Transcendentalist Summer

by me for me to be to be

[transcendentalistsummer]

First Night

I left an appointment at 5:00 and immediately drove to Oak Ridge Campground in Prince William Forest. I arrived at the park’s visitor center too late to buy a parking pass and I didn’t have any cash on me to leave in the overnight box. 

I continued down Scenic Drive following signs toward Oak Ridge Campground, but the way was blocked by a fallen tree. I parked in the nearest scenic stop and left a sign in my car requesting not too be towed despite is improbability. 

Google Maps told me the entrance to the campground was over 3 miles down the road. I did not want to hike all the way to the actual camp and I had at best 90 minutes of sunlight left. I wanted to be wild and the downed tree provided the perfect excuse. I hiked down a groomed hiking trail and then, I did something that was somewhat unsafe. I hiked off the trail into the woods. 

I did not go far and I followed an intuitive path. I found a clearing sounded by trees and assembled my tent. It was mildly frustrating because the directions were not clear, but ultimately assembly is quite simple. I hung my bags on tree limbs around the tent and used my laptop inside the tent to charge Olly’s GoPro. It minimally charged and I took some selfies inside the tent.

I played with incense and painted my body a swirl of patterns. It started to rain so I got outside the tent to dance in the rain with my body painted. It smeared and ran nicely. The pictures are terrible because I do not know how to make the GoPro shoot in minimal light. But, I have some photo documentation of my first night. 

I ran the charge out of my laptop, my phone, and the GoPro 

Hiked around in the dark - not safe

Tried several times later to get back to the trail - scary, technically safe

Stopped by car... reassured myself it was safe. Put laptop in trunk. Intended to hike with a bottle of soap and a towel in my bag to the campround. It was completely dark. I hiked without my lantern on, turning it on. I missed the turnoff for the campground and ended up hiking the entire scenic loop through the middle of the night

I turned my lantern off. I heard noises at different points but never really felt unsafe. At 4:50 I noticed the sun was coming up. Hiked through dawn. Made it all the way around back to my car. Put the laptop and essentials in my backpack and headed to IHOP to celebrate and gorge. 

Stayed up all night. Hiked most of the time. Alone. In the woods... in silent darkness. Not really afraid at all. 

I got a ton of good art ideas

[transcendentalistsummer]

Uh-oh

5/30 - It looks like PWR BTTM is experiencing professional difficulties. Although their sound and aesthetic are thematically appropriate for this summer, their social malaise is not. Since I have unscheduled time this evening, I’ll refresh the initial musical inspiration. Like mixing a cologne, I would like notes of:

The happy, at ease, peaceful acceptance of love in Miley Cyrus’ Malibu

The unabashed hedonism of MGMT’s Time to Pretend

The something-somethingness of Grimes’ Venus Fly

I want an adult version of Lord of the Flies in which I’m Piggy, Jack and Ralph - in that order. I am restless.

[transcendentalistsummer]

False Start

5/30 - Well, Burke Lake Park ended up disappointing me. I misinterpreted its rules as permitting single-person wilderness camping while prohibiting prior reservation. Wilderness camping, instead, is limited to parties of 15 or more and intended for scouting troops earning merit badges. 

I am conversely disappointed in that the park seemed overly coifed. There were train tracks, putt-putt courses and driving ranges. It looked more woodsy retreat than rustic wild. The camp manager was nice. The park staff in the main office wore identical pullovers and recited rules. I aim for a Thoreau-like escape to the untamed. This was akin to Happy Fun Summer Camp where an inappropriate amount of high-fiving occurs. This summer experience - whatever it turns out to be - is meant to challenge conformity and the worship of rules. I hope to achieve a greater disconnect from convention. I want to run wild.

Tomorrow morning I am headed to Oak Ridge in case you want to murder me in the next couple days. 

[transcendentalistsummer]

Do yourself into being.

My motto of the season.

There is a

thin 

flexible

fit

attractive

wantable

version of me

inside of me

and I want to find him. 

[transcendentalistsummer]

Starting

5/26 - I’m calling this summer Transcendentalist Summer because it is primarily influenced by the writings of Thoreau and Emerson. My favorite quote of all time is:

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours... In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.

- Walden, Henry David Thoreau (1854) 

My endeavors this summer are loosely inspired by that work, I plan to escape into the woods alone to ponder, explore, and revel. My plan is to tent camp in free or nearly free areas in the woods near here while still maintaining all my regular professional and personal obligations. I have a minimum of camping supplies and great ideas for what I hope to experience. However, it’s my adventure, and I can change the rules anytime I like. 

Transcendentalist Summer Includes:

- Tent camping alone in the wilderness with a minimum of supplies and cost 

- Reading - Thoreau, of course, but anyone and everything else

- Fitness - lots of running, yoga, swimming if possible, pushups, hiking at night, and healthy eating

- Sex (with myself and/or someone else), drugs (prescription and/or OTC, legal, legally obtained), and rock-n-roll (PWR BTTM is the official band of the summer)

- Fun costumes and makeup

- Night swimming, night hiking, night dancing

- Meditation on principle foci with a simultaneous evaluation of principles and objectives

- Documenting the summer in words and pictures

I’m starting out at Burke Lake Park. I’ll practice putting together my tent there first, take some pictures, and hike around to learn the lay of the land. I’m excited. At night, I will wear my first tribal wear inspired by MGMT - Time to Pretend.

Supplies to Begin

- Tent

- Tent/Picnic shelter thing

- Self-inflating full size mattress

- Battery powered lantern (with extra batteries!)

- A few towels, sheets and blankets

- Olly’s GoPro (maybe)

NEED: Battery-powered alarm clock (my phone is unreliable)

Pack

- Peanut butter and bread

- Bananas

- Seltzers (i case, plain)

- Toiletries, blue shower bag

- Black shower sandals

- Clothes for work, running

- Costume supplies

- Magic markers

- Full box of tea lights

- Two grill lighters

- Aluminum baking pan

- Batteries, batteries, extra batteries

Leave laptop, work files/papers, etc. in the trunk of the car. Do lesson planning, grading, etc. at the office. Have a supply of non-wrinkling, cool (both senses of the word!) clothes. Get a pair of cheap knock-around-the-woods shoes from Wal-Mart. Enjoy being alone in the woods while simultaneously being showered and prepared for work. 

May this be a conduit and a catalyst for positive growth in my life.