Anyone reading this probably has had his or her fair share of camping chairs, or as I like to call them FRAL's or Field Rest-A-Legs. I sure have had a few and I admit having them and using them in my own living room too. That is to say I simply will not give up this supreme luxury whilst overlanding or even just camping unless i really have to. In my book these marvels (if you pick the right ones) of engineering are a must have.... but not everyone thinks so.
As Departure Day approached I suggested my cousins they buy and bring a FRAL each. I already had my trusted and tested one. As I pronounced those words we were walking through an "outdoors" mall and Filippo's face just lit up as if I had just told him he'd won the lottery.
"I never thought about it! Hell yeah!"
And he grabbed one of the chairs for sale and tucked it under his arm. On the other hand Pietro was lurking around the mall's corridors scouring the shelves for duct tape or sumthin'. I called out for him and sure enough he popped out from one of the isles. Filippo told him to absolutely get one of the camping chairs and I seconded him. Pietro just walked passed us, went to the chairs on display and started a monologue while gesticulating like the true Italian he is. It went something like this
"Naaaaaah are you kidding me? I don't need one of these! I'll lay on the ground sit on rocks or find a log or something. These thing always break, snap, tear and plus, they're another thing we have to carry...yada yada yada"
He didn't buy one. May he suffer a unbearably itchy ass.
During our trip Pietro risked getting pelted and poisoned. Whilst Filippo and I would enjoy a cup o' Joe on a beach watching the sunset or by a lake by a campfire Pietro paced around and more than occasionally would sit on the Lone Gallopers tool box. Bless him, I would have been able to kick him; he proudly paraded the fact the he didn't have one and he was a true nomad tough guy.
Truth be told whenever I wasn't resting my golden buttox on my FRAL Pietro was. And whenever Filippo wasn't... Pietro was. Pietro would sit on it wearing soaking wet swimming trunks, or covered in sand, or both. So when I got to take my FRAL back I would find it, wet, humid, sandy and when I went to put my coffe mug or glass of wine in the armrest cupholder I would find it being occupied by his Tobacco Can, phone or what not.
So If you ask me 'Why bring a camping chair' I would tell you: So that you wont risk your lively hood and enjoy camping more.
As Departure Day approached I suggested my cousins they buy and bring a FRAL each. I already had my trusted and tested one. As I pronounced those words we were walking through an "outdoors" mall and Filippo's face just lit up as if I had just told him he'd won the lottery.
"I never thought about it! Hell yeah!"
And he grabbed one of the chairs for sale and tucked it under his arm. On the other hand Pietro was lurking around the mall's corridors scouring the shelves for duct tape or sumthin'. I called out for him and sure enough he popped out from one of the isles. Filippo told him to absolutely get one of the camping chairs and I seconded him. Pietro just walked passed us, went to the chairs on display and started a monologue while gesticulating like the true Italian he is. It went something like this
"Naaaaaah are you kidding me? I don't need one of these! I'll lay on the ground sit on rocks or find a log or something. These thing always break, snap, tear and plus, they're another thing we have to carry...yada yada yada"
He didn't buy one. May he suffer a unbearably itchy ass.
During our trip Pietro risked getting pelted and poisoned. Whilst Filippo and I would enjoy a cup o' Joe on a beach watching the sunset or by a lake by a campfire Pietro paced around and more than occasionally would sit on the Lone Gallopers tool box. Bless him, I would have been able to kick him; he proudly paraded the fact the he didn't have one and he was a true nomad tough guy.
Truth be told whenever I wasn't resting my golden buttox on my FRAL Pietro was. And whenever Filippo wasn't... Pietro was. Pietro would sit on it wearing soaking wet swimming trunks, or covered in sand, or both. So when I got to take my FRAL back I would find it, wet, humid, sandy and when I went to put my coffe mug or glass of wine in the armrest cupholder I would find it being occupied by his Tobacco Can, phone or what not.
So If you ask me 'Why bring a camping chair' I would tell you: So that you wont risk your lively hood and enjoy camping more.
Alberto
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