Now what?

I'm having a problem making up my mind about my travel to Maine in 10 days. I have motel reservations already made but I really don't like motels, not a fan of cost and they are confining.  I'm almost ready to cancel my reservations and camp my way from Novi to Milbridge.  I'm not generally a KOA camper but for a quick stop, they're OK.  I found campgrounds in NY, Mass and Maine that would work.  I don't need electricity so not too expensive.
I just checked out my Coleman 6 person ez setup tent and it took me 3 minutes to put up - not counting staking.  I'll need minimal extra equipment - the tent, mattress, small table and a single burner propane stove (just found one on Amazon).  Anything else, I'm already taking for stay at cottage. Writing this paragraph has just convinced me to do the camping rather than motels. That was easy! Only real negative will be weather but I think I have a plan to battle the elements if necessary.
This will be  good practice for future long trips with trailer.  I could make a quick stopover using tent and then when I make it to destination, use trailer.
Just a bit of advice about tents, my Coleman 6 person tent is a  good size for Mitzi and me but 6 people would be an extremely tight fit.  I think with any tent, if it reads a certain number of people, they mean shoulder to shoulder.
Anyway, I now have made up my mind and will camp for 3 nights on trip to Milbridge.  Looking forward to Maine and once again sleeping on my sun porch at Two Jetties.  Can't wait.  Onward and upward.

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Dear Oprah...

I have often been inspired to do crazy things based on the "why not" philosophy.  Sometimes I'm successful and sometimes, well, not so successful.  As I approached my 60th birthday, I began planning my first camping adventure to Maine, I couldn't find "the best ever" campground and so I decided to contact Oprah and see if she could lend a hand because, after all, "why not".  This letter was written in the Spring of 2005.

Dear Oprah,
I've lived on small farms most of my life.  I've had a good life but sometimes, financially, it's been a bit of a struggle.  Bartering has always been used as a problem solving tool.  In fact, the word "barter" has always been part of the farmer's vocabulary.  Oprah, I'd like to offer you a plan where we could barter our way into a win-win situation.
I'm enclosing a flyer explaining my Farm Lady business.  I'm a former teacher and have been doing farm programs for children and adults for over twenty years.  As my part of the barter, I would take my large tom turkey named Roy, to Chicago and present programs for two or three days.  These programs would be for children in preschools or early elementary schools in disadvantaged areas.  All I would need is a place to camp in my van.
For your part of the barter, well...I don't need money and I don't need gifts - I just need information.  I'm writing to you for your help because I know you can understand my needs; you understand the importance of books, you know the significance of milestone birthdays and you understand events that touch the soul.
I will be 60 in July and like Miss Rumphius (a children's book by Barbara Cooney), I need to go to the sea.  As a child, Miss Rumphius was told by her Grandfather that she needed to do three things:  travel to far away places, comeback to live by the sea and do something to make the world more beautiful. Like Miss Rumphius, I've traveled to faraway places (Peace Corps - Venezuela).  Like Miss Rumphius, I've tried to make the world a more beautiful place.  She planted lupine seeds while, I've planted ideas in the minds of the many children I've encountered through the years.  Like Miss Rumphius, I now need to go to the sea.
I'm planning a trip in September.  My goal is the coast of Maine.  Anne Morrow Lindbergh in the Gift From The Sea wrote, "When the noise stops and there is no inner music to take its place, we must re-learn to be alone."  I've had a productive life but sometimes my life has been difficult.  I've had to put my head down, move forward and tough it out.  I need to hear the "music".  I think the roar of the ocean waves will bring it back to me.  The roar will be my music.  It will renew me and I will move into my sixth decade with a new strength.
Oprah, I have a picture in my mind of what I need to find in Maine.  I know I could write to the Maine Tourist Bureau for information but they won't have your sensitivity.  Just traveling isn't what this is about.  I would like to take advantage of your heart, soul, spirit and resources to help me live my dream.  This is my vision:  a campsite directly overlooking the ocean so that I can not only see the ocean but also hear its waves pounding the shore, I want solitude but with a few people in the area for safety (not close enough to intrude on my privacy), possibly the final destination would be in an area close to Lubec, Maine and last but not least - a place with electricity to plug in my Mr. Coffee.  It's so important to me that this site be just perfect.  I can't trust this to some random person or pamphlet.  I become very emotional when I think of this journey.  Of course, no matter what transpires with this letter, I'm going to Maine.  I can plan this by myself but with your help, there's greater potential of this being the trip of a lifetime.
Roy the turkey and I are looking forward to your response, whatever it may be.  Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.   Margaret Schmidt, The Farm Lady

Well, never heard from Oprah but, unbelievably, I found exactly the campsite I described in the letter but I'll tell you about that in my next blog post.  My letter to Oprah was a bit crazy but I'm so glad I kept it.  Everything detailed in the letter (once past the "barter") is just exact - the why and the where - spot on.  Miss Rumphius, Anne Morrow Lindbergh and also, Rachel Carson, led me on my adventure of a lifetime and Maine has occupied a very special place in my heart since that first visit in 2005.  Maine - my second home.

Women Camping Alone - Safety

I believe in facing fears and I try to do that except regarding flying which I don't need to face, at least I don't think so.  My daughter, Jill and I have talked about camping safety as she is also a solo woman camper.  We both agree that what we fear the most is safety issues relating to men more than wildlife.  The National Park Service gives some comfort with these statistics - there were 83 rapes (one in 3,527,951) on its public lands in 2014, compared with 84,041 reported rapes (one in every 3,794 people) in the rest of the country in the same year.  That may be true, but I think a woman wanting to camp alone, especially in more isolated areas should do it and not be afraid but be smart.  I've given this a lot of thought and would like to share some of my ideas relating to this subject.
1 - when traveling alone, don't put first name on the slip of paper that will go on site post -don't identify yourself as a woman, use last name.
2 - Park your vehicle with the front end facing out.  If you need to exit in a hurry, your vehicle is ready.
3 - Take along an extra lawn chair to give impression that there's more than one person in camp.
4 - Avoid real isolated areas but if you do camp in a primitive area, you might want to do so away from hiking path.
5 - Always keep phone nearby.
6 - Hang a pair of men's underwear on your clothesline.
7 - Know the rangers phone number or the number of someone in charge of area.  If there's a campground host, let him/her know you're camping alone.
8 - When walking alone at night, carry pepper spray (actually carry spray all the time and don't be afraid to use it).  I also have a very heavy flashlight that, if necessary, I can use for protection and whenever hiking alone - day or night - I carry a knife.
9 - I was the only camper in a rustic campground last fall.  An old white van drove slowly down the camp road near my popup trailer around midnight.  I was afraid and felt really unprotected.  I always keep a can of hornet spray and an open knife near my bed but didn't think this would be enough to keep me safe if I was attacked.  After that incident, I seriously thought about getting a gun, have decided not to do that but I know some campers do carry one for safety.
10 - Don't advertise you're alone on social media.  A woman was kayaking or canoeing around Michigan on the Great Lakes as a money raiser for a charity.  She was facebooking and blogging about her adventure.  A guy started stalking her, found her and raped her.  I really am not sure what to do about this issue as I like to share my adventures but want to be safe so going to give this some thought.
11 - Arrange to contact someone daily if possible.  I'm going to message my daughter everyday and just say
 hi. If she doesn't hear me from me for two consecutive days she will need to contact someone to find out what's going on.  This has to do with health issues more than anything.  Don't want to be in a situation where I need help or am totally incapacitated and can't feed Mitzi (don't want her to eat me!!!).
12 - Always keep a close watch on weather.  I'm good at judging Michigan weather but being in a different location can sometimes really throw me off.
There are other safety issues that I could address like safety as it relates to the environment, for example, dealing with wildlife but this is enough for now.
I have friends, especially women, who ask me if I'm afraid and who advise me not to camp alone advising me to take a friend and I always respond that I like camping alone, I like my independence and I like solitude.  I think, for me, I get out and do my solo camping but I try to be camp smart.  I think the most important thing is to use common sense and have a plan.  If your gut says - this isn't safe, don't stay!
I am really proud of my daughter Jill.  She loves camping in her tent and has camped in more isolated areas a few times and will continue to do so in the future. At first she was leery about doing this but did it anyways.  I've shared some of my skills and knowledge with her but she has learned a lot on her own. She makes me think of the poet Mary Oliver's quote, "...and what will you do with your one wild and precious life."  As it regards camping she will get out there and have great adventures.  You go Jill!!!!  Onward and Upward.

Dog Owners Gone Wrong!

I have had way too many bad encounters with dogs since Mitzi came into my life and in fact, Larry and I had one very bad situation with a dog owner that included a physical attack on Larry (more about that later).  Mitzi weighs about 12 lbs and apparently dogs that are overly friendly or dogs that are aggressive see her as their new best friend or something to kill.  At this point in time I'm sick of the situations I've had with these dogs and their owners and really feel a need to take action starting with this blog entry.
Some of you will remember the very bad dog attack Mitzi and I experienced right in my neighborhood.  I was talking to my sister Emma on the phone when all of a sudden a dog came charging at us.  It was obvious the dog (like an Akita) was intent on harming Mitzi. I bent over to pick her up but by then the dog was almost on top of us and all I could do was defend Mitzi and me by maintaining my position over her and trying to hit out at the dog. Finally someone stopped their car and scared the dog away.  The owner wasn't home, I went to a neighbor, found out the owner (someone I knew) was on vacation - the neighbor contacted her - the dog sitter had left the dog out.  I didn't contact the police - that was a mistake.  The owner never called to apologize and I let it go.  Approximately 2 months later, Larry and I were walking by her house, she saw us and started telling us how sorry she was and unbelievably, her dog charged out of the house and once again came right at Mitzi.  Larry kicked it and it retreated.  The owner apologized, told us her dog was a rescue and she didn't know what to do about it.  I told her she should get rid of it and told her I'd contact the police if it happened again (what was I even thinking - I should have contacted the police or animal control because if it did happen again, the result could be much worse).
Not long after these two incidents, I was camping at Big Bear Lake up north.  I was alone in the campground except for someone in a tent.  Mitzi and I were walking to a dumpster when a large dog charged out of the tent obviously intent on getting to Mitzi.  I started yelling and the dog owner came out of the tent and was able to call the dog back and he apologized. Obviously I became very cautious about walking Mitzi, no matter the location.  When I was camping in Crooked River State Park, St. Marys Georgia, a guy let two dogs out of his vehicle in the park near my site and they took off.  When they saw me, they ran in my direction and again I started yelling.  He got them under control, apologized to me and said he didn't have time to leash them after they were loose and my response should have been, you attach the leash before you let the dogs out of the car but I basically just acknowledged his apology.  The next day I was sitting in the bird observation "house" and suddenly Mitzi turned and looked intently at the open door.  I looked out and there was a malamute sitting, looking at us.  It was a very cute dog but no owner was in sight and I had no idea of its intentions.  I shushed it away and took a broom for protection and walked over to the RV belonging to a park volunteer to report the incident.

The problem with dogs is that it's impossible to know their intentions - if they're off leash, will they be friendly or even if they are on leash, could there be a problem.  Larry and I were recently going to take a walk at Proud Lake Recreation Area.  We were walking through the parking lot towards a trail when I saw someone look at us and then bend down.  I couldn't see what he was doing because there were bushes between us but I'm sure he was attaching leashes to his dogs.  He then walked towards us with three dogs - holding one leash in one hand and the other two in the other hand.  The dogs looked like Chesapeake Retrievers - large and brown.  They tried to get at Mitzi but they were on leash and walked by us. All of a sudden, the two dogs were virtually on top of Mitzi - the owner had lost his hold on the leashes - I pulled on Mitzi and tried to get away but was hemmed in by a trail sign behind me and the dogs in front.  Larry kicked out at the dogs but he was off-balance and the kick wasn't hard.  The owner got control of the dogs but he went absolutely ballistic. He yelled over and over, "you f-ing kicked my dog" and then he grabbed Larry by the neck and shoulder and pushed Larry back till he fell down (fortunately on soft pine needles).  I couldn't believe what had just happened - I don't believe as an adult, I've ever seen a physical attack like this.  I touched the man's back to talk to him and he turned and looked at me with a crazed look in his eyes (no exaggeration).  I said to Larry to come with me and we walked away down the path and the guy continued to yell at us from the parking lot his same "you f-ing kicked my dog".  I didn't have my phone with me so we continued walking away and eventually went to the Ranger's office and reported the incident - didn't know what his car looked like and couldn't give much of a description of the guy but wrote it up anyway.
Final straw, camping at Maumee State Park last week, I was walking Mitzi and at one site, a Great Dane was tied to a table and it saw us and started barking aggressively.  I quickly walked past.  Later, I was walking Mitzi and couldn't believe my eyes, the Great Dane was walking down the road off-leash.  The owner saw us and put the dog on the leash and as usual, I didn't say anything.
After all these encounters (and more), I've decided, that's it - I have to take action.  I asked someone what I should use as a title for this post and was told, "Dogs Gone Wrong" but after some thought, I decided on the Dog Owners Gone Wrong because generally if the owners have control of their dog, there won't be a problem.  The majority of incidents that I've had walking Mitzi have been a result of owners allowing their dogs to be off-leash.  Every incident has occurred in areas that are posted - "dogs must be on 6 foot leash".  There are way too many owners who ignore this rule - I'm sure they think their dogs are friendly and will return when called.  The ranger at Proud Lake told us there was a survey in parks across the U.S. relating to dog attacks and in over 80% of attacks by dogs, the owner's response was, "but my dog is friendly".    After lots of thought, I've made up my mind to take action.  If there's a dog off leash, I'm going to let the owner know they have to put the dog on leash - that's the rule.  I also have decided that I need protection but this has been a problem - I don't like the thought of hurting a dog and how do you actually know when to use force especially if it's going to leave a lasting physical problem.  How do you know if a dog is just overly friendly or if it's attacking (in 3 of the incidents, it was obvious that the dogs were being aggressive) but after thinking about the other encounters, I believe the dogs were friendly.  I don't believe a dog should suffer a severe physical rebuke because it has a stupid owner who feels entitled.  Today I made up my mind - speak up when needed, call the police when necessary and carry pepper spray and use when I feel threatened.  The spray will stop the dog and it will not result in a lasting physical injury.  The spray should be directed at the dog's muzzle so that it will effect the nose, mouth and eyes.  I've checked on-line and found spray recommended by postmen.  There will also be times when I'll carry a heavy flashlight to use as protection.  I  I bought a flashlight that is like a billy club for$10 at Menards.  I've heard that my neighbor's dog is OK with people but aggressive toward other dogs.  Unfortunately, I would never just allow a dog to get Mitzi without a fight and so there is great potential that I would be injured.  I wouldn't hesitate to use that club on my neighbor's dog.
Here's the thing, I shouldn't have to worry about my safety or Mitzi's safety when I'm out on a walk.  One side-effect is that  Mitzi is developing a real fear- yesterday again a dog charged us, I picked up Mitzi and her heart was racing.  I don't want her walking in fear and I don't want her being aggressive because of fears.  I have to be ready to protect us and I also have to allow Mitzi controlled exposure to other large dogs - she needs to understand not all large dogs are out to get her.  I've also considered buying a harness to use for walks rather than a collar because I've found myself in bad situations where I can't pick her up and defend us so I'm lifting her off the ground to move her and just about strangling her.  My little dog Mitzi is a wonderful dog and I would be devastated if something should happen to her because of a dog attack.  This little dog is full of life and I will do all I can to protect her.

Maumee State Park

I'm supposed to be sitting in site 73 at Proud Lake Campground about 15 minutes from our farm.  I decided, at the last minute, to change my plans and so, instead of Proud Lake, here I am at site 228 at Maumee State Park in Oregon, Ohio (just east of Toledo). It was a great decision although costly.  I had reservations at Proud Lake and because I cancelled out at the last minute, not all my money will be returned.  I don't care because I'm very content, listening to the birds and looking out at a field with shrubs and trees.

A few weeks ago I checked online for information about this particular campground and wasn't impressed.  I saw that it had over 200 campsites and it looked like they were situated very close together.  When Anna and I were down here last week for the bird festival, we took a ride around the campground and it was evident I was wrong.  The road I'm on has campsites on both sides.  Across the road from me the sites back up to a woods and my side, the field.  Another road has sites that back up to a lake and the other side to a field.  The roads are well separated and so the feeling is that you're fairly isolated.  I really like the setup.
I'm paying $28/night - it's high, more than I like paying but it has electric, privacy and I'm happy.
I'm looking forward to the next 9 days just exploring the park.  It's a birders paradise so should be fun.  I probably will stay in the park - I have no need or desire to leave.  So, today I begin another solo camping adventure - just me and my dog, Mitzi - I'm alive, so onward and upward. Onward!

Okefenokee Swamp Land of Trembling Earth

On this last trip to the Okefenokee Swamp, I was very limited in what I could do because of Mitzi.  They don't allow dogs on the boardwalk because of the possibility an alligator could reach it and, of course, eat it.  They also don't allow dogs in the visitor center and of course on the guided boat ride through the swamp.  This is one of the aspects of traveling with Mitzi, that is difficult but if I really wanted to do some dog prohibited activity, I could board her for the day.  Fortunately I visited the swamp in a previous visit to Georgia and will use my journal notes from late October, 2015. I entered the swamp on all three visits through the main entrance in Folkston.
October 28, 2015 - I have been to many places and have seen many beautiful natural environments but the Okefenokee was phenomenal - breathtaking.  I was so fortunate to walk on the boardwalk to the observation tower and then be on the tower in the rain.  The lack of sun, just popped the colors, especially the greens and the yellows of the Tickseed flowers in bloom - massive amounts of yellow.

  I love the color green especially not washed out by the sun.  The wind up on the very high tower was strong.  I fortunately had remembered a plastic poncho (always take a poncho - the poncho is more to protect my camera than me).  The poncho was blowing around like crazy.  At times the Spanish moss was almost stretched out horizontal - I was alone up there - kind of scary.

On my return trip to the parking lot, I saw a HUGE alligator right next to the boardwalk.  The tip of his tail was under the boardwalk - impressive.  I read that sometimes the alligators are on the boardwalk and that is really SCARY!

October 29, 2015 - I was at the swamp by 7:00A which meant I left Crooked River at 5:45A.  I decided to take the 4 hour boat tour through Okefenokee Adventures.  The tour was so worth the $95.  The owner of the business, Chip, was the guide.  The boat is small and there were only two of us and the man with me was deaf and so basically I was Chip's audience.  From the time we boarded the boat at 7:30A till we returned, Chip never stopped talking.  He's like a book - stories, information and on and on.  Sometimes I just shut off my listening as he would go so deep into a subject and very technical but most of the time I was fully engaged.  The following are some of what I saw - Barred Owl, Roseate Spoonbill (not indigenous).

I also saw Great Egrets, Comorants, Bitterns, Turtles and Alligators - huge number of alligators of all sizes and most of them sunning themselves on the banks.

I was quite excited to see Pitcher Plants - they were about 2 feet tall.  I think this was my first time seeing this plant.  The swamp is a bog - many floating rafts of plants and also what looks like islands with fairly large trees.  These trees aren't really connected to the floor of the swamp and Chip said these weren't islands but are called "houses".  The boat trip was a real highlight of my Okefenokee adventures.  I loved the whole Okefenokee experience and the time spent there will be treasured.
The brochure states, "The Okefenokee Swamp is a mystical and primeval place.  Its 'wildness' is preserved by the National Wilderness Act. Nearly 354,000 of the refuge  are designated as a National Wilderness Area.  It provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and undisturbed recreation.  Okefenokee is one of these rare and wild places where one can retreat from civilization and reconnect with the earth."

(Note - May 15, 2017 - the Okefenokee Swamp is under attack, as are all refuges, by this administration.  We have to do what we can to protect it.)

My Little Blue Pee Pot

On days like today my thoughts drift back to rainy days sitting in my big black van.  I would sit and read and write with no desire to leave.  I was totally self-contained, no need to go out in the rain, not even to go to the restroom because I had a little blue pee pot to take care of those needs - loved my little blue pee pot!
On one of my first solo camping trips around 1998, I  drove my big red van over to Wingham, Ontario to explore my Canadian roots.  The first night I woke up needing to go to the bathroom but no way was I going out in the campground in the middle of the night so I waited till dawn and then went.  I realized I needed some kind of pot to take care of my needs during the night.  I found a hardware store in Wingham and that's where I first set my eyes on my small blue pot which included a tight fitting lid.  I bought it and the rest is history... it traveled with me on every van camping trip (from 2000 forward my black van) until one fateful night. Through the years I had put on some weight and my rear end had expanded and I found it more difficult to sit on the pot.  In spite of that, I sat.  So one memorable night in Maine, I woke up and stumbled around, found the pot and sat down.  When finished,  I started to stand and suddenly realized my little little blue pee pot was stuck to my butt and coming up with me.  I figured out that when I  sat down on it, a vacuum had been created and the pot and I moved as one.  I very carefully went back down and avoided spillage.  My relationship with this special pot changed and soon after that strange incident, I retired it and bought a 5 gallon pail with a special attachable seat.  The blue pee pot now sits in my little house and there it will remain.  It's a momento of my early camping days.
I am now about to give more information about camping potty needs than you might need so continue reading only if you can deal with it.  Don't judge - this is my reality.  I keep a plastic bag near my pail and deposit toilet paper in it rather than in the pail.  I do this because in the morning I toss the contents into nearby bushes and can't do that if it contains paper.  I then wash the pail, let it dry and it's ready for another night of taking care of my potty needs.  Once again, I'm warning you that you may want to stop reading if you think you might might find my reality disgusting.  So, let's say I'm the only one in the campground and far away is a vault toilet and it's 2A and unfortunately, I need to poop ( hate that word but BM or "number 2" really doesn't seem to be used much anymore).  There is absolutely no way I'm going into the black of night even if I'm armed with my hornet spray and knife.  So, I take a plastic bag, spread it out so that it folds over the rim and put the seat on top.  I sit, do the "job" and put the loaded bag inside a couple other bags and in the morning throw it into the dumpster.  That's reality folks and I bet I'm not the only camper who does this when necessary.  I grew up using an outhouse so this isn't really a big deal to me.  A camper does what a camper has to do especially if it's a 71 year old grandma having a "solo camping adventure"! Onward!