Spittin' Watermelon Seeds or BUST

Because I can I plan to go camping this weekend. Big South Fork National Park is the choice because campsites are available. This wheelchair can be found at Bandy Creek Campground, site D 02. Most state parks and national parks honor the Golden Access Passport by giving a 50 percent discount on campsites to those of us involved with disabilities. The rates at Bandy Creek campground are $22 per night. My reservation charge for two nights is $22. The weather forecast looks good for keeping dry. Few things soothe my soul like a good camping trip.

So how does a paralyzed Jehu do this camping thing? It all starts with at least one individual willing to help make the experience happen for me. On this particular camping trip it happens to be my friend Rose. Setting camp up and taking it apart at the end of the weekend works much more efficiently with at least two people that have put my camping equipment together on previous camping trips. Finding two or more camper types to commit to always assisting me on campouts is something I hope to uncover someday.

Choosing the right tent was easier when I discovered the Eureka Freedom, the first-ever production tent designed specifically for the disabled. The tent is a bit pricey but I was fortunate to find a new Freedom being sold on eBay. I was the only bidder and got the tent for $150. The side windows also function as doors which make it easy for me to transfer onto my cot from outside. My wheelchair can be stored under the shelter of the very roomy vestibule that has entry through a fan shaped door. All the zipper pulls have a string loop that is held open with small diameter clear rubber tubing that makes it easy enough for me to grasp with my limited grip and open or close the doors and windows. The fan door into the vestibule opens by simply pushing the door aside and it falls closed behind me after my wheelchair passes through. My only complaint about this tent is the size. I think the tent size would be just fine for paraplegics that can pick themselves up off the floor into their wheelchair but for us quads a cot works much more efficiently and the tent length needs to be extended about one more foot and the width expanded by two feet to accommodate another cot for the personal attendant AND have enough room for the attendant to work between the cot's. I made this suggestion to Eureka for which they acknowledged the feedback saying they appreciated my review of their product. They said they would pass it on to the research and development department.

Other than a few food items that need to be picked up on the way to the campground Friday afternoon, the cycles loaded and my clothes and personal hygiene items packed, the trailer is already loaded (thank you Rose), ready to be dropped onto the hitch Friday after Rose gets off of work.

Does anyone have a notion to go camping this weekend? We have enough watermelon for several people to join us in a good seed spittin' jamboree.

 The hooting owls and the katydid Orchestra outside my window is wooing me to shut down and sleep.