I agree with everything but the last bit, Jonny! How about this site?
Me and J [aged 13] had a brilliant time. We were warm because we packed for it. We were actually camping completely illegally in a National Park. But we are funny in Britain, if you don’t take the piss they leave you alone. Lighting a fire in a spot like that one is taking the piss. I could have taken him somewhere else, but why? We loved it.
If I could have taken him up to Scotland on that lightning strike, we could have done it. But we can’t always have our cake and eat it. I would’ve needed to take time off work and take him out of school. D’ya think my wife would have liked the last bit? Imperilling his life on a precipitous ridge climb, AND taking time off school?! Are you crazy???!!!
Camping is great with a fire, but it can also be great without one. There has actually been some good stuff in this thread from all sides. We don’t all have to like each other, but I have learned a few things about all you guys, things that I respect.
Would love to visit you, Mike and Pinnah. Just because where you live looks great, understand that!
Mike, we’ve just been booking our time in the SW next Summer. Looking forward to it. Last time I saw New Mexico was 1991. I suspect it may not have changed too much! We are also paying a ball crunchingly huge sum to stay a few nights in Yosemite at the end, somewhere I have never been.
Now, on with the argument!