Friday, March 15, 2013

The Most Essential Camping Tool











The most important tool you need for camping is not what you think it is.  It’s a no brainer that you need matches and a can opener.  Some other things that are just as much a given are blankets, mosquito spray and flashlights. As a family we used to go camping in Texas State Parks; we must have camped in fifteen or more different ones around the state. I know what you're thinking, you think its toilet paper right? But no, it’s not even that genius.

Okay here's a hint, I mentioned it was a tool. No, not a hammer or an ax, we didn't build log cabins while camping out in the woods. We stayed in tents and occasionally in cabins that we didn't build. Give up?  Alright, I’ll tell you the secret.  It’s a broom! A simple broom with a long handle and a sweeper at one end; that could be made with plastic bristles or straw ones. It’s just so useful for campers to have a broom.  After you get the tent set up, unload the minivan and get settled in your campsite; you are going to need to sweep off the picnic table and the benches that most state parks provide. Trust me you will need to do that. The next morning after coffee, you will also need to sweep off the outside of your tent due to environmental factors. Following that, you will also want to sweep out the inside of your tent due to people factors, your kids dropping food and candy crumbs all over the inside.

Your broom is also a stick; which makes it a basic weapon.  You've seen people walking around carrying dog sticks right? They're for warding off dogs that bother you; that’s why they call them dog sticks.  In theory, if you should encounter a bear or a mountain lion, you can grab your trusty broom to ward it off. He’ll probably slap that thing right out of your hand and mull you anyway, but it feels good having something in your hand – right up to the time he takes it away from you. What you do in that situation is not the subject of this post; but running away is always an option.

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