Planning a camping trip

[BettyO]

As a long time reenactor years ago, Dave, I've slept out for 5 days in 100+ degree weather; (the worst) and also slept out for 3 days in 25 degree weather with 4 inches of snow on the ground. I had an "A" tent and a fold-up wooden and canvas cot (STILL have the cot if you want to borrow it.) The cot will assist in keeping the "critters" off as you sleep. You can also burn citronella candles (the little kind in the bucket) which will also help. Take lots of "OFF" or bug repellent with you and pull your socks up over your trouser's legs (thick wool reenacting socks are best - bought at sutlers) to keep ticks from getting close.... Gene has offered some outstanding hints. I used to love to camp and "rough it."

I'm far too old for that now! Also wearing layers (if you want to get original, then long drawers are also correct and warm) and you'll be fine! Also take LOTS of pictures and film! We'll be waiting for those!!

[L Verge]

You'll need a broken left fibula.

I love it! We'll push you from the box at Ford's, shove you on a horse in Baptist Alley, and then arrange for a crazy D.C. driver to spook your horse somewhere on this side of Anacostia. The horse will roll on your damaged leg for good measure.

Do you want to go to Southern Maryland Hospital for treatment, or do you prefer to head on to Dr. Mudd's in hopes that someone there can splint you up?

[Gene C]

If you go in April, the bugs shouldn't be to bad. Focus on staying warm and decent food. If it rains, you can always go home.

For Booth's time in the woods , he was in pain, cold, hungry, and scared most of the time. Just let us know if you want any help recreating that experience. If your lucky, you will only have to deal with 2 of the 4
Have a good time. (seriously, don't do this by yourself. You don't want hypothermia with no one to help you)

[RJNorton]

You'll need a broken left fibula.

Dave, Bill is an MD and would be a good choice to whack you in the left leg. He would know how to do the whack and just break the fibula, not the tibia. From what I understand you don't want a broken tibia.

[L Verge]

Gene is correct that mid-April is not going to be a real problem concerning ticks and other creepies -- too early in the season. Maybe a snake, but doubtful. Raccoons and opossums maybe, but most of them will be road-kill before they make it to you. Cars on Bel Alton-Newtown Road do not observe speed limits.

Forget the Off and the citronella. Booth didn't have them, so you can't.

Good luck finding sufficient pine trees in the location of the original thicket. I have looked down that railroad track to the horizon and seen a lot of open space. You might have the law enforcement officers pay you a visit because there are a number of houses there now, and the inhabitants may view you as a homeless person.

P.S. When my husband and I did re-enacting, I had one hard and fast rule: No primitive, authentic camping. The lowest I went was Holiday Inn. I also quickly learned that, even though he was a private, I was going to be an officer's lady with hoop skirts and parasol. The minute you put on a work dress, they stick you over the cook fire and the darn smoke follows you everywhere and no amount of shampoo will get it out of your hair without at least three washings.

[Gene C]

Raccoons and opossums maybe, but most of them will be road-kill before they make it to you. Cars on Bel Alton-Newtown Road do not observe speed limits.

That could solve your food problem, You might be able to build a pit to cook them. (Opossums are a tad greasy, bring some Tums)

[Dave Taylor]

There isn't much pine thicket left where Booth and Herold were, so I have an idea for an appropriate site not too far away that I could, hopefully, get permission to camp out in. I want to have my ducks in a row before I approach the owners to ask them, though.

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I'll have to do more research, but I was also of the opinion that I probably wouldn't be having any fires. Though it would be fun and comforting, I don't see the chances of Booth and Herold risking one with they were trying to hide. So, agreeably, that's gone.

Since, as you guys point out, bugs shouldn't really be an issue in April, I will try to forego the bug spray and bug candles. However, I am going to have with me an emergency first aid kit and I'll probably throw some bug spray in there, in case it is too much to bear without it.

As Betty recommended, I would be recording my experiences there. Instead of using just my phone for video, I will probably invest in some sort of camera that could survive the elements, like a GoPro. I would also buy a tripod and microphone. This project would require me to do some editing of video, so it would probably not be immediately ready to show once I was done.

To make it worth while, however, I need to make sure I have enough research material to discuss and relate while I am in the woods. Otherwise it would just be a me camping video. I did some research at the JOHRC this summer and got a few items that I think would be good, so I'm confident.

[Gene C]

Sorry Dave, cell phones aren't allowed.

[L Verge]

If all else fails, my daughter lives about a mile across Rt. 301 from the thicket area. You can use her outside hot tub for a bath, but she'll make you hose off first because you are going to be ripe after a few days. Don't count on her bringing you a hot meal unless it comes from Roy Rogers or Taco Smell - my daughter is not domestically inclined.

[J. Beckert]

Are there bears in Southern Maryland? It might not be a bad idea to bring a length of heavy string or clothes line to tie up whatever food you may have leftover at night and pull it about 20' in a tree off a limb. Even if there are no bears, coons and foxes could be pests. I'd bury any scraps, too.

I've always wondered what Booth and Herald were fed. I imagine it was things that would "travel well" - Fried chicken, boiled or baked potatoes, bread, etc. Good luck with this, Dave. The several days without a shower should be very uncomfortable, but I imagine it was the norm back then.

[Gene C]

If all else fails, my daughter lives about a mile across Rt. 301 from the thicket area. You can use her outside hot tub for a bath,

Sorry Dave, baths aren't allowed either. Don't worry about the smell, after a while you don't notice it to much. (Everyone else does, but you won't)
Maybe you can do a febreze commercial.

[Dave Taylor]

Sorry Dave, cell phones aren't allowed.

Don't worry, Gene, my phone would be turned off and in the first aid kit for an emergency only. I won't be updating my Facebook status to "Dave Taylor has a cricket in his ear and is regretting this stupid idea" or anything like that.

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I've always wondered what Booth and Herald were fed. I imagine it was things that would "travel well" - Fried chicken, boiled or baked potatoes, bread, etc. Good luck with this, Dave. The several days without a shower should be very uncomfortable, but I imagine it was the norm back then.

I probably won't stay true to scripture when it comes to what food I am brought in the pines. Unless we had an itemized list of the foods John Wilkes Booth and David Herold ate, I feel like it's okay if I just eat some modern food.

I do like the idea of hanging the food up somewhere. The first year my father and I ever went tent camping, we left the coolers out under the picnic table. The raccoons managed to open them up during the night and ran off with our lunch meat and cheese. From then on, the coolers, and all garbage went into the car during the night.

[Gene C]

I really don't want to just sleep on the ground with the bugs and such, but we'll see how brave I am come April.

Don't worry Dave, these haven't been found in southern MD....yet
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/04/0...your-face/

[RJNorton]

Sorry Dave, baths aren't allowed either.

No cheating on the diary. What you take cannot have more pages than the real one.

[L Verge]

We do have routine garden spiders that have a leg span of about three-inches. We also have poisonous hermit and black widow spiders.