July 30 - Aug 1 Shenango Recreation Area, Clark, PA

[George Miklas]

Early last week, two families from our church called me and suggested that we campout at one of our local parks. We chose Shenango Recreation Center, Clark, PA (Mercer County). Reserving so late, there was only one area where we could get three electric sites close together--two sites in a row, skip a site, then the third site.

It was a wonderful weekend! Kim is the fire queen. She brought a pick up truck load of wood and the fire burned all day and most all the night. Some surprise guests showed up too, Jim and Diane Slifka came on Saturday for the campfire, AND brought a tent and stayed the night.

Miklas Family (George & Jodi, Janalyn, Caleb)
Covert Family (Kevin & Jennifer, Kaylee, Courtney)
Hazen Family (Jeff & Kimberly, Jennifer)
Slifka Family (Jim & Diane, Robert)

Now if that wasn't enough for a good weekend. Get a load of this...

In my wildest dreams I would have never imagined who would be camping with us. Bill Rowell, founder of iRV2.com was on the "skip" site with his son Chase. Joe Kasunich's family and Mike and Debbie Darnell were directly across the street. It turned out that Bill, Joe, and Mike had planned to go to Trucks Gone Wild at Yankee Lake, Ohio

Rowell Family (Bill, Chase)
Kasunich Family (Joe & Shelly, Justin, Tyler, Alyssa)
Darnell Family (Mike & Debbie)

[Joe-K]

It was nice to see the Miklas group at the campground. Like he said, the chances of running into another group of campers at a campground are pretty good, but to be camped right across the street from another group was really surprising

It was nice seeing everyone that we hadn't seen in a while and enjoying the nice weekend. Other than some brief sprinkles Saturday night, it was a fantastic weekend.

[NLOVNIT]

What a coincidence! An unplanned Pond Piggie campout. Glad you had a good time.

Lori-

[Superslif]

We were not thinking about camping that weekend, but George called me up Friday and said why don't you guys just drive out Sat. for the day??? Before we were going to leave on Sat. George called again and said why don't you hook the trailer up and get the non-electric site behind us. I said we were getting her ready for next weeks trip to Myrtle Beach, and didn't want to rush to fill it up. After I hung up the phone, I told Di, why don't we just throw a few sleeping bags and our tent in the car and spend a night.

In 20-30 minutes we gathered up what we needed and went. It was hard having a tent, but not having all the other "things" your used to having at your finger tips. Di always said when I retired we would go back to tent camping. It's not going to happen period. I slept on a root....I miss my TV, tools, frig and my mattress...

[Superslif]

I'm sorry.... I seem to disagree with Jim. I didn't have a root and I slept like a log. There's no whining in camping. Robert wants to put the tent in the camper permanently. He loved it!!

I'm for selling everything and going with the tent.

Although, when someone was looking for something, I kept saying I had it in the camper! I felt a little lost w/o all my gadgets. Well... and that 5:00 am walk to the facilities...

I might have to think this through a little more.

On another note - it was so nice to be with everyone and meeting the H. family. I'm still full from all the awesome food!!

Diane

[NLOVNIT]

Diane,

I have to say I'm w/Jim. Last time Dave & I were tent camping was fall of 1999. Come summer of 2000, we had the Aerolite TT. Time was, I could sleep on the ground w/no problem, but either the ground got harder or my backside got softer 'cuz it ain't happenin' anymore for me. Give me my nice soft mattress, HDTV, a bathroom I don't have to wonder who was in last & my fridge stocked with Sam Adams & Freedonia....yep, ahhhhh, now THAT's camping.

Lori-