Experiencing the Outdoors in a Hammock

For many years, I used a hammock for fun. As I got older, I realized that there was more to camping than just sleeping in a tent. I had to modify my habits in order to truly enjoy nature. Thus began my love affair with my hammock system.

I slept many nights in a tent and one night I kept coughing due to sinus drainage during the change of the seasons. I decided to go and get in my hammock that I used for sitting in during the day. After a sound night's sleep with no coughing, I woke up to squirrels playing all around me. Up and down the tree and along the ground.

As I watched the colorful birds jump from limb to limb while singing a morning song, I realized I was missing out on a whole other world. Snuggled up in my blanket, I watched the morning come to life as the sun peaked from behind the trees and slowly drying up the dew on the newly leaf growth. I was thankful I put a tarp over my blanket to keep the moisture off of me.

As the sun got higher, my stomach started growling for food. Hesitantly, I slowly slid the blanket off of me and made my way out of the hammock. The birds kept singing but they ultimately moved to another place to continue their day.

The images are burned in my mind and I enjoy sharing what I see every morning to those that camp with me. While I have not had a bear come into camp, deer, opossum, armadillo, squirrels, foxes and coyotes have all come to see me at one time or another. The latest visitor was a huge red-tailed hawk. Magnificent!