leaf mould that the fall conjured as fingers of wind discovered my tiny trailer's slightly opened ceiling vent--all this reminded me of my greater and grander nature. The golds and reds and russets of autumn were muted by the gray fall dawn, but two deer browsed outside the window, oblivious of my presence as I sat in the warm safe haven of my tiny trailer. We each had our place and purpose.

I was outside, yet inside. I closed my eyes and was inside, yet outside. The camper walls weren't a barrier; the words and the concepts the words "inside" and "outside" represented were the barrier, one I left behind. I was surrounded by a womb-like comfort, surrounded by warm stillness as outside the wind moaned softly and rain pattered on the rooftop. Out of darkness the day was born, and in that dawning I remembered a line from an Inuit song, that every dawn is a new creation. 

I think over again my small adventures, my fears,

These small ones that seemed so big.

For all the vital things I had to get and to reach.

And yet there is only one great thing,

The only thing.

To live to see the great day that dawns

And the light that fills the world.

With all the strife and turmoil of personal life and the life of others that surrounds us, it's good to remember the stillness before dawn, the silence that surrounds the rustling of the leaves, and that it is natural to be awake and unafraid, to feel that after that first breath, we have all the time in the world. 

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Review: Iron Hammer Portable Electric Camping Shower

When COVID-19 hit this year, my wife and I decided to not use any campground amenities other than water and electricity. This meant that we had to use our portable toilet all the time and not just for nighttime visits. It also meant that we had to develop a procedure for bathing other than using the campground shower houses. We had already occasionally used a small plastic pan for sponge bathing, but with full-time self-sufficiency at the campground, we wanted to find a shower option.

After some online research of products and reviews, I finally decided to give the Iron Hammer Portable Electric Camping Shower a try. From the reviews I knew there was some risk involved with the product. The marketing on the product's box reads "More smaller -- More useful," as was mentioned in an Amazon review, so it was evident that this was not a product filtered through an American distributor. The instruction manual is also a bit difficult to read, although the meaning is discoverable: "When the product is fully charged, please dial the charging cable and the power adapter from the power outlet. Do not left the power adapter on the socket if not charge."

This product is produced by Shenzhenshi Lulutong Technology Company, Ltd., based in Guangdong, China. A Facebook page is listed but does not pull up when searched on Facebook. There is a Q & A link tab on the company's Laserbeak webpage at anygalaxy.com, but it doesn't load. There are international phone numbers and an email at this site. Checking the "Iron Hammer" link at Amazon, products associated with the words arose, but no clear contact links with the manufacturer. I'm mentioning this because if there is a product problem, communication would probably be . . . well, a slow boat to China. Such can be the vicissitudes of international commerce. 

Although the Amazon reviews averaged 4.5 stars out of 5 with fifty-six ratings, there were a few warnings of weaknesses and failures. Thirteen percent of the reviews cited some problem with the unit: arriving broke or breaking within 6-18 months (1-3 stars). However, that means 87% reviews awarded 4-5 stars out of five. 

Even some "4" ratings mentioned that there is no shut-off switch on the showerhead, although a water-flow valve is provided. As one reviewer mentioned, using the flow-stop valve stops the water but not the pump, though, which might damage the pump if maintained too long. I solved this by just reaching into my five-gallon bucket of water and turning off the switch located on the submersible pump. Some reviewers were annoyed by having to do this, but I found it easy to do. After all, my hand and arm were already wet!

I've used the unit regularly over this 2020 camping season, maybe ten times. When charged, the battery maintains the charge well. I'm camping for two weeks right now at a local state park, and when I went to shower yesterday, I realized that I hadn't charged the unit since my last camping trip about three weeks ago. There was still plenty of power, though.

I've used the shower in my Elephant Utilitent and also in a shower area I've rigged in my Clam Quick Set Escape shelter. I bought two five-gallon buckets with lids at Walmart for showering water. I only need one five-gallon bucket for a shower, but I bought the second bucket for my wife so she'll have plenty of water to wash her hair. Since the buckets slide one within the other, taking two doesn't take up any more room. This is a good time to mention that this unit pumps water but does not heat it. 

Using a stainless steel canning pot to heat water (which also doubles as a rinse pot for dishes), usually I can go half and half with hot and cold water to get five gallons. One bucket with a lid is my shower seat, and the other bucket, of course, holds the water. Usually taking a shower means that I'll be turning the shower off and on about 4-6 times as I rinse, lather, and rinse, head to toes. I could use much less water, but since I'm not boondocking, I just use whatever's comfortable--but five gallons is plenty for me. 

The unit has two speeds. I use the higher one, but the lower pump speed works okay, too. The unit charges via a USB connection. I have a little electric clock with USB plug-ins that I use in my tiny trailer. The pump comes with a little yellow plastic web bag for storage. I remove the showerhead and pump from the hose and store the hose in the bag. Everything, including the hose in the mesh bag, is stored in the original cardboard box, which is strong enough that it will probably last for a while. Be careful when detaching the showerhead and pump from the hose, though. There are two white plastic washers that would be easy to lose. The whole assembly can stay connected when stored if you like it quick and easy.

I'm happy with this unit. It does exactly what I want it to do, and it's pretty compact. I haven't had any problems with it, and hopefully it will hold up with use. I'm glad that with our portable toilet and shower unit, my wife and I can camp yet still maintain our zone of safety during this pandemic. 

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Camping and Reading Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essay "Nature"

"Autumn -- On the Hudson River, Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823-1900)

In the evening the deer enter the campground, browsing in the fading sunlight. The leaves are turning yellow and gold, and the air cools quickly as the sun lowers. I'm happy to be camping again at Rathbun Lake, back again two weeks after my last "staycation," this time at Honey Creek State Park. 

I started my stay here by tuning in to the Vice Presidential debate but am now honestly glad to pivot back to my camping trip. I suppose one of the downsides of having 3-4 bars of cellphone signal strength is that it takes a bit longer to unhook!

I have a plan, though, and I provided myself with a "disengagement aid" by reading Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "Nature" yesterday. I first read this essay--can it be possible?--coming up in a few years on a half a century ago, while taking an American Transcendentalism literature class in college. I'm glad I've read it again, as I have a few times over the years. 

Emerson tells us that the universe is a unified wholeness, and that we have the capacity to consciously experience and live that wholeness. As I enjoy the beautiful fall weather, or as Emerson calls it, the "Indian Summer," I'm reminded that to be a human being is a special thing, and that we should as Superman's biological father tells him, only use our gifts for good.

I've written a personal reaction to Emerson's essay "Nature" and published it on my writing blog, Tom Kepler Writing. As always, I find myself uplifted by the inspiring words of American naturalists, Emerson, Thoreau, and Muir among them. If we could be "rapt away" into the fullness of nature, Emerson says, "the upper sky would be all that would remain of our furniture." He writes that nature can transform us, heal us; even while listening to the "crackling and spurting of hemlock in the flames" of the fireplace and gazing at the patterned grain of the wood-paneled walls while in our homes, we can see "the music and pictures of the most ancient religion." 

Honey Creek State Park

As I write, the third annual "gathering of the Bears," the Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers reunion is taking place at Harrison Bay State Park in Tennessee. Although, I am not there, I wish all my camping friends health and happiness. Being in nature certainly helps. 

Here is the link to my article: "Reading Emerson's Essay 'Nature' While Camping." Enjoy!

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Tiny Trailer Owner Profile: Laurie and Dan Kinney, and Months on the Road

Want to hear in a nutshell why people love tiny trailer camping? Here it is from Dan and Laurie Kinney, from northern Michigan: "We both loved the concept of still living outdoors, but with minimal setup and a queen-sized indoor bed!"

After more than forty years of tent camping, the Kinneys made the transition to a teardrop trailer. "When we retired, we desired to travel and camp as often as we could. Cold, wet pack-ups really started to wear on us as we camped for months at a time. Dan was adverse to towing anything, but we really needed a new solution." They had their reasons for both wanting yet not wanting a tow solution, and finally experience played a role in their final decision.

"In 2015, we helped move our kids to Madison, Wisconsin. The move required us to pull a small trailer through downtown Chicago (yeah - GPS can be really stupid sometimes). We came through that experience unscathed, and Dan suggested we try to find a 5x8 camping solution.

"Moving to a pop-up camper really did not gain us much except sleeping off the ground. It still required setup, packup, etc. It still involved wet canvas. We had seen some new, vintage, and home-built teardrops on previous camping excursions and had even toured some. We both loved the concept--still living outdoors, but with minimal setup and a queen-sized indoor bed!

"We looked at several different styles from bare-bones all the way up to Vistabule and Camp Inn. We decide on TCTeardrops because they were willing to custom-build a teardrop with exactly what we wanted, and nothing else. We were able to re-purpose most of our tent camping gear."

They've owned their 5 x 8 TCTeardrop now for more than four years, towing it with a Jeep Liberty that came with a factory tow package. They added a 7-pin connector so that they could have on-the-road charging. They've been pleased with this set-up overall but do make sure they go in for the recommended transmission maintenance, since they tow through some rough terrain, "which includes mountain roads, NFS forest roads, BLM roads (if you can even call some of them roads - LOL), and beaches." They've found that their tiny trailer and tow vehicle meet their needs quite well.

Having camped in over 200 locations with their teardrop, the Kinneys have camped anywhere from a weekend, all the way up to more than three months at a time.  They love boondocking, particularly now during the pandemic, but their most common camping experience is staying in rustic (no hookup) National Forest campgrounds or BLM campgrounds. They look for out-of-the-way places as a balance to their other desire, which is to visit as many national parks as possible, including national monuments, sea shores, wild and scenic rivers, lake shores, recreation areas, and wilderness areas.

It seems like the Kinneys have camped everywhere--from the Atlantic coastline in Acadia National Park to the desert in California, to the Rio Grande in Texas and on up to the shores of Lake Superior and even into Canada. 

"We love forests and mountains but have really come to appreciate the beauty of our American deserts. Our favorite pastimes are hiking and kayaking, so water is a must, along with access to hiking trails. Since we are retired, we generally camp in the spring, fall, and winter months. We leave the summer to families with children. I would have to say that my favorite time of year to camp is spring. As we travel toward home, new growth is everywhere. Wildflower blooms in the deserts, redbud trees in the southeast, birds and butterflies return home . . . heaven!"

Their favorite stories or adventures come from a single place, the Chiricahua National Monument, both adventures in 2017, a week apart.

"On our first three-month trip out West in early 2017, we planned to camp at the Chiricahua National Monument. We got there mid-morning on a Thursday in February, and the campground was full until at least the middle of the following week. A back-up plan was formed--our very first teardrop 'boondocking' down a washboard National Forest Service road to an absolutely amazing spot. It is still our favorite campsite ever. There were three existing stone fire rings and a short path led to a creek we could hear from the campsite. It was the original homestead site of one of early settlers in the Chiricahua Mountains. We even found their family cemetery fenced off on the path to the creek. That experience changed us forever. We no longer worry about finding full campgrounds. We know we can find somewhere to park, and often it is an amazing and memorable experience when we go 'off grid.'"

"On the same trip, just a week earlier, we faced one of our most challenging experiences. While back-roading with our Jeep at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, we had two flat tires in the middle of the desert, just feet from the Mexican border, and fifteen miles from our campground. While we had ONE spare tire, we did not have two. We did have a small tire pump and spent the next two and a half hours filling the flat tire with air for ten minutes, and then driving for 3-4 minutes. When we were pretty sure we would not make it home before dark, an amazingly generous family happened by and loaned us their far superior pump. They stayed with us until we were able to do one last fill and limp back to our campsite. It took a few days to schedule a tow truck to take us up to Gila Bend (75 miles away) to make repairs. During that time we experienced the kindness of dozens of generous campers. They checked on us every day, offered to take us to town for supplies, brought us ice, and offered to do laundry. They even offered to cook for us. It reaffirmed our belief that the people you meet while camping are the absolutely best humanity has to offer."

Living out of their tiny camper so many months of the year, their modifications to the camper and camping lifestyle that has evolved with their experience provides some especially interesting and informative points. "Since we live out of our teardrop for six months of the year, it absolutely must be 'home.' We added comfy pillows, a headboard, curtains, linens, etc. We bought really good kitchen supplies, which are mostly duplicates of what we have in our sticks and bricks kitchen."

Here is a list of their refinements to their rig and gear that make their camping experience easier and more fulfilling.

Be Prepared

We need to be prepared for whatever weather we encounter. Thus, many of our customizations allow us to enjoy the experience regardless of what "Mother Nature" provides. Adding the Foxwing and Sunseeker awnings, along with three extra walls has been a major modification. We also added a screen room that clips underneath the Sunseeker. Certain times of the year, the mosquitoes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are pretty intense.

Little Red Campfire
Adding a "Little Red Campfire" to the mix has turned out to be one of our favorite upgrades. Many places we travel have fire bans. Other times, wood is scarce or expensive to purchase. It is absolutely fantastic for baking potatoes for dinner (or for use in breakfast the next morning)! We used to carry fireplace logs with us but have since moved to the small propane fire. It has kept us warm and dried us out on many, many occasions. We also mounted a 5-pound propane tank and eliminated the 1-pound disposables.

12v Water Pump
Adding a 12v water pump was one of our first modifications. While I first thought it was a nice idea, it is now my favorite mod. The water jugs sit in the galley, and with the push of a button I can fill a bottle or a pan.

Extra Vent Fan
Dan also added a computer fan to one of our two air vents. It pulls fresh air through the teardrop. This has helped greatly with condensation. We use a Buddy heater (sparingly--five minutes or so) to take the chill off the air when the temperatures dip into the teens.

Solar Panel
Another important mod was adding an 60 watt solar panel to the lid of our toolbox. It powers an AGM battery and makes it much easier to camp off grid.

Extra Storage
A storage box and storage tubes to our roof rack make it easy to access our gear, such as poles and walls for the awnings, kayaking gear, and extra tarps. We find that easy access to all of our gear makes camping so much more enjoyable!

Post COVID-19 

We added a small pressure cooker to our kitchen. We can now carry lots of dried beans, vegetables, and grains to prepare meals from our pantry with fewer shopping trips. I am even making vegan sausages from our pantry supplies! We also added a 3-bucket laundry system so we no longer need to visit local laundromats. From the coin shortage to local social distancing rules and closures--we will still have clean clothes!

After all these specific how-to suggestions, it's hard to imagine that there is more advice for the Kinneys to pass our way, but fortunately for us, the Kinneys were willing to share more of their experience and wisdom. The basic rule for successful camping? "Keep it simple. You need far less than you think you do. Items that can have more than one purpose are fantastic." Some rules deal with equipment and some with camping procedures.

Clutter-free 

Our first, and still most important rule--do not carry gear in the cabin. We make sure we can pull over, jump into the teardrop, and stay there if needed. When unexpected weather hits such as rain, snow, sleet, wind, or sandstorm, we can always hunker down with absolutely zero setup.

Compact Gear

Collapsible items are your friend--from Luci lights to teapots, pans, strainers, and buckets--anything that compresses or folds is worth it, even if it is a bit more expensive.

Make a List

Take a few trips close to home so that you can easily grab everything you forgot to pack. Make a list of everything you take, organized by where it goes (car, toolbox, galley, cabin, etc.), and check your list every single time (yes, you can forget to pack a toothbrush!). If you find you are packing things you rarely use, drop them from the list. We no longer carry things such as fireplace logs, a campfire popcorn popper, our Coleman oven, and filled sandbags. Add things you find you now need. We now carry mouse traps and ant spray (stories for another day).  We change our list a little bit every trip.

Be Spontaneous

We like to plan a bit for every trip, but teardrop camping allows for spontaneous travel. Do not be afraid to go off grid or to try something new. We have found that we can make lunch in parking lots and rest areas. We can sleep in some unusual places. Do not overthink. Just go and have fun!

Future trips and dreams for the Kinneys include travel through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota this fall. "This winter (given the uncertainties of life in 2020) we plan to stay in the southeastern states all winter. We still plan to camp for 5-6 months of the year." Their dream trip would be a 4-5 month trip from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest, and then up into Alaska and back home. "There are still many national parks we have not visited, and we would love to add them to our teardropping experience."

This year's 2020 camping experience has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, forest fires, hurricanes, and heat waves and drought, all of which have created geographic limitations for camping and which have added the need for precautionary measures while camping. With their vast experience and comprehensive camping knowledge, the Kinneys have shown that it is possible to adapt to changing times and still find opportunities to safely enjoy the tiny trailer camping experience. We wish them and everyone who takes to the road safe and happy camping adventures.

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