Adventure #7 - Backyard Campout
Objective Reflection:
For my Overnight Camp, I was looking forward to visiting one of the coastal state parks, and even began planning a surf and camp trip in Bodega Bay. Unfortunately all of the regional, state, national, and BLM parks are closed for camping at the moment, which put a huge delay on this trip. I was honestly already nervous about doing a solo camp for the first time, so I wanted to plan it to the detail and make sure I was in the safest and most reliant place possible. So, when that plan fell through, I was honestly stuck on what to do next since I didn't want to overpay for a campsite that I wasn't comfortable to be at. Luckily the weather cleared up and my friend had an extra tent and some backyard space we could use to camp out overnight. We decided to rough it, instead of staying in the mansion he rents, even though his roommates thought it was a little ridiculous. But still, we set up the tent and piled on the blankets and made a little fort in the backyard. It was honestly a lot of fun and we had a good time setting up in the dark, which is something I would never do on a true camping trip. I also live for that feeling of waking up in the morning to the sun and birds in a misty tent. I definitely appreciate that warm tent dew in the morning and how when you roll over you get a cool breeze and see the sun through the tarps. Although it wasn't the camping trip I envisioned for this semester, I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity to sleep in a tent and "camp out" in our own unique way.
Personal Reflection:
The weather definitely rued my decision to camp in the backyard as my overnight trip. I realized much too late that this was the only night of the week that wouldn't be in a storm advisory. I was really looking forward to pushing myself to a solo camp this semester, but the circumstances (COVID-19 closings, weather, and financials) made that a lot harder. So instead, I decided to borrow a tent and some grass and camp outside with my adventure buddy. Although this may not have been the most outdoorsy campout I've ever had, it was still exciting to pitch the tent and sleep in the cold. Luckily I got to camp this week before the strong storm warning started. Although I have gone camping a number of times, usually as our annual family vacation or on the beach with friends, I haven't gone in such cold weather in a very long time. It was fun to bundle up and sleep under the stars, especially on such a clear night. I'm really looking forward to the parks reopening so I can finally do my solo adventure camp this spring, especially now that I'm more aware of my surroundings, I know how to solo camp, and I can easily plan a trip like this. This year I've also grown an appreciation for car-camping, so it was really nice to sleep on the ground again and lose a little sleep in the name of enjoying nature to the fullest.
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