I’m enjoying being at home sometimes day after day. However, i get the itch to go camping. In january i packed up and made reservation at rasar state park in skagit county. the park is located along the skagit river. The river flooded in december so I expected to see some evidence of the flooding which i did. There were other parts of the trip.

before heading out to rasar, I wanted to bird watch in fir island on the south fork of the skagit close to where the river meets the puget sound. An area teeming with migrating waterfowl in the fields and raptors in the air or perched on a limb ready to strike. The bird watching went well and i finally put together the video yesterday, march 7.

after bird watching I went east and stopped off at the northern state hospital, a now deserted insane asylum. I thoroughly walked through the buildings inside and out, alone and it was deathly quiet. I found out later that i toured the farm. The actual administrative buildings and residences are nearby, deserted, and ready for investigation. Things got better than worse.

at camp i took a walk to the river and observed where the flood waterline went up to. The beach is gone. the water come right up to the trail with just enough area to enjoy the wide river.

back at the camp someone had left me split cedar logs perfect for a fire, only it was soaking wet. but i knew it was better wood for a quick fire than the hard alder that i brought. I used kerosene to get things started and had a good fire despite Constant rain. I was amazed at how much wood i went through and though it was hard to get going it was harder to put out. I doused with water when i went to bed.

I didn’t use the tent but entered the rear of my sUV after hanging curtains all around and pumping up the mattress. being careful not to disturb the curtains i entered. Immediately i hit a nozzle on the mattress and all the air went out in a matter of seconds. I was in bed and not wanting to blow the thing back up I tried to get comfortable, but comfort was impossible. parts of the car stuck into my back, at every turn my blankets fell to one side or the other, and the curtain kept getting wrapped up in my feat.

to make matter worse, i knew that unlocking the doors from the inside would set off the alarm, so i kept away from the keys and the doors. I was petrified of setting off the alarm. every time i turned i woke up. as the evening wore on my mood got worse. the long night of the soul passed unpleasantly. I hated the whole ordeal. I’ve camped many times this was the first dreadful night i’ve had.

in the morning, about 7:00 a.m. I crawled into the drivers seat and unlocked the door. The alarm sounded through the campground. There was only one other camper and the host. I tried everything to turn that darn thing off. Finally I figured it out. I don’t know why the alarm goes off when you open the car from the inside after locking the car.

Miserable, i gathered myself and took off out of the park only to find the exit gate closed. The park had opening and closing hours. but being after 8:00 a.m. it should have been open. I got out and swung the gate open. I noticed some people walking their dog watching me. I’m sure i’m not the first. I felt bad opening the swinging gate, but what could i do? i wasn’t there for criminal activity. I left and went to rockport, then back home on Highway 9.

Many lessons learned which I will share at some other Occasion.

Northern state hospital farm building