Solo trip

I decided to go on a camping trip solo this weekend.

That wasn't the original plan, however. We sort of hatched a plan to camp near Waverly, Iowa, during the time our younger son, Isaiah, would attend a choir/singing camp at Wartburg College in that town.

The campground I found is called Cedar Bend Park, a county-run reserve along the banks of the Cedar River. I would leave on Thursday to secure a site, as it's first come, first serve. Michelle and Nathaniel would join me on Saturday, and we'd book a college tour for Nathaniel at Wartburg.

But Nathaniel is intent on banking more money through his job managing a produce stand, and so the weekend, come-to-Waverly plan evaporated. Michelle didn't want to leave a 16-year-old home alone, so that meant she wasn't coming either.

I deliberated a little before deciding to go by myself. It seemed a little selfish, to be honest, especially the day before departure, when our main refrigerator quit working. By late Wednesday, the fridge had sprung back to life, a work communications crisis had been resolved, and so I packed the camper and took off.

Two hours later, I was at the campground. It was mostly vacant, peaceful, expansive, and more scenic than I expected.

After setting up camp, I took a little bike ride to find out what's around. The answer: Not much. The one road leading from the campground ends up in a loop, and I saw no trail that leads to the Cedar River. I did find one spot, the West Shelter, with a clever setup for you to set your camera and take a selfie of you with the surroundings. The sign said, "Congratulations! You've found one of the most scenic spots in Iowa." I obligingly took a selfie.

Does the backdrop match the hype?

Our camper is mounted on a Ford 350 chassis, which means there is no second vehicle to get from here to there. I, of course, was aware of this, and also knew there would be no backup (i.e., Michelle arriving independently). So, I brought my bicycle, and had done my research. Waverly was about 4 miles south, certainly close enough to peddle. What I didn't know was the lay of the land leading there, so I hopped on my dad's 25-year-old former bike and motored toward Waverly. I didn't go all the way to town, but I did see some interesting stuff in the first couple of miles. Here's one:

The countryside is quintessential Iowa. Cedar Bend, like many parks in our state, occupies a sliver of land hugging a river. Everything around it is farmland. Corn fields that blanket rolling hills, undulating ribbons of pavement, a horse pasture here and there. It is serene, it is rural, and it has its charms.

After my short jaunt of exploration, I retired to my campsite to enjoy the peace and quiet, mix a Presbyterian, and build a fire to roast brats. 

Day one of solo camping comes to a close.

Tomorrow, I'll venture into Waverly and see what it has to offer.