Fall, 1976, our first RV was a Dodge van, bought used. It had a homemade galley and a corner wardrobe across rear, and a gaucho along the streetside, that pulled out to sleep two. Also, it had a commercially installed ” Turtle Top” – a pop-up roof containing another “sleeper” up there, a carpeted plywood shelf.
The purchase had been shared with my brother-in-law and his wife. My wife didn’t want to know about “camping”, so the first excursion was taken by just the in-laws and me.
It was a blustery November weekend. We went south from central NJ, Friday night after supper, about 150 miles, to the Northern Neck of MD. A state park CG on point of land extending into the very upper end of Chesapeake Bay, called Elk Neck S.P.
There’s not alot of room in a van conversion, and it was a late arrival. They wanted to turn-in, so I went for a walk in the mostly deserted campground. I soon came to another site with a big bright campfire. As we know, visitors are almost always welcome at acampfire.
The young couple there, from Baltimore, invited me to sit; the fire felt wonderful out there on that dark, cold, windy night. Now, the interesting part: They stoked the fire.They were burning bowling pins! He worked at an alley in their city, and he got all the worn and broken pins, when they were replaced. Seasoned, hard oak wood! What a good strike, after he split the pins! A fun fire!
Submitted by Martin Frahme of Morris Tsp., NJ as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory” contest.
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