Does anyone remember the Gorn from Star Trek? Fighting a nasty cold, that’s exactly what Jill sounded like this week. In both of our interests, I decided to “camp” outside in the backyard the last few nights. While I was motivated by a peaceful night sleep for both of us, I can’t say that I wasn’t excited about sleeping in my new hammock some more before hitting the trail next week. Without a chance of rain, I excitedly set up my hammock in our woodlot, anticipating a comfy night’s rest. The first two nights were rather interesting. Here, I will share my experience backyard camping.
The First Night
Living in Harding, Pennsylvania, our setting is not suburban nor quite rural. It’s somewhere in between, with a mix of different types of properties and social classes. Sometimes we can enjoy the nighttime air or a campfire in silence and other times, it sounds like a circus.
Just my luck, the first night sounded like a campground of loud families found in a state forest setting. Whatever, it shouldn’t last all night and it didn’t, but I didn’t mention the traffic. The frequency was not a bother, it could have been worse; it was the occasional loud car or motorcycle that rocketed up the hill. On several occasions, just as I was about to fall asleep, I was rudely awakened by the roar of an engine.
The night became more peaceful shortly after midnight; then of course, I had to pee. Ever so proud of the forest herbs that have rebounded the past few years, I could not just trample over them. I turned my bright flashlight on and surely placed every step so I wouldn’t damage any desirable species.
Now, about one in the morning, I nestled back into my hammock, ready for some shuteye. Just about there, I hear a loud whine in my right ear. A mosquito was looking for blood. I shooed it away, drifting off, a whine in my left ear. My arms flailed violently. Trying to let the frustration subside, I felt something crawling on my face. Nothing was there. And again, something crawling on my face. At this point, I was paranoid and wide awake.
At some point in the wee hours, I managed to fall asleep. I awoke sometime before 5 o’clock to a beautiful sunrise and the birds singing. To me the traumatizing night and lack of sleep were worth the morning experience.
The Second Night
Before heading out to our woodlot the second night, I jokingly asked Jill what she would do if I was sprayed by a skunk. Sometimes, the wisecracks that I make amuse me more that the people around. I don’t remember the response, but she was only slightly entertained.
I opted for some anti-mosquito measures this night. My father-in-law always said that dryer sheets kept the pest at bay, so I decided to try it out. One dryer sheet should be enough.
I headed out to the hammock and hoped for a more peaceful sleep this time. I arranged my mat and sleeping bag and placed the dryer sheet above my pillow. Our hamlet’s noise level seemed to be down a few notches and everything indicated a nice night was in store.
Man, the scent of the dryer sheet was strong. With the rain fly overhead, the perfume was heavy; I could no longer smell the night air and my head was achy. There are always tradeoffs and I hoped the smell of the fresh sheet would soon subside. The strength of the perfume slowly dissipated and I began to fall asleep.
Then, the smell of burning plastic or Styrofoam entered my nostrils. I wouldn’t mind the fragrance of a nice wood fire, but who was burning garbage that late at night?
The stink finally went away and I could hear something tiptoeing around me. For sure, it had to be one of the neighborhood cats. I turned in my hammock and called to it, hoping to give it a goodnight pet. Something lurched, then scampered off. All of a sudden the air was dense with skunk. I debated whether I should stay or go. I lay with my eyes burning, but my body comfortable in my hammock. In twenty minutes time, the aromas finally left the air and I fell asleep.
The next morning, I again woke to the morning light and birds singing. I startled a deer that was browsing not far from me. I made my way down to the house. The enclosed back porch reeked of skunk. I hoped none was my contribution! Jill didn’t notice any emanations wafting from me; I escaped unscathed.
Although I had two not so peaceful nights camping in our backyard, I’m looking forward to my trip next week. I’m hoping to have less “anthropogenic” disturbance. Encounters with wildlife are always amusing and exciting, so I welcome those. Just as long as I don’t get blasted by a skunk!