Up on a rise, my Prairie Campground site looked down onto a meadow with a creek emanating soothing, relaxing sounds.
After leaving my dispersed campsite of the previous evening and driving 33 miles into La Pine, Oregon for gasoline, I backtracked a few miles to Pauline Road and followed the forest roads to the Prairie Campground.
On Google I'd read that the water system had been shut off at this campground. I surmised that no water might mean fewer campers. And, due to the lateness of the camping season it was likely that summer vacationers had vacated, as well. I later found out by talking with the campground host that the water table had dropped below the 150-foot level of the well pipe rendering the campground without water.
As I haul at least three gallons of water with me when on a camping trip, I was well supplied for a few days.
Backing into my ample campsite and unloading my camp kitchen onto the picnic table.
The site fee was $16 per night. With my Senior Annual Parks Pass, the fee was only $8 per night. As the campground host was away, I clipped the cash envelope to the post for my designated spot.
Almost immediately I was discovered by some very cheeky fellows!
My "condiments" bag had a first visitor even before I had a chance to take it over to the picnic table!
This first wee visitor was a sign of things to come!
My wine totes are meant for carrying 6 bottles of wine, although I seldom use them for wine. These are great for compartmentalizing camping essentials. I have one bag for "needful things" containing spare batteries, headlamps, backpacker's candle lantern and spare candles - regular and citronella - device cords, bug spray and sunblock, bear spray, wee sewing kit, and a handheld solar device for charging my cellphone.
The condiments bag - vastly interesting to my furry welcoming committee - contains a couple of canned items and instant Asian-style noodles for quick on-the-road meals (or a rainy stuck-in-the-car day), also Dandi-Blend (for my morning "coffee"), liquid stevia, cocoa powder, dried soy milk, cocktail essentials - beverage glass, olive pick, lemon reamer and whisk, tea cup and tea bags, a packet of dark chocolate, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil, chicken bullion,Tabasco, citron vinegar, biscotti, coconut and olive oils, a fork and a spoon for on-the-fly meals, and a couple apples for a quick snack.
After moving the condiments bag over to the picnic table I upended a collapsible bucket - for rinsing dishes, pots, and pans after their cleanse with a vinegar/water solution. The bucket would foil any attempts at chewing through plastic and foil bags.
When camping in nice weather I keep my rear hatch up for air circulation and ease in accessing and removing things from the Jeep. To shut off the interior cabin lights which come on each time a door is opened, there is, just above the the back hatch, a light that when clicked twice shuts off the cabin lights as long as the four side doors remain closed. Each time I open a side door, I must close it and re-click the rear hatch light (located above the rear hatch inside the car). This feature saves the battery from running down due to leaving on interior lights.
Just after getting my camp set up, the wind changed and began blowing smoke into the area. The skies took on an ominous orange glow.
After a lunch of canned tuna and red bean salad with corn (Wild Planet), I walked down the rise and along the creek below. Its burbling sound would be delicious to fall asleep while tucked up cozily in my comfy car bed.
Ahead of arriving in Cottonwood for the family reunion and trip to the grave site for the memorial in Chester, CA, I thought I'd make the camping part of my journey one of contemplation, prayer, and Bible reading.
After positioning my camp chair and collapsible side table overlooking the wee meadow and creek below, I was suddenly inundated by a curious mob of wee, stripey "menaces." I tucked my Bible out of harms way of tiny feet, shredding claws, and pooping posteriors to enjoy the show.
One fun thing for the wee beasties was to take a running leap and repel off of my lap! Another was to sit on my flip flop-attired feet. This was way to close for my comfort! What to do besides put on shoes?
Aha! I also carry a gallon bag of muesli with dried fruit. The bag was about half-way empty and I wasn't planning on soaking and eating any more on this trip, so I opened it up and set it at the base of a tree about 20 feet from my sitting spot.
The muesli and dried fruit were a hit! This furry fellow nibbles rolled oats while keeping his piece of dried pear safe under his foot. Some of the chipmunks liked the oats, others preferred the fruit. I laughed out load at one who picked up a piece of fruit, took a taste, and flung it away as far as his little front paws allowed.
After the introduction of muesli I was able to return to my reading and quiet contemplation unbothered. Other than the smoke, the breezes were mild and the day comfortably warm.
Later in the afternoon more smoke began to assail the campground. This photo didn't capture the deep orange coloration of the sun.
Carried on the afternoon winds ash began to fall. I decided that later after dinner and cleanup, I'd pack everything into the Jeep except my camp chair (which travels on a tarp laid on my bed) before going to sleep. If I had to vacate the campground in a hurry I could do so by simply tossing in the camp chair and driving away.
For dinner I made vegetable "fried rice" by soaking a selection of home-dehydrated vegetables (onion, green beans, bell pepper, corn, peas) in hot, boiled water for about 20 minutes, then draining them.
In a pot I cooked up 1/4-cup "minute" rice, then mixed in the veggies and a dash of soy sauce. A big, red apple was a welcome dessert.
After dinner, and after packing the car, I set the camp chair next to a stump overlooking the creek to enjoy a cup of herb tea and a nut bar.
A wee visitor joined me at the stump for a sunset cup of herbal-peach tea. A few nut chunks from my nut bar kept the visitor from climbing into my tea.
After dark, and some reading and journaling, I lowered the back hatch and snuggled down into my bed and locked the car. I could hear the creek down below through the mosquito netting on my partially down windows and the occasional hoot of a hunting owl. The smell of ash prevailed upon the breezes. Pines made silhouettes against a moonlit sky. Soon I was overcome by sleep.
The next morning, the Jeep and campsite were strewn with ash. After some personal grooming and taking only my condiments bag, camp stove, and a pot from the car, I had a small breakfast of dandi-latte and biscotti at the stump. No furry visitors were evident. I soon saw why. A hawk circled above the tops of the pines.
Repacking my camp stove, cookpot, and condiments bag, and the chair, I headed out of camp and drove to La Pine where I'd get a room for the night to shower and ready for arrival in Cottonwood, CA later that day. Googling the area for proximity of wildfires, I discovered that the Prairie Campground where I'd spent the night was under a "potential" evacuation order if the fire should expand.
In my next blog post, I'll share "how I roll" when packing the Jeep for a few days of car camping. I'll explain what I take and why, and give some tips for living well - and comfortably - on the road...in a car!
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