TENTS

I like tents. They're fun aren't they? During our recent camping trip to Hurkey Creek I was struck by the fact that although there were literally hundreds of tents at that campsite, no two of them were the same. There was quite a variety, each boasting a unique design. I enjoyed walking through the campsite taking in the tents in all their various forms and talking with their owners, and I wanted to share with you some of the better ones that I saw.
This one attaches directly onto the back of a pickup truck, which struck me as brilliant! This tent's owner told me that it cost in the neighborhood of $150.00. I know it's rude to ask a person how much something costs, but sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me. It looks like a latter day covered wagon doesn't it?

This one had a dog house attached.

I really should have taken a video tour of this tent, because my one still-shot fails to do it justice. It had little rooms and stuff jutting off of it all around. It looked like it was probably the most challenging tent to set up if only for the number of poles and supports it used. If you had to guess, what is the purpose of that little bit that juts out from the tent? Storage, maybe.

I liked the open breezey design of this one.

The classic dome is evocative of the wigwams of old. I like them even though they are kind of an uninspired choice. It's classic! It's basically a wigwam, and that's cool in my book.

I thought this one was kind of cool. It kind of had a long-house feel to it, and the little part that juts out of the middle was interesting. I think that must be for storage.

I liked this one because the sides didn't slope inward dramatically. It looked like you could pretty well stand upright even on the edges of the tent. Plus there is something to be said for the big spacious enterior.

Servant's quarters?

Screened in front porch.

I found this tent very appealing for some reason. It was a nice big tent, roomy inside and a front door that doesn't ask you to look undignified entering and exiting, but I think I mostly just dig the colors. It's a good looking tent, right?

I thought this tent kind of looked like the mouth of a large-mouth bass coming up out of the water to swallow a fly on the surface.

Classy.

Does it or does it not look exactly like a knight's helmet?

This may have been my favorite of all the tents I saw. Tall, breezey and spacious. It's a winner. Love the colors.

This tent belonged to the warmest family at Hurkey Creek if not in the entire world. When I asked if I could photograph their tent they immediately descended on me and invited me over for dinner. They were like the golden retrievers of the human race.

The owner of this tent informed me that he had only used it once previously, ten years ago, and offered to sell it to me for fifty dollars. Perhaps more interesting than the tents were the tent's owners. They were a real slice of Americana, and I enjoyed talking with them all very much.

This one had kind of a quansut (sp?) hut thing going on.

Nice. This was really just an awesome tent. I love that big boxy look. Comfortable.

This cocoon was spun by a larval camper and in time, I was told by a park ranger, a fully mature camper will emerge. A mysterious metamorphosis was taking place inside the funky confines of this tent.

Boring. Why did I photograph this tent? I dunno.

What follows are the tents belonging to our party. I must say that after reviewing what modern tent design has to offer the members of our expedition to Hurkey Creek proved themselves to be discriminating consumers and people of good taste.

This was the Campbell place- a classic dome design with a wind-break like the sheltering wings of a mother hen.

The Bayer place had a spacious interior and a screened in porch.

The White's place is also very spacious inside but it has built in corners and a front room, which makes it feel as though it isn't just all common space.

...And, ah yes, home sweet home. Large enough to accomodate a family of six, a classy front awning, and earth-tone coloration. It evokes images of sipping coffee in a field chair while watching the sun set over the African savanah, doesn't it?