10/20/2022
Mother Nature’s Lesson
My guess is there’s not a person reading this who hasn’t heard the saying “don’t like the weather, wait a minute and it will change”. A camping trip during the month of April to Mosquito Lake State Park proved that statement to be an accurate reading of spring in northeast Ohio once and for all.
The winter I had just experienced was unusual in that there were highs of 50° for the majority of January and February. March temperatures taught me humility. It taught me that being optimistic about the weather can be Mother Nature’s funniest joke. March was brutal. Cold, rainy, gray and miserable for every day I care to remember of the month. In the past, I’ve painted outside on beautiful March days. This year, the only way that was going to happen would have been with frostbitten hands. Not something any sane person would risk.
All winter long I dreamed of camping. Escaping real life and trekking into the wilderness. The sounds of nature, the smell of the campfire, the views so different from my home that I could make believe I was in a different realm of existence. Ahhhhh…..camping. Didn’t matter where, didn’t matter the weather. After all, I sleep in a big motorhome so weather won’t be any issue at all.
Being involved in a project that is taking a 40’ Van Hool 57 passenger tour bus and remodeling it into an RV called Whimsy gave me a feeling of arrogance when it comes to Mother Nature. Whimsy has a bath and a half, queen size bedroom, spacious living quarters, lots of kitchen countertop, 4 chairs and a table as well as a washer/dryer. It also has solar panels, diesel heaters as well as a heat pump for heating and cooling.
I left my home to camp at the West Branch State Park Campground near Ravenna Ohio on a Friday afternoon. This was the first camping trip or shakedown trip of the year. Whimsy is still under construction so I had been working on it almost every day during the winter as this was installed, that was tweaked, tightened up this and redesigned that in an effort to finally finish the 18+ month project. It wasn’t done yet but I was sure it had everything I would need to camp for one too short weekend. Absolutely nothing could go wrong. The RV was in great shape. I just forgot one thing. The weather.
Upon my arrival Friday, the day was perfect. Temperature was 75°, slight breeze and the sun shining as it hadn’t for weeks. The campground was alive with people enjoying the first beautiful weekend of the year. Families laughing, dogs being taken for walks, meeting people, making new friends, couples relaxing and spending time together. I grabbed 2 brand new kites and took them to a small field in the center to try and fly them. The dragon kite flew a little, the Star Wars Millennium Falcon kite was unimpressed by the wind. Returning to the campsite and relaxing overlooking a great view of the lake was the perfect way to finish the day. Didn’t matter to me. I was CAMPING! Nothing could change my perception that all was right with the world.
Saturday dawned with a few clouds and that golden orb in the sky again. Temperatures increased while the clothing being worn decreased in the amount of fabric. Shorts, T-shirts and sandals were retrieved from the deepest area of the closet and happily sported. Summer had finally made an appearance and the campground inhabitants were displaying their joy. Nothing could stop any of us from enjoying a weekend outside after being contained within walls for months.
Then, the wind from the southwest increased in speed. Nothing to be concerned about because that’s normal for such a beautiful day. Settling in for a nap after being active in the fresh air for many hours, sleep came easily. Deep sleep, quiet sleep, great sleep. Stepping outside later, gathering the picnic gear, using the RV to block the wind and relaxing while eating dinner was perfect.
The shadows on the lake grew longer until the night sounds of nature became a soothing symphony. Collecting the gear and rounding the corner of the RV to head in for the night put my face right into the wind. Wind that had become cold and damp during the few idyllic hours of summer dreaming. The temperature had dropped almost 30° and was no longer pleasant on skin covered just by a T-shirt, shorts and sandals. Brutal winter weather had returned and Mother Nature laughed at the mere mortals dumb enough to be surprised.
A few minutes later, the sky opened up and watered every inch of the area. What didn’t get hit directly by the liquid was lifted up by the gusting wind so that nothing was spared from feeling that cold rain. As the clock ticked into Sunday, the rain fell. All the way home, the rain fell. Arriving home, the snow began. Next time, I won’t be so quick to disregard Mother Nature. Next trip, I will take gear and clothing for every season possible so she can’t laugh at this dumb human.
You win Mother Nature. Lesson learned.
Mosquito Lake State Park
3620 Hoagland-Blackstub Road
Cortland, OH 44410
Located in northeastern Ohio, Mosquito Lake is one of the largest lakes in Ohio with more than 7,000 acres of surface area. The surrounding parkland covers 2,483 acres of mature woodlands and expansive marshes which provide safe haven for wildlife. Boating and fishing may be two of the top outdoor activities here, but the park also offers hiking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling in winter.
Facilities in the campground:
• Boat launching area for campers with shoreline tie-ups
• Two shower houses with flush toilets, laundry facilities, and pit latrines
• Basketball, volleyball courts, and playground area
• A seasonal camp store (ice, firewood, and supplies) 330-638-5700
• Free WiFi, games and sports equipment are available to registered campers at the camp office
Reservations are required and may be made up to six months in advance, online or by calling (866) 644-6727.
