Date:         Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:41:28 -0600
Reply-To:     Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: What's that? - a single woman's view/Plus a single man's
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Having nothing to do with my defining camping, but barging in on Joy's take
on her defining it for herself,related to both perceived and real (who's to
decide until it's too late?) threats.

I went over to the Bay area (San Mateo, CA) for a reunion of employees of an
airline I worked for back
in the 70's a couple weeks ago (9/19/09 Reunion Day). Camped at So. Lake
Tahoe on the way over and
in Yosemite (Porcupine Campground) on the way back home on Sunday afternoon.

There was an occupied campsite next to me with no vehicle, but one person
and cooking/chairs, etc. debris
all over the area. Later that afternoon a Eurovan pulled in with 2 other
people in it. No particular curiosity
or interaction between us, I waved but no response. Next morning I had
breakfast and headed for the restroom
for my final break. I had left the side slider open with the screen door
installed and zipped closed. The "can"
was perhaps 100' from the van. When I got back and went into my van I
noticed the smell of propane and
thought my Propex heater connection was leaking so turned the valve next to
the propane tank off, along
with the tank valve off as well. No change and I figured it was just
residual. By the time I was just about
finished getting things buttoned up and ready to hit the road, I noticed
that the left stove knob was at full
open, all the way left. Hmmmmmmm??

When I made coffee for the French Press, I heated water on that grill and
shut it off probably an hour prior
to going to the can and there was no propane smell then. Anyway, I turned
the knob all the way right then
the valve on the propane tank outside and was on my way. When I left the
campsite, the man with the
Eurovan looked my way and I both nodded and waved and he just turned his
head away.

It wasn't until I was on the road and underway that it occurred to me that
he was acting strangely (avoidant....
had done so since the evening before) and I wondered if it was he that had
come over and turned the knob
on the stove on while I was in the can?

I've had Westy's since '88 and have never left the stove on. The flame won't
go out if you turn the knob
all the way left, just goes to a very small flame.

So, there's my "bear-in-the-woods" story. Make of it what you will.

bob .... loved the trip, the camping, but a little suspicious of some Volks.
;-)
I found Yosemite Canter to be "trashed" with people. I had wanted to go for
some hikes in there but felt
overwhelmed by the people-pollution ... the reason I left California in '83.
I can recommend the
Hoskasen Petroglyphs/Campground about 50 miles west of Eureka on US-50. BLM
and free, but unfortunately
some of the glyphs have been trashed by some of the "teens-with-beer" or
something. That's beyond my
comprehension?