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yukionna · 05-20-2006, 05:32 AM

For those of us not camping at the moment, let's start a virtual campfire where we share our campfire stories with each other online. So please tell us what is your favorite campfire story?

flyfshr · 05-20-2006, 08:52 AM

My absolute favorite camping story is The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service. If you are not familiar with it, you need to be. It will top your list too.

Brad
FF

maxandgeorgia · 05-20-2006, 08:58 AM

"Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee
Where the cotton blooms and blows;
Why he left his home in the South to roam
Round the Pole, God only knows. . ."

This is one of my favorites from Junior High--I had it memorized for the longest time, and still know great chunks of it. My quote above is just a rough retelling. Good one for a campfire--especially with a chill in the air

53flyingcloud · 05-20-2006, 11:12 AM

back nearly 3 yrs ago now...
We're all sitting around a dying campfire, pitch black out under the brightness of the stars overhead, when all of a sudden the loudest, cold blooded cry came out of the darkness of the night. Everyone stopped talking as in shock and, when it stopped, a ice cold chill went up our spines..Everyone quietly got up and folded their chairs..Rushing softly back to each of our units to shut out the night air.
In hindsight, it sounded like a wolf pack had surrounded a prey and, the fight went on for the longest time..
This wasn't told around the campfire but...
It could make for the beginning of a great story.

Alumaholic · 05-20-2006, 12:58 PM

Let's build an Airstream Campfire story by each building on the previous post.

I'll start by borrowing a cliche and the input from 53FlyingCloud:

It was a dark and stormy night. We were all sitting around a dying campfire, pitch black out under the brightness of the stars overhead, when all of a sudden the loudest, cold blooded cry came out of the darkness of the night. An ice cold chill went up our spines..

enduroryda · 05-20-2006, 01:26 PM

It sounded like it was coming from the direction of the graveyard we passed down the road on the way in. Everyones heard of the Legend of Seth Babbit's grave, but no one dares to tell the truth behind the tale.....

Happycampers · 05-20-2006, 01:28 PM

Brad, My father-in-law can recite that poem and many more from Robert Service. He has several of his books. That is of my favorite too. Marvin

canny_banjo_man · 05-20-2006, 01:36 PM

... The frightenin screams got louder & closer, closer & louder... then, suddenly, from out of the dark chilly night came the thunder of iron hooves, no, it was'nt the headless horse rider, it was, was... more scarier than that, this frightenin thing, pulled His loyal steed 2 a screechin halt, & demanded 2 kn " Is this the way 2 Armarillo ".... Well He was a Limey...Chris.....

.....

Alumaholic · 05-20-2006, 02:28 PM

Thanks, Canny Banjo Man. Okay, let's get this back on track...

Quote:

Originally Posted by klevan

Let's build an Airstream Campfire story by each building on the previous post.

I'll start by borrowing a cliche and the input from 53FlyingCloud:

It was a dark and stormy night. We were all sitting around a dying campfire, pitch black out under the brightness of the stars overhead, when all of a sudden the loudest, cold blooded cry came out of the darkness of the night. An ice cold chill went up our spines..

It sounded like it was coming from the direction of the graveyard we passed down the road on the way in. Everyones heard of the Legend of Seth Babbit's grave, but no one dares to tell the truth behind the tale.....

The frightenin screams got louder & closer, closer & louder...

GlenCoombe · 05-20-2006, 02:59 PM

Seth, a loner for sure, had been the town fool. His passion for Airstream trailers was known by all who met him. His passing had been a great surprise to all. He died with his polisher going....

flyfshr · 05-20-2006, 04:24 PM

...and his Nuvite container open. Seth was one of the original citizens of the small community that became known as Woods Canyon. Where came came from, no one really knew and he never spoke of his past.

Brad
FF

Alumaholic · 05-20-2006, 05:02 PM

... Some say Seth had once prospected for gold in Yukon along with his best friend, Sam McGee from Tennessee. And then on the marge of Lake Le Barge, something happened that would haunt Seth until his dieing days...

canny_banjo_man · 05-21-2006, 12:05 AM

... What on earth could be Hauntin Seth, 4 all these years, He reached in2 His grubby bib n brace & pulled out a tiny red & grey '60s transistor radio, switched it on...& there it was agn... " Is this the road 2 Armarillo "....., Oh! NO, 2 much I can't bare this any more, Y did Sam give Me this darn thing ?, it's all I have left 2 remind Me of Him, but it's so hauntin, I find help... Oh! A Camp fire, a camp fire, My kingdom 4a camp fire, so I can burn this darn radio & nvr have 2 listen 2 that song agn...
( Sorry Guys... I jus 4rt a lttl wit in the mornin wakes up one's grey cells.... )...Chris..... 2b continued.... so folks tune in2, Airstream daily blah blah & bitz n bobs n twiddle Yr knobs & Back-on-th-road-agn... What's in store in the next episode ?.... Only U know...( Hic-hic )....

enduroryda · 05-21-2006, 06:42 PM

...But there was not to be a dry piece of kindle found in Woods Canyon for that camp fire, for it had rained for ten straight days and ten straight nights. What could it be Sam McGee that you are trying to convey to thee?? Poor Seth thought......

Alumaholic · 05-21-2006, 07:03 PM

... back to the early days; the days before the Airstream addiction and the failed marriages, the days with Sam McGee. Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee, just like Angel73. In fact he would crouch on his sleigh and rave all day about his home in Tennessee. Well it wasn't really a home, it was actually an old Airstream. One night Sam turned to Seth, and "Cap," says he, "I'll cash in this trip, I guess; and if I do, I'm asking that you won't refuse my last request. I want you to swear that if I die, you'll go back to Tennessee and restore my old Airstream...

flyfshr · 05-21-2006, 07:27 PM

...so he told his dear friend Sam " A pal's last need is a thing to heed." And he swore he would not fail. Then he started out at the light of dawn but found the dreaded sagging tail.

Brad
FF

Alumaholic · 05-21-2006, 08:05 PM

Yeh, sagging tail, frame separation, frozen pipes, rotten floor; the full catastrophe. As Seth pondered the enormity of the task in front of him, he thought back to the corpse on the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains, but you promised true, and it's up to you to restore the Airstream's remains."

canny_banjo_man · 05-22-2006, 12:13 AM

... Seth came upon a large rock, sat upon it & rested His tired 'ole bones, riddled with guilt & remorse, He began 2 think what on earth He could do, I must keep My promise 2 My dear friend Sam McGee...then slowly Seth began 2 drift off in2 a state of tiredness, & after a while He awoke with a start... Oh what a dream I jus had, Oh what a wonderful He muttered... I dreampt I found a cell fone, & it only had one number listed it was ABC... I called the number &, & it was the Extreme Makeover, ( Airstream edition )... My heart was warmed, I felt My troubles lift from My shoulders... then, then I awoke, it was dream after all.. Oh dear, what shall I do... A promise is a promise, I must go on, I must not let My Friend down...

pmclemore · 05-22-2006, 01:04 PM

..but what is it that is holding down that darned tambour door?

Alumaholic · 05-22-2006, 01:45 PM

Seth reflected back on the day he found Sam's old Airstream. He was with his first wife, Velma. They had met and married in Idaho as he made his way from the Yukon Territory back to Sam's home in Tennessee. Velma, a former topless dancer, knew all about Airstreams. In fact, she had once posed nude for Zeppelinium, an accomplished photographer before his own Airstream addiction had changed all that. Velma was no stranger to the nuvite stained shirts, Parbond encrusted fingernails, and the obsessive preoccupation with gray water holding tanks, and dura-torque axles...