Camping with Dad.

My dad was the ultimate outdoors man. He even met my mother at Boy Scout Camp (she was visiting her brother). So as soon as we could walk, he would take us camping.
Now, my mother's idea of "roughing it" was black and white tv, so she just didn't get what the big attraction was. All she knew is that she had fewer kids to look after around the house when these trips took place.
My dad was a salesman and traveled all the time so really, the only way he could spend time with us was to take us with him. Since every one of us suffered from carsickness, this was a real trial, but he loved it.
We started with a "pup tent" ...vintage WWII small tents that buttoned down the ends and had no floor. I remember my dad making an insulated "frig" to take with us as there was no such thing as a "cooler" in those days. We hit just about every state park in Ohio, Maryland, PA, and West Virginia. We would spend the whole summer this way going from park to park and only came back when we needed to wash clothes. My dad taught us the name of every wildflower, bird, fern, and where to find fossils. He was really into history so each trip always included side trips to such sites. We were expected to LEARN something, and yes, there was always a quiz later.
Next we graduated to a waterproofed parachute which had to be suspended from a very tall tree. Seems we picked up quite a few cots at the army/navy store as well. We often camped out at Senior Nature Camp at Terra Alta and got to meet experts and celebrities (professors, mostly from WVU). From there we would go to Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks or other cool places for nature study.
Next, my dad began selling those fold-up camping trailers with the slide-out beds so we acquired one of those. By this time he was selling about four different things...figured if you didn't buy one thing, you might want another. This trailer was so popular that even when stored in the garage, we took turns sleeping in it.
Having four teenage daughters in short shorts demonstrating how easy it was to put up and take down, meant we often spent weekends at a local gas station doing just that...increased sales no end.
I have so many stories to tell about those camping trips! But I'll save them for another post.