Hammocks bring back a lot of good memories for me.
I've always enjoyed sleeping in them, and what's really interesting is how many of those particular memories are still just absolutely vivid, of good times..
and a couple of comical ones too.
They include family camp-outs as a kid, sleeping in one on my grandparents back porch by the river in Cocoa Beach, music festivals, various camp-outs and at times just laying in one in the backyard after cutting the grass, resting and looking up at the sky.
HUNG BETWEEN A COUPLE OF PINE TREES ON A CAMP OUT One of my earliest camping memories is of a trip with our neighbors.
We went to a campground on Merritt Island on many occasions.
I was in grade school, and remember swinging in a canvas hammock that was always tied between a couple of trees.
It seemed huge at the time and it's almost like I can still feel and smell the canvas when I think about those times.
We would swim and fish all day and at night us kids would run around playing and catching fireflies.
Then later when the campfire was going, I would lay back in the hammock, watch the fire and listen to the adults talking.
Of course you always had to be pretty quick to get into the hammock since it was a pretty popular place to kick back.
HUNG BETWEEN A COUPLE OF POSTS ON A BACK PORCH My grandparents lived south of Cocoa Beach, across the street from beach, with their house less than 20 yards from the river.
They had a hammock on the back porch when I was a kid.
I can still remember one night, having a dinner of roast pork, watching M.
A.
S.
H.
and Star Trek with my grandfather, and then going out onto the back porch to read in the hammock while they watched the election results.
I fell asleep in the hammock that night with the smell of the salt air, the sound and feel of the breeze coming off the river and feeling as peaceful as I ever had in my life.
HUNG BETWEEN A COUPLE OF COCONUT PALMS ON AN ISLAND A couple of years later, I had my 15th birthday on an island off the coast of Panama.
We got to the island in a long wooden boat, that was a motorized step above being a dugout canoe.
The island had two mountains on it, that were almost entirely covered by jungle.
There was a block house, with no windows.
It had running water, but no electricity.
There were coconut palms everywhere, with some that leaned almost straight out over the water, so obviously coconuts were part of the menu.
And there were two canvas hammocks.
After a day of diving, collecting shells, coral and sea urchins, and after having a good meal cooked over an open fire, it was time for bed.
One of the other guys and I fought some with the girls over the two hammocks.
Since it was my birthday, I got one of them.
I wouldn't say this was any type of victory though.
Later that night a tremendous storm hit.
At first we wrapped the canvas of the hammock around us like a cocoons to keep from getting wet and waited for it to pass.
It didn't pass though, it just got worse.
The rain was coming down in sheets.
The hammock's canvas kept most it off, but we were still getting wet.
The real deal breaker though, was when the lightning started hitting the water.
The lightning was coming down left and right, along with ear splitting thunder.
A couple of hits about 100 yards away sent us running into the house to find someone who would share a bed.
Yes, the laugh was on us the next morning.
HUNG ON A STAND I had another instance awhile back, where water played a role in getting me out of a hammock, but it had nothing to do with rain...
I was visiting my dad, who lived next door to my grandmother on the river in Cocoa Beach.
When it came time for bed, I decided to sleep in the backyard in the rope hammock, that was on a hammock stand in the back yard.
I lay by the river in the hammock for awhile playing my guitar.
It was a beautiful night.
The weather was awesome.
Not too hot.
Not too cold.
Nice breeze off the river and not a cloud in the sky.
I was fast asleep when at about 3:00 AM, the automatic sprinkler system came on.
It's amazing how fast impact sprinklers can soak you.
HANGING OUT I still love hammocks, and have a couple of them.
They are great on camp outs, and you will often find me laying in one in the back yard with a good book.
For camping though, I do suggest a rain fly or tarp tied out as a cover above your hammock...
just in case.
ENJOY
I've always enjoyed sleeping in them, and what's really interesting is how many of those particular memories are still just absolutely vivid, of good times..
and a couple of comical ones too.
They include family camp-outs as a kid, sleeping in one on my grandparents back porch by the river in Cocoa Beach, music festivals, various camp-outs and at times just laying in one in the backyard after cutting the grass, resting and looking up at the sky.
HUNG BETWEEN A COUPLE OF PINE TREES ON A CAMP OUT One of my earliest camping memories is of a trip with our neighbors.
We went to a campground on Merritt Island on many occasions.
I was in grade school, and remember swinging in a canvas hammock that was always tied between a couple of trees.
It seemed huge at the time and it's almost like I can still feel and smell the canvas when I think about those times.
We would swim and fish all day and at night us kids would run around playing and catching fireflies.
Then later when the campfire was going, I would lay back in the hammock, watch the fire and listen to the adults talking.
Of course you always had to be pretty quick to get into the hammock since it was a pretty popular place to kick back.
HUNG BETWEEN A COUPLE OF POSTS ON A BACK PORCH My grandparents lived south of Cocoa Beach, across the street from beach, with their house less than 20 yards from the river.
They had a hammock on the back porch when I was a kid.
I can still remember one night, having a dinner of roast pork, watching M.
A.
S.
H.
and Star Trek with my grandfather, and then going out onto the back porch to read in the hammock while they watched the election results.
I fell asleep in the hammock that night with the smell of the salt air, the sound and feel of the breeze coming off the river and feeling as peaceful as I ever had in my life.
HUNG BETWEEN A COUPLE OF COCONUT PALMS ON AN ISLAND A couple of years later, I had my 15th birthday on an island off the coast of Panama.
We got to the island in a long wooden boat, that was a motorized step above being a dugout canoe.
The island had two mountains on it, that were almost entirely covered by jungle.
There was a block house, with no windows.
It had running water, but no electricity.
There were coconut palms everywhere, with some that leaned almost straight out over the water, so obviously coconuts were part of the menu.
And there were two canvas hammocks.
After a day of diving, collecting shells, coral and sea urchins, and after having a good meal cooked over an open fire, it was time for bed.
One of the other guys and I fought some with the girls over the two hammocks.
Since it was my birthday, I got one of them.
I wouldn't say this was any type of victory though.
Later that night a tremendous storm hit.
At first we wrapped the canvas of the hammock around us like a cocoons to keep from getting wet and waited for it to pass.
It didn't pass though, it just got worse.
The rain was coming down in sheets.
The hammock's canvas kept most it off, but we were still getting wet.
The real deal breaker though, was when the lightning started hitting the water.
The lightning was coming down left and right, along with ear splitting thunder.
A couple of hits about 100 yards away sent us running into the house to find someone who would share a bed.
Yes, the laugh was on us the next morning.
HUNG ON A STAND I had another instance awhile back, where water played a role in getting me out of a hammock, but it had nothing to do with rain...
I was visiting my dad, who lived next door to my grandmother on the river in Cocoa Beach.
When it came time for bed, I decided to sleep in the backyard in the rope hammock, that was on a hammock stand in the back yard.
I lay by the river in the hammock for awhile playing my guitar.
It was a beautiful night.
The weather was awesome.
Not too hot.
Not too cold.
Nice breeze off the river and not a cloud in the sky.
I was fast asleep when at about 3:00 AM, the automatic sprinkler system came on.
It's amazing how fast impact sprinklers can soak you.
HANGING OUT I still love hammocks, and have a couple of them.
They are great on camp outs, and you will often find me laying in one in the back yard with a good book.
For camping though, I do suggest a rain fly or tarp tied out as a cover above your hammock...
just in case.
ENJOY