We started camping in June of 1998 when we decided we would go camping for our anniversary. We decided to tent camp at Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia. My mom and dad had a great tent and plenty of camping gear. We had the Coleman lantern and stove, pots, pans and utensils, sleeping bags, and more. We were set for our first weekend out.
June, the weather was decent at home. Nothing that we could not handle. We traveled to the campsite, familiarized our self with the site and located the bath houses. We built a fire and cooked dinner. Camping was different, but we were enjoying the time. As the night settled in, the temperature began to drop. We decided we would move into the tent. Still cold, even with the covers and clothes we had, we debated bringing the lantern into the test for heat. We knew you were not supposed to burn those inside, but we were cold. We vented the tent and used the warm lantern as light and heat until we decided to call it a night. I wish I could remember all the things we did that night, the food we cooked, if smore’s were made, and so on. The events of the next morning caused me to forget all of those details.
My wife is an early riser. She tells me that she got up early the next morning and went through the cold, damp air and mist across the meadow to the bathhouse. She woke me up when she got back. Her words were something like: “You can stay here and camp if you want, but I am cold. I am going home and will come back to get you Sunday.” I was awake and found too that I was cold. We were home before breakfast! The cold damp air of June at Grayson Highlands was not for us. Even with the best of camping gear and a tent.