Every year about this time I go up with a buddy of mine and we open my camp for the Spring and Summer season. So last weekend we went up and did our yearly cleanup around the camp. The women folk stay home, so it's just me and my buddy "roughing it" for the weekend.
I always take my WSM, a bunch bags of charcoal, a box of smoking wood and my "BBQ Box" (spices and equipment) up because there is always something good cooking at the camp. It all stays behind because there is no sense carrying it back and forth. We're up there every weekend in the Spring and Summer, and sometimes late into Fall.
Well we returned this weekend with the families only to discover we were robbed. They took everything that wasn't nailed down. Everything! They got the WSM, My "BBQ box", A Digi-Q DX2, 8 bags of charcoal, 100 qt ice chest, fishing gear, a TV set, a 2 meter HAM radio, a generator, rocking chairs, a 6 month supply of Mountain House storeable food. They even took the firewood on the porch!
The crazy thing is that I never lock the place. There is a notice on the door that welcomes people that are in distress and need shelter, food and water. They are free to enter and use those resources in their time of need. All I ask is that they take only what they need, that they make some effort to replace what they used and they not destroy the place
.
As a side note, I have had hunters, caught in a sudden storm, use the place until the storm passed. They have always left behind notes thanking me for the shelter, food and water. They have always left their name and phone number and have always responded to my requests to replace that which they used. So I have no intention of changing my ways because of this.
Fortunately I have been blessed and do not want for much, so replacing everything is not a big deal for me. It is just disappointing though. Tonight I'll pray for those folks.
BTW, It didn't ruin our weekend. We had a great time. We improvised and it turned out well. Family, Friends and Food!
-Willie
I always take my WSM, a bunch bags of charcoal, a box of smoking wood and my "BBQ Box" (spices and equipment) up because there is always something good cooking at the camp. It all stays behind because there is no sense carrying it back and forth. We're up there every weekend in the Spring and Summer, and sometimes late into Fall.
Well we returned this weekend with the families only to discover we were robbed. They took everything that wasn't nailed down. Everything! They got the WSM, My "BBQ box", A Digi-Q DX2, 8 bags of charcoal, 100 qt ice chest, fishing gear, a TV set, a 2 meter HAM radio, a generator, rocking chairs, a 6 month supply of Mountain House storeable food. They even took the firewood on the porch!
The crazy thing is that I never lock the place. There is a notice on the door that welcomes people that are in distress and need shelter, food and water. They are free to enter and use those resources in their time of need. All I ask is that they take only what they need, that they make some effort to replace what they used and they not destroy the place
.
As a side note, I have had hunters, caught in a sudden storm, use the place until the storm passed. They have always left behind notes thanking me for the shelter, food and water. They have always left their name and phone number and have always responded to my requests to replace that which they used. So I have no intention of changing my ways because of this.
Fortunately I have been blessed and do not want for much, so replacing everything is not a big deal for me. It is just disappointing though. Tonight I'll pray for those folks.
BTW, It didn't ruin our weekend. We had a great time. We improvised and it turned out well. Family, Friends and Food!
-Willie
