Camping areas fill with tents, trailers

Gas prices continued to dance up and down this weekend, but camping enthusiasts did not appear to let the increases keep them from heading to state campgrounds.

In St. Francois and St. Joe state parks, camping areas were filled with travel trailers and brightly colored nylon tents. Campers cooked hot dogs over fires, relaxed in lawn chairs or visited with other travelers.

In St. Francois State Park, approximately 32 Cub Scouts and their families staked out their tents far back in the woods. The group, from Pack 426 in Festus, camped in Hawn State Park last year, but decided to pick a site closer to their homes for their August Family Campout.

&#8220I don’t know if it’s the gas factor, or they just don’t want to drive as far, but we don’t get as much participation when we’re further away,” said Jill Charleville, one of three den co-leaders.

Co-leader Cynthia Schriver agreed that family attendance is higher when they camp closer to home, but added that gas prices are not a big factor in her own decision to go camping.

&#8220We have to put gas in our vehicles anyway, so we just go,” she said. &#8220We might not go as often, though.”

Gas prices don’t mean much to 9-year-old Cody Charleville. He just cared about having fun.

&#8220Sometimes we go hiking,” he said. &#8220We were just at a turtle thing (presentation about box turtles). We’re trying to get our naturalist badge.”

In another camping area at the park, the Davidson and Hasty families were relaxing outside the Davidson’s fifth-wheel motor home. The House Springs residents camp frequently, and gas prices have not slowed them down.

&#8220It’s not stopped us from camping,” Jeanine Davidson said. &#8220We went to Colorado this year with this packed full and extra people in the truck. We spent about $1,000 on gas for a full week, which isn’t bad when you consider it costs $98 to fill the truck up.”

Gas mileage on that trip was about 8 or 9 miles per gallon, she estimated. She hasn’t noticed any difference in gas mileage when she leaves the windows open or closes them and uses the air conditioning, so they leave the air conditioning on while they travel, she added.

Traveling by plane would be even more expensive, especially when you consider car rental and gas, hotel rooms and the cost of eating out, the couples said.

This way, Tracy Hasty can bring her beloved dogs Jager and Cami on the family trip, she explained.

Jerry Hasty said he and his wife balance the additional cost of gas with cuts in other parts of their budget.

&#8220We don’t overdo it with food and we limit our activities,” he said. &#8220We used to pick up what we needed at Wal-Mart. Now we make sure we have it all before we leave.”

Jim and Joyce Nichols of Festus travel to St. Joe Park or Cherokee Pass every weekend. This weekend, they brought their granddaughters Katie and Emma on the trip.

The couple travels here for one reason – the park allows them to camp with their three horses, Cherokee (PeeWee), Cocoa and Sundown.

&#8220We stable our horses and this is the way we spend time with them,” Joyce Nichols explained. &#8220There’s not a whole lot of parks that will let horses in.”

The couple and their granddaughters have living quarters in the large horse trailer that carries the horses to and from the park. After a morning ride, the couple cools down the horses and ties them to a portable hitching stand. Saturday morning, after the ride and a cooling bath, Cherokee munched on hay, then dropped down to roll in the dirt.

The Nichols family was relaxing for a while until it was time for the afternoon ride. Jim Nichols admitted that the rising cost of gas sometimes left him wondering if they would have enough money for their weekend trips. But thus far, the couple has managed to afford them.

&#8220We just cut back on other things,” Joyce Nichols said. &#8220This is our recreation.”

Next month, the couple plans to pack up the horses and head to Natchez Trace State Park in Tennessee. Jim Nichols said for now, gas prices are less important than taking the opportunity to do what they love best.

&#8220There’s nothing more enjoyable than riding your horse in the woods!” he said.