Funny now, not so funny then. Or, funny then too.

[TJCeeJay]

Anyone have any amusing camping stories to tell. Silly/foolish things done that make you say, (now) What the heck was I thinking?    Or things that "just happened". All with happy endings of course  Things like, heading out early from the camping spot on the third day of a 6 day kayaking trip in Algonquin Park, in order to not have to battle to keep up with a much faster tandem kayak. They could catch up to me for a change. Welllll... Didn't work out quite as planned. Two exits from the lake. One creek in the Northeast area of the lake, one creek in the East-Northeast area of the lake. Took the Northeast creek instead of the other correct creek. About an hour later the creek dissapears and I realise I'm on the wrong one. Well, I paddle like a maniac for about two hours, down my creek and then up the correct creek. When I hit the proper creek I start shouting every 10 minutes or so until my friends hear me, shout back and stop to wait for me. About an hour later (very meandering creek) I catch up to them, completely wiped out, and all my plans for a comfortable paddle without having to push to keep up with them gone downstream.

Nnnnnnext!

[TJCeeJay]

   Well, If you guys are afraid to embarrass yourselves, I'm not. 

Then there was the time that I was moving a bowling ball shaped, 2 foot diameter rock towards the firepit. When I lost control of it on a slope. It rolled downhill about 15 feet before being interrupted in it's flight by my tent. My very well staked down tent. THANK you! Well... this 300 - 350 pound bowling ball came to rest smack dab in the middle of my tent and left my tent looking like a big catchers mit with a giant dirty baseball nestled in it. I was horrified, my friends were hyterical with laughter, and my tent was actually O.K. Not one rip. No holes in the screen. No broken poles. Not even a popped seam. My ego however did not suffer such a kind fate. To this day, any of my friends who are familliar with the incident always make sure to ask me when we get to a campsite, if I'm planning on moving any rocks around. And, if so, would I please do it before the tents are set up? Hrumph!

O.K. then. Someone elses turn.   

[Jeff Marshall]

TJ,

When I was in scouts my brother and I were crossing a creek with our backpacks.  The water was about waist high and the creek bottom had a number of slick rocks on the bottom.  Before crossing, we were given a strong lecture about how we needed to be careful and take our time by our scoutmaster.  My brother thought this was funny and started mocking the scoutmaster.  Sure enough that came back to bite him as he ended up slipping and falling face first into the water.  It was especially funny because he who looked like a bug that had been flipped over on his back with all its limbs trying to scurry away.  I couldn't help but laugh and it almost caused me to slip and fall myself.  Still, I did feel bad later, as my brother was forced to sleep in a semi wet sleeping bag.

Best,
Jeff Marshall.
www.goingtentcamping.com

[Roaring Rory]

Way back in 6 grade camp I was on a hike.  We came apon a creek we had to cross.  It was not deep but it was flowing really fast.  There were rocks we could step on to cross the creek but I was really scared from the fast water.  The group crossed, about 12 kids.  I was last and I stood there crying.  A boy from the group came back and held my hand so I could cross.  I look back and think what a chicken I was and how sweet that boy was to help me.  I love the outdoors now and I am not afraid to cross a creek.