Goin' Back to Nature.... cool..... Well, I love to camp. Any type of camping really. In fact, I classify camping into four types: family camping, roughin' camping, lovers camping, and of course, the party camping trip. Now for the details: The Background My parents used to take me and my brothers to Algonquin Park in Ontario every year since I was about 4 years old. For a while, it turned into the Prince / Doyle family fun week, with many of the Uncles and Aunts on my Dad's side (all his brothers and sisters are last named Doyle... it's a long story) making the pilgrimage. As a kid, I had my share of fun, but I'm sure my family camping was their party camping... (more on that below) but I didn't know any better. I loved Algonquin Park - we usually stayed at the Mews Lake campground, and we almost always got a site that was right on the lake. I've walked every single trail there is on the Route 60 corridor through the park (about 60 km long)... in fact, many of them more than 6-7 times each! My brothers and I used to drag my poor father on those hikes, some of them going high up to lookout points, others going through a bog, and still others going through a beaver dam, an old 18th century railroad baron's house, and my favourite one, a trail that follows a log run, including a very big waterfall. I really miss that park... but that's why I like camping so much - cuz it reminds me of the youthful days gone by! Family Camping Family camping is what I described above... taking the kids and going camping for a week or two. I don't do that anymore... and don't plan to for some time yet! Roughin' Camping Roughin' camping is what you do after blowing a fortune at Mountain Equipment Co-op. It means just you, your friends, and your backpack. Off into the woods you go, fending for yourself, with only the food and clothes and tools you have on your back. Sometimes, roughin' camping involves a canoe, and sometimes it involves a mountain bike. I've done all three. It is an amazing experience - you really do get back to nature, and you often have to rely on what you find to survive, including food and shelter. But it ain't for the faint hearted. Lovers Camping I dunno exactly why, but I think of camping as being terribly romantic, and even sexy at times. Maybe it was growing up, seeing some of my uncles fall in love with women they brought on the old trips. Maybe it was the old bonfires we used to have at Mooney's Bay in Ottawa, all us young teens, with our new girlfriends and boyfriends. I dunno, but the idea of my and my special woman, sitting alone under the stars, cuddled to stay warm in front of the fire, then cuddling even more in the tent to help keep all cozy is my idea of a nice time together. It's too bad that Jeanette doesn't think so. Camping is not remotely romantic, or even super fun to her. It's a problem we're working on. Party Camping! It's a toss up for me which one I like more - party camping or lovers camping. Then again, at most party camping events, I had my girlfriend with me, so it was the best of both worlds. For those who don't know the experience, here's what you do - you get a bunch of friends together, grab sleeping bags, tents, whatever, bathing suits, plenty o booze, and all climb in your cars and head off to the nearest "secret" campsite. It has to be a secret one, and not at some park, cuz you're gonna be hootin' and hollerin', and you don't want no officious Ranger-type coming down on ya. For us back east, our secret spot was at an old, abandoned quartz mine about 70kms away from Ottawa. That site had it all - a great lake, fairly easy access, and the most amazing caves, with a crystal clear mineral lake in the bottom of it! I have a great story about camping there once, and I'll soon put it in my Tales section. Anyway, when you party camp, you generally have a ton of fun - you sing songs, drink, play games, grope a bit, swim, and generally try to play tricks and games on everyone. These partycamps usually last till the booze runs out (always seems to be in one day, no matter how much booze we bring), and then we all head back to town, hung over, exhausted, but after having a great time. Click here to get to the other stuff I do.

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