Re: [Paddlewise] "Commado" Camping

I had an analogous experience while commando camping on the Hudson.  We
pulled up at a spot that actually was suggested to us by a park official
who we know which was not legal but okay according to him.  Well, we
were set up when a parks enforcement cop came by saying we shouldn't be
there.  Using the name of the parks guy who said it was okay cut no ice
with this enforcement fellow.  He asked us to paddle on to another spot
about 3 miles downriver also not legal.  But the currents were against
us and we had already done about 35 miles that day.  He then looked us
over again, saw we were real low impact and then said it was okay but
was worried about all the kids who tended to hang out in the area
drinking and shooting up.  He said if they bothered us to go to the
enforcement office.  So in a sense we were now under the official
protection of the park police in an illegal spot!

This whole commando camping discussion has been quite a revelation. 
People who I thought would find it okay seem strongly against.  And some
of those who I thought would be against seemed to be okay on it.  Also I
was quite surprised over how black and white some people saw it
particularly the vehemence of some of those advocating the sanctity of
private property.

I think a lot has to do with the area involved.  For example, those in
the Northwest seem most sensitive about it probably because of the flack
over overuse of the San Juans and such by kayakers.  There are very good
reasons not to commando camp in such sensitive areas.  Elsewhere,
though, I think it is a different matter.

I am also surprised to see that some people see little difference
between 20 paddlers pulling up on a person's front lawn to defecate,
pee, break tree branches for an open fire and a paddler or two pulling
in to a quiet corner at dusk, paddling off at dawn and leaving not a
mark on the place.  It's like the difference in basketball between an
intentional foul and a no harm no foul call.

Perhaps this is a discussion to have over a campfire at a legal kayak
campsite that permits open fires, a site blessed with woodchip padded
paths to clean latrines and wooden tent platforms, running water and
showers etc.  Unfortunately there are not many of these around.

ralph diaz

 

Merijn Wijnen wrote:
> 
> The law is not always against the commando camper.
> 
> Once I and my girlfriend were cycling in brittain, and could not find any legal campsite. We were
> about 40 miles north of Londen, in a fairly populated area, so commando camping was out of the
> question. Meanwhile the wether detoriated, and it was getting dark, so we decided to ask for a
> (legal) campsite at a local police station.
> The cops didn't know any legal campsites nearby, and proposed to show us the local park to
> pitch up our tent. But t was a not so smal city so my girlfriend was concerned about gangs of the
> local youth, and also it was really pouring down, so I asked for another solution. Then the cops
> offered us there interogation room for the night. Only if they would pick up somebody we would
> have to move out.
> The result: a good night of sleep, and dry wether next morning. And it is quite interesting to watch
> their reaction when you tell people that you once had to spend a night at a police station!
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> Merijn
> 
> 
> 
> ******************************
> Merijn Wijnen
> Vinkenhofje 8
> 5613 CN Eindhoven
> The Netherlands
> Tel.: 040-2939991          (job: 040-2650539)
> Fax:  same as tel., call before sending or try twice
> E-mail: Home: merijn_at_music.demon.nl
>         Job:  m.wijnen_at_ind.tno.nl
> Web-site: http://www.music.demon.nl
> 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
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"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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