🌍 Strangeness in the Night: A Camping Misadventure and the Fences That Save Us
The Hazards of Setting Up Camp After Dark
Oh, the hazards of setting up camp after dark. In August 1977, Betty and I drove from Atlanta to NYC and then on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to visit a friend in New York City and the parents of friends in Coal Center, Pennsylvania. (I’ll save that Coal Center story for another post—it’s a tale all to itself!)
We were getting pretty weary of driving and decided we’d just get a hotel room. For miles, we searched for a room. This was in the 1970s, so there were no cell phones or internet. Everywhere we saw a high hotel sign, we’d exit the highway, park the car, go into the lobby, and inquire about a room.
None were available.
Hotel after hotel.
No room at the inn.
There was some type of colossal car racing event taking place in Virginia, and there were no rooms available for a hundred-mile radius, we were told. It was 1:00 AM, and we desperately wanted sleep.
A Campground Surprise
We found a campground via our good old trusty paper map and pulled in. Since it was after hours, the sign said to pick a spot, camp, and pay in the morning. We picked a spot, parked Betty’s green Grand Torino, set up our tent, and fell asleep. By that time, it must have been 2:00 AM.
It hardly seemed like we’d been sleeping when we began to hear footsteps, voices, and laughter. Poking our heads out of the tent, we were astonished to see a steady stream of people. We looked beyond the people and saw the brick building.
Oh, my gosh—we had set up our tent on the pathway to the bathroom.
No wonder people were laughing at six o’clock in the morning. We made haste to get dressed and take down our tent.
Adventure Awaits—Are You Ready?
Isn’t life a barrel of monkeys? Especially when you go on an adventure. As I’ve quoted from The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien before:
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
Where are you going today? Are you ready to be swept off by your sense of adventure?
Fencing: The Unsung Hero of Property and Peace
It’s always the perfect time to think about your next fencing adventure, whether small or grand. We wouldn’t have staked our tent there if that bathroom had been fenced in! (I’m thankful it wasn’t—who wants fences in campgrounds?)
But you have an idea for your property, backyard, or private oasis. If a fence will help you keep intruders out, let’s go for it!
Call our fence expert, Terry. (T2C) She’s been providing fence solutions for 24 years! I shout her accolades from the rooftops!
Why Louis E. Page?
At Louis E. Page Inc., a woman-owned and family-owned business since 1893, we know that fences do more than mark boundaries. They protect, they secure, and they add beauty to your space. Whether it’s for livestock, security, or aesthetic appeal, we’ve got the expertise to make it happen.
All my best regards,
Debbie Page
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc
