Maine Revisited

Anytime you see hot air balloons, it's a good omen. At least that is what I tell myself.

On Day 1 of our camping trip we headed out of Canada and towards the American border. We were fed, rested, and ready for adventure. Then suddenly out of the sky, we spot 4 hot air balloons, just hanging out like nobody's business. Who owns a hot air balloon?! I don't think I had seen one since the late 70's. I pointed them out to my children, who had surely never seen one before. As I watched them float in the sky, it stirred up a lot of nostalgic feelings for me...memories of being a kid in the 70's, summertime with my family, and lying out in the backyard imagining shapes in the clouds. It's funny how a smell or an object can transport you back to a place that you thought was forgotten.

Lalala...back to reality. I do that sometimes. After losing lots of time en route to Maine, we checked in at Recompense for our second stay with them. Knowing that the previous stay had us camped too far from flush toilets, I booked a spot in the new part of the campground. AND...it did not disappoint dear campers! "The facilities" were large and clean and just around the bend from our site.

Once we settled in and had all of our gear unpacked, I decided that I would try and make a pizza over the campfire. I had stopped at the local Wal-Mart and picked up some pre-made dough (thank you Kof-K). See what I mean about food in America? Who in Maine needs pizza dough with certification!? Let's just say that I gave renewed meaning to the term "happy camper".

I had never made pizza over a campfire or even a stove top, but really, how hard could it be? When I went to get the dough I realized that it had been sitting in my overly warm car for THREE hours. Oh yeah. It was big...really big, and it smelled like beer. Since my only back up option was Tradition Soup or baked beans, I decided to give it a go anyway. I sprayed my pan, punched out a pizza dough, and slathered it up with sauce and cheese. After about 12 minutes I was beginning to smell the pizza, but none of the cheese had melted yet. You guessed it...black on the bottom. And so it was with my first campfire pizza. Next time I would come better prepared knowing that kosher pizza dough could be found in Wal-Mart!

After some sitting by the fire and having s'mores, we walked over to the ocean to see if the tide had come in yet. Suddenly a bridal party arrived with the bride and groom in tow still in their bridal clothing. Was I in some weird Fellini film? Did I just see a bride and groom come to camp on their wedding night? My innner JAP asked, "what kind of people celebrate their wedding night at a campground?" Perhaps they were two people who met while working at the campground. Surely that could be the only answer. My mind couldn't comprehend a second option.

What was really cool about this wedding party is that they took out a large rectangular red fabric covered object and lit a candle inside of it. Then quietly and gracefully they pushed it up into the air, and it floated so gently up and up and up, high above our campground, high above the ocean, and then drifted away in the night sky. They then lit another fabric box candle, and it too floated away. And then a third, fourth and fifth. My whole family stood there in silence staring into the night sky, watching the fabric balloons disappear into the darkness. 

Don't forget to visit L.L. Bean!

What Kind of Camper Are You?

Camping actually covers a wide range of how people decide to experience nature. There are people who do back country camping, where they hike and camp in undeveloped areas. It's true there are some national parks which have campsites in back country locations. These are unserviced. They do not have running water, toilet, or anything at all. What it usually means is that you have a ground clearing and possibly a firepit. That's it! Often times, you have to canoe or walk in to these sites with all your gear. They will also call them "walk-in" sites.

Then there is car camping. This is the form of camping that my family is comfortable with. We get to pack our car full of our stuff, drive right up to campsite, put up our tent, and unload. We always choose a site with a firepit and something that is not more than a 5 minute walk from the flush toilets. Usually, there will also be a spout for water located within a few minutes walk or less. This type of camping means that you will be camped near other people. Some of these sites also allow a trailer that does not require hook-ups.

RV camping or trailer camping gives you the option to sleep inside a structure. You can pull your RV or camper into campsites reserved for these. They have electrical, water, and sometimes sewage hook-ups. If you crave quiet and nature, you might want to ask to be located far away from the RV section of the campsite.

Glamping=glamour camping...oh la la! I'd like to glamp someday, but it's usually out of our budget. This might include staying in a glammed out tipi, yurt, or large tent. Check out these deluxe camp accommodations in British Columbia! It has everything...including an ensuite bathroom. It only runs $1800 a night!

http://www.wildretreat.com/About_Clayoquot_Wilderness_Resort/index.asp

Campfire Cookware part 2

In addition to your main pots and pans, there are some other items that I consider essentials:
Can opener, spatula, kebab sticks (which I also use for marshmallows),  large mixing spoon, 2 bowls for mixing or for salads, corkscrew, tongs, scissors, 1-2 knives for veggie chopping, silicone BBQ glove, and cutlery if you don't like using disposable. I know it's an environmental no-no, but I use disposable plates and bowls. If you're a single person or a couple, it isn't a big deal to wash a plate three times a day, but if you're a family, it's a whole other story.


One friend said, "well, if you're going out into nature, it seems hypocritical to use disposables." I hear the point, but again, each person has to know their limits. Mine is washing dishes; indoor or outdoor. Don't forget, camp washing usually includes nothing more than a spout. My eco-friendly friend brings a plastic basin (like what some people have for meat and dairy if they have only one sink) and washes up all the dishes there, then does a rinse under the drain. The family helps dry off each piece. 


Another piece of equipment that is a must have for camping is a campfire grate. It looks like a thick cookie rack. They come in different thicknesses. You can lay your food directly on it (don't forget to toyvel it!) or put a pan or pot on top of it to cook. Your food will have a smoky flavor, since you are cooking it over fire and smoke. If you prefer a non-smoke flavor, then cook it on a pan resting on the campfire grate. BTW, the undersides of your pots will be black. So don't say I didn't tell ya!

Many people also invest in a propane stove. They costs between $50-100 depending on what type you buy. I purchased the basic model from Coleman, and it was easy to use, clean, and pack up. It has two burners which can be used to cook two separate pots at the same time, or you can put a tray across both burners. You can use your regular pots and pans on this. It's the same thing as cooking on a gas stove.

A Page From My Journal

Quiet cold morning, our last day here at Lost River Campground in New Hampshire. I awoke while it is still dark outside but am afraid to walk to the bathrooms in the darkness. Wouldn't this be a perfect time for bears to come out? I listened for sounds of the morning symphony of chirps and looked for the morning light. The softest sounds of bird chatter can be heard but no light. It must be around 4 a.m.

The good thing about camping is that you get your sleep...if it doesn't rain, and isn't too cold and uncomfortable. We have had nights like that in Maine. Of course, Mr. Framper slept even better when we were being pelted by rain.

Even though this camping vacation wasn't exactly what I aspired it to be, it was a great first family camping experience. There was a lot of whining and fighting, more than I had anticipated.

There were moments of campfires and s'mores. There was chatter and coziness in the tent. There were local day trips, and the main goal of relaxation and disconnect was achieved! Now if we can only take some of that energy back with us.

Wow, it's pretty cold out. I didn't realize that I might need gloves for summer camping! My feet are frozen even though I'm wearing wool socks. Summer in the north. :)

Maine: The Pine Tree State

I have only known two people from Maine...they were both Jewish, coincidentally. Maine is down-to-earth, practical, independent, and a little off center.

What is so great about Maine? Well, for one thing...it's really close to Canada, which makes it an easy trek across the border. If you're coming from Canada, get your camping stuff on the US side. It's half the price. America is also a great place to stock up on kosher food. Yes, even in Maine. Maine doesn't have a large Jewish population, but so much of the food in America is kosher anyway.

One reason I love Maine, and what distinguishes it from other places, is the total quiet and isolation which can be found there. According to the Maine Forest Service, "Maine is the least densely populated U.S. state east of the Mississippi River. It is called the Pine Tree State; nearly 90% of its land is forested".
Where do I sign up?! 

For the first family camping trip we took to Maine, we decided to stay in the cute little town of Freeport, which was conveniently located to Portland, Scarborough, and Old Orchard Beach. We were newbies, and we didn't want to venture too far out. We mainly used our campground as a base for all the activities and day trips that we wanted to take. 
                                                  
A friend of mine suggested I check out Recompence Shore Campground.  We chose one that was near the ocean and it's outgoing and incoming tides. Tidal pools; neat! It was kind of surreal to walk on the bottom of the ocean floor. 

Some larger campgrounds have their campground maps online. Recompence even allows you to scroll over individual sites and see the short description of each site. Here is lovely site #92.

It is a well managed campsite with friendly staff. You can get wi-fi near the front by the campground office. They also stock basic supplies that you might need...eggs, milk, firewood, etc.

If you want to camp at Recompense, don't make the mistake that we did and camp far from the flush toilets. My kids were underwhelmed with the whole portable toilet thing. And honestly, so was I.  It's important that you know your limitations. I have reserved a campsite at Recompense in 2012 in their new section of the campground, located not too far from the shower house (read: toilet), so I will update you.

If you have younger children, they will enjoy the farm animals at Wolfe's Neck Farm which is on the adjoining property. Be forewarned that your kids might ask you to start raising chickens or start a small goat herd. 

Okay, here is the real reason why I love Freeport.  It's home to LL Bean's flagship store, and it's open 24 hours a day/365 days a year. OH yeah! And Ben and Jerry's is right next door. You can eat your Ben & Jerry's and lounge in the adirondack chairs in front of LL Bean's home store. A consumer's paradise.


They even have a pond inside and do demonstrations on how to catch a fish.Can you imagine being hooked day in/day out? Poor fishy.

Their camping section was incredible, but alas, LL Bean is known for their quality, not for their prices.

If you need to go to the mikvah while you're in ME, don't seriously think about going in the ocean. REALLY! It's 55 degrees F in the summer. Bangor and Portland each have mikvahs.  Same goes for orthodox minyanim. 

Campfire Cookware

People often seem overwhelmed when trying to figure out what kind of cookware to buy for camping. I would like to break this down very simply...are you experimenting with camping, or will you be returning to the great outdoors for many seasons?


NEWBIES:  If you are new to camping, then don't invest in much. Keep it very simple folks! Two or three pieces of cookware should do it. Since I have a vegetarian husband, and meat can sometimes be hard to find, almost all of my camping batterie de cuisine is dairy. I keep some long wooden sticks on hand for the occasional weenie roast.  



The first pieces of camping cookware that I purchased were from Winners (TJ Maxx for you Americans). I did have some hot spots from uneven heating and some slight warping, but it wasn't a big investment for experimentation. I bought a BBQ grill pan (like the one pictured here), a BBQ flat pan (that looks like a cookie sheet), and two small pots made for cooking on a BBQ. I also brought along a roll of aluminum foil and disposable aluminum pans. 


Let me just emphasize that each of these pieces was made to be used on a barbeque and could therefore withstand high heat. Pots with plastic parts or non-stick coatings might melt or warp when placed directly onto a fire.




CAMPERS: If you have camped before and know that you would like to invest in good cookware for camping, I suggest cast iron. I know, it's heavy...I mean really heavy. BUT...it distributes heat evenly, is very durable, retains heat, and doesn't require a big cleaning (water only). The great thing about cast iron is that it builds up a "crust" (sounds gross; right?) which helps it do a great job of being a non-stick pot/pan.


Here is the kosher dilemma when buying cast iron; it's seasoned. What does that mean? It means that it has been pre-treated with oil. They take the cast iron, put a bunch of oil on it, and bake it at a high heat until it absorbs the oil. That is what what makes it non-stick. 


Hmmm...sounds possibly treyf to me! Well, Mr. Framper called Lodge to find out how the seasoning process works. He also found out that the oil that they use does not have kosher certification (somewhere in Google land it says that it is...but it isn't). He found out that you can "unseason" a piece of cast iron by putting it into your self cleaning oven.  


Now that you have kashered it, how do you season it back up? I shmeared mine with a bunch of oil (they said solid oil, but I don't have that), put it in the oven at 450 degrees F for one hour. Et viola! It's now seasoned and kosher.


If you like to cook, you can really get carried away while looking at the cast iron vessels. Do I need every piece? Probably....big pause...not. Darn! I felt the way my kids feel when staring down a candy aisle, and then how they feel when they hear me say "only one piece of junk". 


Here are a few basic pieces to get you started. Of course, it depends on your family size, but here are some suggestions for a family of 5-7 people.


You can use the flat side for pancakes, OR you can use the one with grill lines for meat. If you make pareve pancakes, you get double use out of this baby! For us, we'd probably just use the lined side for veggie kebabs and the smooth side for milchig pancakes or flatbread pizza.

Grill pans

10" Fryer

This fryer is great for chili, stews, soups, beans, a huge pot of  morning oatmeal, boiling eggs or corn, frying chicken, and just about anything else you can dream up. You can even make cornbread and cobblers in some of these, but hold up...now you're getting fancy!

Welcome to The Frampers

This blog has been germinating for about 3 years. Three years is the amount of time that it has taken for me to research camping and begin to feel comfortable with the challenges that arise when you're an observant Jew heading off into the wilderness. How do I keep kosher in a place where kosher food isn't available? Shabbos? Can I wash my sheitel in a river? Just kidding!

I finally decided to create this blog to help individuals or families out there who are interested in framping (frum camping), but find the idea of all the details a little overwhelming.

Why do my family and I camp?

This idea came about almost three years ago when my sister decided to quit her comfy but not so fulfilling job and take a 6 month road trip across the US to "figure things out". She camped in National Parks all over the western part of America. She inspired me to start thinking about my family's lack of connection to wilderness. What memories will my children have when they look back on their childhood? Vacation getaways in the Hilton? Disneyland? Don't get me wrong; I'm not dissing Disney, but being surrounded by nature opens you up in ways that you just won't get in a typical urban setting. People sit around the campfire, and get this...they talk! Kids use their imagination and not their DS. Being in nature makes you understand and respect your place in it. Watching the night skies teaches you humility. There are many reasons to get out in nature, but most of all, reconnecting with nature is peaceful.