Brethren Neighborfolk Bedfellows

I guess I thought no one ever read this....I just kind of documented my little misadventures here, but Noel's comment hit a funnybone with me...she said it must be a long camping trip. It wasn't really, but two funny things did happen.

I spent a long time choosing a sleeping bag to take with me to Prince William National Forest. I bought a 0 degree mummy bag, anticipating a camping trip like the thousand others I have been on. A thick, stuffed sleeping bag is beautiful and warm and snuggly on a cool night. I loaded up the very few sweaters, jackets, and thick socks I owned. We struck out on our adventure, and started the drive deep into Virginia.

About 30 min. later, I asked "where's the mountain?" Elizabeth veered her eyes from the busy freeway.... "Mountain?" she asked, "We are only ten minutes away. there's no mountain." She chuckled at me. Ten minutes later, I stepped out into the National Forest....all 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity of it. My mummy bag was definite overkill and useless on that outing. And the only cool clothes I brought were on my back.

Part II. There were about 20 cabins to rent per night. We had one (4 people). A group from University of Maryland had two (8 people). A group named "ETHAN" had 10 (40 people). I grew concerned, because my mind conjured up every Fraternity Brawl in the Forest I had (never) seen. We had a three year old with us, and were all concerned about this "ETHAN" group.

The Univ. of Maryland group ended up being either a Math Club or Sierra Club, or some other unglamorous thing. They were decently behaved. The ETHAN'S never showed. At 11:00pm-ish, we decided to kill the fire and head to bed to be swarmed by the heat and the bugs. As we readied for bed, the ETHAN group showed up. All we saw were men in their 20's and 30's...but they were quiet.

They behaved peculiarly, however, because they were dragging cots from one cabin to another....suspicious!!! But off to sleep we went (or try to sleep, that is). I woke early to read and sit in the one cool moment of the day. Around 6:30, the men slowly left the ETHAN tents to get ready for the day. They were all wearing suspenders and plain wool clothes....hmmmm....was it a cult? Then I saw the women, with their long sleeves and netted hair.

The ETHAN'S were not a brawling fraternity fiasco....they were Plainfolk!!! Amish, Mennonite, whatever.....and 40+ of them lived at Prince William National Forest with us. What are the odds?