Deception Pass

I have no excuse for not writing since May 3rd, except that I've been incredibly busy for an unemployed guy. I've started a program (TKA) that has me writing 6-10 three hundred word articles a day. It doesn't seem like much until you recognize that often, all of the articles are about exactly the same thing. Chews up a few hours a day anyways, and I'm finding that my typing speed and accuracy are getting much better (almost, but not quite, where it was).

But that's not the reason for this post. This past weekend, Laura, Bo and I went down to Deception Pass (Whidbey Island, Washington State) for four days (actually, I went early and Laura came later with friends - so I was there seven days). As has been the pattern over the last few months, the weather was unseasonably cold, but lucky for us very little rain. The State campground at Deception Pass was built in the days of tents and the odd tent trailer, so there are no services - so it was a stretch to keep the batteries alive for the five days I was "off the grid". In the summer it would have been easy, but at this time of year heat was mandatory at night and in the morning, so trying to limit furnace usage got Laura frustrated (the furnace could drain your batteries to nothing, overnight).

We had a great time despite the chilly weather, though. We went with the Rutherford's and the Chambers' from up the street, as well as the Wycherley's - I haven't seen Jim since 2006. The Cary's were supposed to come, but they are in a tent, and Lynn was sick already - sleeping on the ground would have guaranteed something nasty (flu, pneumonia, ebola).

Laura mentioned on the drive home that it was so nice to completely disconnect for a while - "no phones, no TV, no Internet" - I'd add "no power, no sewer, no water except what you haul". It does get me to thinking just how long you could really go without all those things (if it was warm, of course). Five days, ten, fifteen? Jim and his son talked about doing Burning Man next year - I'm not sure how serious they were, but if it turns out they are - count me in. Be a great "test" of self sufficiency.

All in all, we don't go "camping" anywhere near enough anymore - and when we do, we bring too much stuff with us (I'm a living example). All you really need are good friends, beer, marshmallows, and a fire.