Four months ago, I appear to have heard only the first six words of that sentence.
Then, a few days ago:
We’ll fly out of Chicago on July 8th and we’ll get to Calgary by midnight and the next morning we’ll set out for the wilderness trail and we’ll sleep under the stars and eat Ramen noodles by a mountain stream.
My God.
Ed, my easy-going, tolerates-everything, including blogging, traveling companion in Sicily is about to get back at me, hard.
You don’t like the Ramen noodles, do you? Is it because the first listed ingredient is salt and the second – MSG? They taste great when you’re starving after a day-long hike!
I never want to be so starving that a container of Ramen noodles would taste great.
Please, can we consider other options? Can’t we hike in the day and then make our way down to an outstanding little bistro with crusty bread and a great little rose wine? In the alternative, can’t I pack crusty bread and a great little rose wine?
I suppose we could pour some rose into a little plastic flask…
The horror of it!
Surely campers eat something other than Ramen? And drink something other than water poisoned with iodine?
Yes, yes of course, let me bring out the saved food from my last camping trip.
Ed digs into his cabinets and comes up with this:
I need to sit down.
Stroganoff with beef???? How can you have Stroganoff with beef? Stroganoff is definitely not fresh and honest. It’s not even a food! Have you ever seen anyone selling Stroganoff at the farmers market? It’s a vice, a poison and we will have none of it!
But, it’s perfectly good still…
When is the expiration date?? Your last camping trip was centuries ago!
Ed searches. It doesn’t have one…
He says this as if it were a good thing.
There is no way in hell you will get me to eat Stroganoff with beef. And do not even think about sweet and sour chicken in a crumpled bag. Je refuse!
So begins our planning session for the trip. I know, I know, I will survive. Those stars better be damn good over the Rockies.
While it is not great, it is okay. I've had the strogonoff. But, with a little bit of rose wine, I bet it will taste better!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but those look revolting. Do they sell Tasty Bites at your Trader Joe's? That would be better than what you've got in that picture. Try a couple different ones before you go tho' to make sure. My two cents.
ReplyDeleteMe, I am adamantaly opposed to camping, much prefering day hikes surrounded by good meals, and a comfy bed to sleep in.
ReplyDeleteI offer my sympathy. For many
people, the sacrifices (good food, decent sleeping) are worth the pay offs (mountains, stars, etc). I hope you find it to be so for you.
Rockies are beautiful, especially the Canadian Rockies. As for food Bear Creek soups are really tasty. Here's a link: http://www.farawayfoods.com/bearcreek.html
ReplyDeleteHope the trip goes well,
BS
This post made me realize I need to get my plans together for my big drive through the beautiful western wasteland. My question is where are the Ritz Carltons and Four Seasons? Expensive? I'll limit the days, not the accommodations, even if I have to go down to 0. I've never gone camping...
ReplyDeletesara: you are a brave woman. I think even rose cannot help Stroganoff and beef. What amuses me is that Ed is sort of kind of a vegetarian and yet he'll eat this while camping. The absurdities of life.
ReplyDeletechuck b.: our Trader Joe's is not up and running yet! What do I do in the meantime?
joan and ann: I camped in my young adulthood back in Poland. Here, I suddenly became aware of the shortcomings: crowded campsites, bugs, you name it. But I'm willing to revisit it just to remind myself what the charm was. If any. I do like hiking and stars, I just wish that up there by the summit a litle place would appear -- a restaurant with rooms maybe?
BS: I really appreciate the tip. If anyone else can think of good, light foods to take for this, PLEASE let me know.
There are many beautiful places to see that can only be reached by roughing it. Several years ago, I went on a camping trip to Buchskin Gulch in southern Utah with a group of friends who are serious hikers. It was one of the best trips of my life and the scenery was amazing. You can see it here.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we were often uncomfortable and I looked AWFUL by the end of the trip. But, I think that you should be ok -- what with that hardy Polish stock of yours.
Nina, That link to Tasty Bite has an online store, so I did something very blog-stalker and bought you three Tasty Bites to try and had them sent to your office. Beans, peas and spinach. Maybe you'll like them. I used to keep a few Tasty Bites in my desk at work for when I was too busy to get proper food. Hard to beat for $3. It's been so long since I had a job... I can't remember which ones I liked. There were a few I didn't like, but most of them were great. Tra la la.
ReplyDeletetonya: looking awful is okay with me. Why, just this morning...
ReplyDeletechuck b.: you are the best. I feel that you would do a camping trip right. Can you make it to Banff on July 11th?
What is happening here? Chuck is buying stuff for Nina. Nina is insulting my appearance. (Granted, I wasn't wearing any makeup yesterday, but still . . . ) And Nina is inviting Chuck on her camping trip.
ReplyDeleteIs there no love for Tonya in these parts?
I WANT MY TASTY BITES!!!
Tonya, go camping and I'll send you some too. :)
ReplyDeletegood verification word, but I've got nothing. "zcyse"