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by Christine_Devine from Work computer

Last Post 32 days, 13 hours Ago




GLAMPING????

Ok, I get it. All the comforts of home... yet at a campground. Glamping. (see news story by Suzanne Marquez) It's the hot new thing in summer fun. Glamping at El Capitan Canyon. www.ElCapitanCanyon.com

No more lumpy, bumpy nights of slumber in a sleeping bag.
No more cooking on the Coleman camp grill.
No more pitching a tent, pounding in those stakes by hand.

Glamping is the way to go if camping ain't your thing... yet you love waking up in the great outdoors... you love a hike in the hills... you love getting out of the big city.

With Glamping... your tent is replaced by a cedar cabin, or a safari tent with wooden risers.
That cold shower at the public restroom is bumped by a jacuzzi tub.
Why read by flashlight at night when you can relax instead with an in-cabin massage?
Who needs mosquitoes and that fabulous bug repelant "Avon Skin So Soft" ... when bug screens are available.
Why stuff yourself in a sleeping bag when you can spread out on a king size bed.
No need to shiver in a flannel shirt. Just turn on the heater.
Not up for doing dinner for the fam... call in for delivery.

Camping. No, it's GLAMPING!

It's upscale... and costs about the same as a hotel. Location... between Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Wine Country. AND, it's booked up to a year in advance.

SIGN ME UP!!!! I haven't camped since childhood and swore I never would again. I was haunted by memories of the family summer camping vacations... of stepping on a dead snake in the middle of the night running to the bathroom as a little kid... mom's cooking off the Coleman grill... the whole family in one tent... LOOOONGGG boring rides to get to canyon locations... bugs and bad bathrooms... lumpy, bumpy, dirt beds hardly disguised by sleeping bag. I swore, I'd never camp again!

Yet, when I saw Suzanne's story on Glamping... a flood of fond memories came rushing in.
Smores by the fireplace(I liked my marshmallows burnt). Early to bed, early to rise. The comforting, crisp clean air. The new friends... for the weekend. The beautiful scenery(we camped all over the west. Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon) Ok, the rides weren't so bad... singing along with my little sister and playing stupid kid games. Watching dad, admiringly, as he put up the tent for the family. Mom cutting watermelon and yelling at me to stop being silly. The light of the fire as it crackled in the dark night. We'd snuggle up, wrapped in blankets. Quality family time.

As I look back... I think now, camping was alright. My dad has since passed away. I only see my mom maybe four times a year. My sister is busy with her own child and husband. And I'm engrossed in L.A. life. Events, friends, working out... work.

Ah, how I now long for those days of camping. Thanks Suzanne, for you triggered this flood of fond memories buried so deep. I'm actually going on vacation soon. To a hotel. Maybe next time it will be camping... or should I break in slowly with Glamping?




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samo714 read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 8:53 AM

hmm, i never been camping, nor had a desire for it. something about taking a dump in the middle of some bushes, and being a buffet for bugs just doens't sound appealing to me. no tv, or soda makes sam go crazy. but i saw the segment this morning and it looked pretty nice. i wouldnt mind trying glamping. looks pretty freakin sweet. now how much does that cost??? that's what i want to know.

craftyguy read my blog
May 30, 2008 | 10:30 AM

my idea of roughing it is when the cable goes out

bignickib read my blog
May 30, 2008 | 11:09 AM

Dear Samo714,
What happened did the power go out in Los Angeles .

samo714 read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 11:29 AM

i dont live in l.a.

sebar read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 11:42 AM

Camping a long time ago while hunting for Sasquatch to film was a blast. So were the 24 inch footprints that weighed over 1,000 pounds. Sidewinders at Dumont Dunes in West Death Valley and waking up watching a sidewinder at a distance (Sidewinders are only one of two snakes on American soil that will purposefully go after people) On the Quad ATV and spotting Buck at the ATV center below Alamo Mountain at the Gorman RV park. Being a cook from a family of great cooks, I was always cooking breakfast for our friends when camping. Ah the fun times we had waking up in a tent surrounded by snow below Mount San Gorgonio in the San Bernadino Mountains after a fresh snow. Brings back memories.

sebar read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 11:43 AM

sebar read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 11:48 AM

San Gorgonio Whiteout above not me...Dumont Dunes where we camped out...awesome fun... Yes I rode at night with friends, easy to get lost in the dunes, and I rode the 2,000 foot tall dune ridge too. No Glamping there, just lots of fun and time to reflect on the world and future across a wide open Mohave Desert.

beepbeep read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 12:34 PM

That's what we'll all be doing after the big one...camping

I wonder what Jillians' tent would look like?

ddain read my blog view my photos
May 30, 2008 | 2:06 PM

Sleeping on dirt is camping. These are hotels in the wilderness. And if Suzanne was there, then it's good enough for me.

AVerdad
May 30, 2008 | 2:09 PM

Hello Christine,

I was unaware of Dr. Devine's passing. When was it? He was my principal years ago. I liked him. He was cool.

Andre Verdad
Verdadonline@rock.com

Suzanne_Marques read my blog view my photos
May 31, 2008 | 9:28 AM

Christine - It looks like a blast! I love the safari tents, but I think I'd have to go for the cabin... at least until they find out a way to have a private restroom with the tents!

mystere read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 5:08 AM

Christine and Suzanne,

I hope you both have some fun with your families. The outdoors can be a breath of fresh air, and good for the spirit! Suzanne, you did a great job on the story...I hope you get a chance to spend even more time there on a vacation, and enjoy yourself over there!

Christine, I hope you also get a chance to spend some time camping. In addition to El Capitan Canyon, there are at least 2 places in the High Sierras where you could rent either a motel or cabin: Mammoth Lakes, and Mono Village by the twin lakes in Bridgeport California. Mono Village has several choices: Campsites for tents and trailers, motels, and cabins. These places can be plenty of fun!

"Mr. E." from Cypress

mystere read my blog view my photos
Jun 1, 2008 | 5:27 AM

Oh yes...U forgot one detail for either of the High Sierra places: If either of you are heading up to Mammoth or further north to Mono Village, when you go through the city of Bishop on Highway 395, there is a bakery called Schat's. It's a Dutch Bakery, and everything there is so good...you wouldn't want to miss out on it. If you decide to stop in, here's a tip: you would be smart to go to the visitor's center across the street behind a Carl's Junior, and park your car there. Then you cross the street, over to the bakery...their parking is very tight. If you're heading over to Mammoth or Mono Village, the Carl's Junior is on your right side; if you're heading home, you would still be smart to turn left at the light, then go to the park's parking lot behind the Carl's Junior, and walk across to the bakery. The breads are the best!

marv read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 2:16 PM

makes no sense to me to go to a luxury camp although i did once spend a couple of nights in a cabin in yosemite. my back was very sore and i could not be a lover to the wonderful woman who accompanied me on our weekend get-away. i felt really upset when she placed her leg across mine and i aggresively moved it away. the damn pain was so hurtful that i could not think of being a gentleman and pleasing her sexually. this really upsets me. even now 14 years later. to me there is nothing special about a wood beamed cabin...i mean one could build a hotel on Bundy drive and decorate each room to look like a cabin. i hate the whole comcept of hotels. firstly because i realise how many people have copulated in the bed i am sleepinng on. and secondly, i spend little time in the room. if i am traveling, i am out and about looking at the city...be it london, paris, rome, istanbul, tel aviv, cairo. i spend a lot of time in my apt here in LA. i read books, i watch jillian and dorothy, i watch the stocks, i drink coffee, i smoke cigarettes. what i do not do is actively seek a woman to join me for the rest of my life. i hear of so many people in unhappy marriages, and yet as long as i keep my friendships with women platonic, i really really love them. sure i want pull down their panties, but i don't because i feel she is not the woman i am looking for. i am patient. anyway, christine, let's forget the glamping and spend four nights in Paris! deal?!!

Christine_Devine read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 8:45 PM

Samo: tents start at $145 a night, the cabins at $225.

Sebar: really? Hunting for Sasquatch??? Any luck? Fox wants the exclusive!!

Andre, about 8 years ago. Thanks for asking. It was an accident at Patagonia lake.

Mystere, Tippi Hedren also has a tent/safari campsite at her Shambala Preserve in Acton. Imagine sleeping next to tigers!

Gee Marv, you paint a colorful picture. Sorry, can't do Paris with ya. The fiance' won't go for it. Best wishes to you.

mystere read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 7:43 AM

Hi Christine!

Thanks for the quick reply! Maybe "Big Foot" is the one protecting the folks at night from tiger attacks at the camps? (Hee Hee!) Sebar...get your cameras out! But all joking aside, thanks again for the quick response! I always enjoy reading your posts. Cheers!

bignickib read my blog
Jun 3, 2008 | 10:19 AM

Dear Samo714,
Where do you live .

samo714 read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 11:38 AM

crazy. i thought it would cost more. but that's pretty sweet price. as for you bignickib, i can't tell you that. your a stranger. silly rabbit trix are for kids.

samo714 read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 11:40 AM

omg,your getting married christine. so you will no longer go bye the name devine. what will the new last name be?

sebar read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 1:35 PM

Well Christine, there is an old footcasting at the Malki Museum on the Morongo Indian Reservation. It shows the ridge makrs in the skin on the ball of the footprint. The tracks we found originally were too deep in mud and ice to be made by an average person. Even jumping up and down couldn't make a deep enough imprint which indicated the weight of the animal or thing that made the footsteps was in excess of a thousand pounds or more with no other tracks nearby such as a machine etc.

In authoring my original 1978 first tale in the Sheriff Wyler Scott series "Contact of the Forestry Kin," I had to do some research on the sasquatch subject and learned a great deal about Sasquatch and American Yeti's. I solidly do believe this exists from the tracks I witnessed, even if I sound crazy for saying so. It is a very different sense when you see tracks in person than a show on tv. Leaves many questions open to debate!

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Christine_Devine

It has been my honor to work(anchor 10pm news) at Fox 11 news since 1990(yes, I started when I was 2!) Jokes aside, Fox 11 has allowed me to continue my passion for knowledge and education. My parents were both educators and stressed "knowing about our world." They were aid workers in Brazil(my heritage) and Africa and emphasized a caring for community. I love coming to work each day and being a part of "what's new." Fox 11 has allowed me to serve through our Wednesday's Child program. Our goal, to help children in foster care... who will end up on the streets at 18... find permanent safe homes. Through WC we are using the power and outreach of TV to find adoptive homes for children in GREAT need. My parents were foster parents and adopted one boy. I was adopted by my step-dad, which gave me the name "Devine." At home, I enjoying cooking and fitness. I have a new puppy for the first time since high school and am completely in love. (and with my fiance too!)

Member Since: 7/4/2006