HOW TO MAKE A CAMPING TRIP ON $4 



A WEEK 



By E. SARGENT IRWIN 



Illustrated by Herbert Johnson 



A SIX weeks' trip through a new 

 *"■ country at practically no expense, 

 with enjoyment such as no other out- 

 ing ever gave, was the experience I 

 am about to describe. I wished to visit 

 North Conroy, N. H., and my plan was 

 to drive to that place, camping on the 

 way, with the accompanying pleasure of 

 fishing en route. The start was made 

 from a little country town near Worces- 

 ter, Mass. The adventures and misad- 

 ventures that befell us on that trip 

 would fill a book. 



First, of course, came the prepara- 

 tion for the trip. We had to have a 

 horse and some suitable vehicle to carry 

 two of us, together with a camp outfit 

 for our simple needs, and only one who 

 has spent much time in camp knows 

 how few things are really required. 



I had the running gear of an old, 

 worn-out carriage, such as may be found 

 discarded around 'most any blacksmith 

 or carriage-maker's shop. With this 

 as a base, I made a buckboard at a to- 

 tal expense of less than $2.50 for re- 

 pairs to wheels and material. Hard- 

 wood strips for making the buckboard 

 may be obtained at any lumber mill 

 and a very little work by the black- 



smith will put the wheels in condition 

 for one more trip. Twelve feet long 

 we made the body, but for reasons you 

 will see later, nine is enough. For the 

 seat a box was built and the seat and 

 carriage top fastened to it. This box 

 held all our bedding during the trip. 

 Behind the seat we fastened another 

 box, large enough to hold our little oil 

 stove, gallon oil can, wheel grease, and 

 wrench. A small shelter tent and our 

 bedding, which consisted of one light 

 weight quilt and one very heavy one. 

 for each of the party, completed the 

 outfit. Of course, a rubber blanket may 

 be added, or a sleeping bag, but we 

 preferred to claim the hospitality of 

 some farmer in case of storm. So for- 

 tunate were we, however, in regard to 

 weather, that only once did we set up 

 the shelter tent, usually rolling up in 

 our blankets with the great round 

 moon and the stars for our roof. 



For provisions we carried only suf- 

 ficient for a day or two and a bag of 

 oats for the horse. You can buy from 

 your grocer for fifty cents each a 

 couple of the tin cans, such as are used 

 by the National Biscuit Co. for their 

 fancy cakes, and upon returning them 



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