Talking about Camping with my Dad before he passed.

[SuperShady1]

Hi everyone,

I thought I share this e-mail exchange that I found in one of my folders between my dad and I before he passed away of pelvic cancer back in 2010.

I think you will find it kinda of funny in a way and sad as well.

He talks about what camping was really like back in the 50's when they were very poor and I contrast with my dreams of an airstream. The sad part was that the infection he was talking about was the first signs of cancer. He passed away december of 2010.

He and his dad were always looking for ways to run off from the mother/wife to go fishing and hunting. Mostly to get their drunk on. But they always enjoyed theirs trips and my dad had a nick name of "Buckshot" given to him by the local hunting writer for the newspaper. It was a regular thing for the both of them to report in where the fish were biting and how many they caught.

My parents divorced when I was two years old but we got to also go camping and fishing many times, never enough as he worked overseas during the international construction heydays of the early 70s.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, August 07, 2009 4:27 AM
Subject: RE: Camping??

Hi Okie:

there is a neat website, http://www.vintage-airstream.com, we a lot of 1950s, 1960s and beyond trailers for sale. The Bambi should do for your needs.

Prebundled firewood, go figure! Miland turning over in his grave.....pay for firewood!

It was a lot of hard work back then, the roads were not so hot, the drive up after work, set up camp in the dark, the cold, mosquitoes, other pests and critters, the creek running high and cold. All I got is memories of a time long past.

I am better but getting a full checkup on 8/14, in Atlanta.

DAD

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 6:53 PM
Subject: RE: Camping??
Importance: High

You had better watch WHO you use the word OKIES around. Remember your Grandma and Mom came from the dust bowl of Oklahoma to the better life in sunny California.
I say OKIES with respect and dignity being one myself. I am sure that camping was not as popular in the 30's and 40's than it was post WWII. Oh Dawn and I are rewatching Band of Brothers on the big screen as it has been a few years since we last saw it. Proud and sad to see the generation talking about their brother in Easy company.

Yea I know, now it is showers (I can remember my Mom, washing Linda, in a WWII surplus blowup life raft, filled with creek water, left out in the sun, to warm it up), bath rooms - sure - we had to go with the bears. Danny and I had to bring in firewood, get water from the spring, pour the water out of the so called ice chest, and of course, we augmented our food supply by taking our .22s and hunting for mountain quail, always out of season, so Mom would freak out....Miland, we will get arrested! Dad would smile and pass out more shells. When we got
back, Mom would wash us, all the clothes from the red dirt grime accumulated. Poor Mom, it was more work, than staying at home.

We have it tough also....The camp couple drive the electric golf cart around nightly selling pre bundled firewood with starter kits for $6.

We also have to listen to the Berkeley crowds in their Subaru hatch backs with their REI tents go on about the beaurcrats in office and finding good vegan food stores.

The one in Turlock doesn't rock my boat. The other two are nice and expensive.

These days most parks have full facilities, not sure I would need an airstream with a potty and shower and full galley....when you have camp grounds with the Hilton experience. Tent trailer has two doubles, ice box and a small sink with water pump. We just use the ice chest for food and cooking is mostly on the fire pit grill or a removable three burner propane stove you mount on the side of the trailer. We have the kids do the dishes at the camp sinks they have next to the restrooms. Probably taking ice box out and using that space for storage.

Ideally I would like an airstream that is fixed up with a double or queen in the back, no potty, two chairs up front and a 1080 p flat screen TV for a movie. Maybe a small galley with an electric refrig.
Big canvas...Astroturf....and a BBQ. Oh a blender for the Mai Tai's.

NOW THAT IS CAMPING....HHAHHHAHA!!

Big Basin, stop in Ben Lomman or Boulder Creek, remember, we lived there for a while. Sister Linda born in Santa Cruz. We have pics of me and Grandpa Leal, feeding a deer, the park was quite pretty, not many people, hate to think what it is like today. Pinecrest ditto. Cuggie and Lena like the place, for different reasons, we liked the WILD.
I am thinking Pinecrest for swimming...but redwoods will be nice and quiet, plus we can do a day trip to Santa Cruz.

Evan still sick. I don't think I got a full dose, and it's a long story, but I had some antibotics from a bladder infection, so I started on them, before seeing the doc, with the high fever. Anyway, I am about back to normal. Tell Evan to drink lots of water, be good, mind his parents, no video games, read books instead. He will get well,
quick.

Evan went to doc to day...no pneumonia, and fever trending down...taking antibiotics.

love

David

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 1:18 PM
Subject: RE: Camping??
Importance: High

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/rvs/1301917265.html
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/rvs/1307667824.html
http://modesto.craigslist.org/rvs/1277267988.html

I personally like the one in Turlock...semi restored but not all the way there.

I am restoring the Starcraft tent trailer and then would like to graduate to a real trailer. Most of the canned hams(check that website they have all kinds of vintage trailers on there) are nice, but eventually they leak or get rot somewhere. The airstreams are beautiful either oxidized or polished. They were all made mostly with Reynolds aluminum from the WWII surplus aircraft. I have seen many of them but have not been inside.

Our camping is a bit different than the okies from the grapes of wrath. Hot showers, fire pits/grills, hook-ups...clean bath rooms. Pre-marinated angus tri-tip, bush beans, and our LL Bean 40 degree sleeping bags. Oh if we do not want make lunch, just drive into town and have the lunch special at chop suey shop for 4.99.

Maybe in a couple years we will graduate to an old airstream.

Evan still sick...

Next camping trip is 8/17 four nites at Big Basin...may switch to Pinecrest...not sure yet.

David

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 4:41 AM
Subject: RE: Camping??

Remember Louise and Miland, Andy and Linda, poorer than church mice.

During all those years of the 50s, our camp gear, Montgomery Wards vintage, bought on time, consisting of: a wall tent, 2 person, no floor, (Dad replaced the center and end poles, with his own wooden creations, they collapsed on call between 8pm to 6 am), it leaked, so Dad painted it with Thompson water seal (not the product of today), it gave it a strong smell), he replaced the tent pegs, with something more substantial, railroad spikes, think about running into one of those, as you went out in the darkness to pee.

A Coleman stove, two burner, white gas, a pump system so touchy, if you gave it one stroke too many, the stove burners erupted into a bonfire, one stroke to little, the burners would light like a candle. A Colman lantern, more finicky than the stove and the mantles were a bear to put on and light. A ice box, metal, with 1/2 of insulation, a block of ice, lasted a couple of days. Folding cots, wooden, when set up, harder than the ground. And of course, 4 feet off the ground, ensuring you were cold, top and bottom. Plastic air mattresses, real plastic, when blown up, the cot felt better w/o the mattress, and of course, they deflated on command. Cotton sleeping bags, make unknown, provided almost no warmth beyond blankets. A box of left over and well worn dishes, pots, pans, cast iron fry pan, a pancake skillet (I burned my hand on), assorted plastic glasses, etc. and assorted other items from the house.....all of which filled their 1947 Fleet line Chevy, including the
kids and the dog. We looked like the Grapes of Wrath.

I wish I could show you pictures of the Wards fishing equipment, we had in those days, metal, telescoping, fishing rods, they were so bad - I think Dad's cost under $5 and mine $3, they collapsed all the time, they
have no feel to them....we caught few trout in those days. Dunking worms mostly.

So, we never saw any of these fancy retro camping trailers. The one you sent me a picture of, the teardrop, was a rental, Dad and Mom splurged that trip, luxury accommodations for them -as we were camping on the Consumes River, for a week or so. During this trip, in the dead of night, the top from a huge pine tree, which was rotten, broke off and
came crashing down in our camp.....a very close call. I mean, scared them to death, Dad spent the next day, cleaning up the camp area, chopping away limbs, bark.

But, after all these years, I would love to have a retro Airstream, a truck to tow it and 6 months off to travel the Western states, just camp and fish. Not to be, old Andy only has his memories.

HOPE Evan is better? Weird that both of us would come down with the
same disease. I have somewhat recovered, still have two days of
antibiotics, I was scared, it can be a death notice to old folks, like me! :0)

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 2:31 PM
Subject: Camping??

Dad and Dawn,

I do not remember camping being like this??

Have a look at all the retro trailers!!

http://vintagetrailercrazy.com

[SuperShady1]

Another camping exchange.


The only axe we ever wanted was from www.estwing.com, they were too expensive, back when, they started making sportsman axes in 1923. Anyway, I have the smaller version, even tho, to carry it backpacking, well its heavy. We used to also have a smokejumper's shovel, and a saw, folding. Don't think I could pack 70 plus pounds I use to. Make sure, you get a sheath for the axe, and that like the knife, you emphasis safety to Evan and kids. I have scars to show, I didn't listen.

Yes, you should be able to find some foam. And get the canvas replaced.

Blue Creek, last time I was there, when we did that job up in Murphy's, it was very close to Forrest Station and the road up to Blue. The place was trashed, garbage everywhere, the stream was smaller than I remembered it, there were a few trout, all small and maybe planted. It was sad. Also went up to Yosemite, to fish the Merced, nothing like when Danny lived there. I know, time changes all, even ME.

But, you have to go somewhere.....I just have been gone for so long, I don't know anywhere that is pristine. Used to like Silver Lake, above where Lena and Cug had the cabin. Anyway, go somewhere with some measure of security....today, things are different. Imagine, Miland would leave, me or me and Danny, alone, gone for hours, days, nights, we didn't think twice. We had our .22s or something bigger, we knew the woods, we were fearless. Or so we thought. I remember a day, when we were in the snow, weather set in, Dad almost didn't make it back. He had been drinking - what else was new.

Bush Beans, I am wearing my Bush shirt today. We use them in Chili, Linda makes great chili. But, nothing like Grandma's Portagee beans, cooked and then she would put them in big jar or pot, we would eat and fart forever. They were so good. Lots of linguisa.

I have pics somewhere of us in Big Basin. This was shortly after WWII, Linda not yet born, or just a baby. We lived in Ben Loman or somewhere, the pics showed us with Grandpa Leal, us feeding the deer. It was a pretty place.

Trailer name...................the "Long Winding Road".

Memories. I car camped in CO, some time back, with my now retired friends...the Wolfs. It was so cold, I had to go buy a new sleeping bag, zero degrees. It snowed on us in late July. We started down the trail in a hail storm. We were crazy.

Love

DAD





-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:42 PM
Subject: RE: Camping Success!!
Importance: High

Hi Dad,

Glad to bring back so many memories...mostly positive I would hope.

Well it was fun, but the fun comes with the things I missed in the glory of all things camping.

Need a hatchet for the firewood. Looking at used ones on ebay.

The foam in the tent beds are very thin to say the least....couple of hours in and I could feel the plywood and my hip would start to hurt. Need to look at some high density foam to replace the old foam..20 years old. The canvas is about shot, easy to tear...doing patching for the summer and then will have Beer Creek Canvas make us a new one. I have sanded the trailer base and painted a flat back with Rustoeleum, I expect to sand the roof and re-caulk everything with marine caulk and paint. I have a heavy Duty Air Compressor and Sander and should be able to make it a couple of weekends project.

Dawn is a good partner in getting things organized and keeping the kids from going missing.

I will have to look up Blue Creek on the map and see what the availability is for us locals. Now all the parks are on a reservation basis through Reserve America? Internet camping!!

I told dawn to stock up on bush beans, ranch style beans and pork and beans. The kids need to eat lots of beans.

We have or list of what we forgot and what we do not need. Dom's surplus still has the bulk ice, it is in the same building that value giant was in...plus Evan love's all the Military gear. I have to explain to him that he does not need a machete or a pellet gun that has a machine gun clip. Of course his Dad needs those!!!

I took the kids to the rest room in the evening and Dawn was napping by the fire pit and awoke to see a skunk staring at her. No confrontation, but the neighbors in their tents left their garbage, food, gear and everything out and about was visited and then the critters all descended on the site when they went to the lake.

We have a 4 nite adventure in Big Basin/Santa Cruz for August...only 40 minutes away.

Trying to get another site for the following long weekend on 7/23.

Need a good camping name for the trailer as that is very important that we give the box a name that does not include any swear words!!

Love,

David



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:52 AM
Subject: RE: Camping Success!!

How nice! Glad you and Evan could enjoy the great outdoors. And that
you liked your new Old Timer knifes.

It was a staple for the Kappadahls, back in the 1950s, Miland, Louise, Dad and Linda, all of us, packed up the 1947 Fleetline Cheve, drove all night, put up camp in the dark, Bucky holding a five cell flashlight, while Dad put up the Montgomery Ward's tent, which smelled to high heaven, as Dad had treated it with Thompson water seal. He used
railroad spikes for tent pegs, I remember stubbing my toe one night while going to pee....that was fun. The cots were like sleeping on wood or stone, the air mattress were plastic, they deflated by morning, flat. The sleeping bags, so thin, and it was so cold at night, Mom would bring extra blankets, and we would wear all of our clothes. The
Colman two burner stove was so temperamental and the lantern too. Dad would spend time trying to get it just right.....never got it to burn right. The ice box was metal and a block of ice wouldn't last long.
The mosquitoes would eat us alive. No Deet in those days. Also the grease bees, Mom would put out empty cans of tuna, with the fluid still inside, the bees would damn near fly away with the cans. Just to keep
them at bay. The creek was our place for fruit, melons, cantaloupe, cold drinks, beer (Safeway's Brown Derby). Dad would always have a bottle of Seagram's 7, or PM, for a evening drink or two. Half of Livermore would be camping at Blue Creek. We would fish and catch a limit of trout, in the old days, it was 25, then 15, then 10, now 5. Marshmallows over the campfire. It was all so simple. I can still see us taking a dip in the creek, so cold - turn you blue. Danny and I taking off, early morning, staying gone all day, fish, fish and fish.
Grandpa Kappadahl went with us a couple of times. It was always an adventure. Once he started a fire, so large, that the rangers came up, 25 miles away, they thought the forrest on fire.

Old Timer knifes - still makes me tear up. Glad I could help you git one for Evan and replace the one I bought for you, so long ago. As my DAD had that blade knife for me, that he got during the war, it was like
so cool. The handle was made with clear plastic like washers, or something - the blade was terrible steel, it couldn't keep an edge. But, it was mine, and I kept it for a long time. Had a Buck knife for awhile, broke the blade somehow. Like I said, now I have my leatherman, the tool of choice and then a Swiss Army knife, there for a while, when backpacking, I carried three different knifes.

Anyway, it brings back lots of memories of those camping trips.

Love

DAD







-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 6:54 PM
Subject: Camping Success!!

Two niters at Lake Del Valle outside of Livermore on the way too mines road.

Tent Trailer worked out great and Evan really liked his "Old Timer", his dad liked his too.

Oh and lots of beans!!!

Thank you,

Dave

[S. Heisley]

GREAT stories!
Thanks for sharing but sorry that your dad has passed. At least you have some happy memories.

[pete42]

Thanks brought back memories of my father and the home made "pop-up" type trailer.
front and back walls folded hard as heck to raise and brace by one's self two people operation
was best. again thanks for the memory jolt.

pete

[SuperShady1]

I am glad to have these!!

Makes me want to find that Blue Creek and check it out...Silver lake as well.

Dave

[48Rob]

Memories to be treasured

Rob

[bc toys]

Thanks for sharing your story with us reminds me of camping with my dad had a cabin on the lake loved going down there ever Oct. and ever weekend in the summer one time I ask are we ever going camping anywhere nice and he looked at me and said when you got this place you don't need an other place. He was right I sure do miss those days being down there with him.

[SuperShady1]

Thanks for sharing your story with us reminds me of camping with my dad had a cabin on the lake loved going down there ever Oct. and ever weekend in the summer one time I ask are we ever going camping anywhere nice and he looked at me and said when you got this place you don't need an other place. He was right I sure do miss those days being down there with him.

I miss my parents having their cabin up at Twain Harte!!

So many good memeories either out with my Dad, or going camping with my grandparents, and going on dune buggy runs with my Mom and step father.

I am trying to do my best and take the kids camping as much as possible. eventhough our camping tends to have to many nice meals out!!

Dave