Editor’s Note: As part of our year-long celebration of our 100th Year Anniversary (1922-2022), we’ll post a Throwback Thursday edition of our Alleghany Rattler Newspaper to give you a peek into life at camp across those 100 summers!
In this piece Susan Cotts and Dorsey Davidson write about one of ‘Ghany Girls’ favorite places — Blue Bend.
Blue Bend
One hundred and twenty five campers and counselors went on the overnight trip to Blue Bend. After traveling on the dinky to Anthony, the group hiked five miles to the Blue Bend campsite.
After “settlin’ in,” lunch was served at the council ring. Rest Hour was observed in the shelters as a preparation for the long swim in the afternoon. “The ole swimmin’ hole” is the result of a dammed up creek. The water is blue due to limestone formations.
There is nothing quite like gathering ’round a campfire to make one feel part of a group, and to feel the group a friendly one. Such was the evening activity, led by Bill Goodner. Unexpected dramatic ability was displayed by various counselors and campers, in addition to honest-to-goodness singing of campfire songs that are sung by camps all over the nation. Bill closed the program with a story about his hometown.
The “Foggy, Foggy Dew” was not quite as heavy as at camp, the stone floors of the shelters were not too different from our wooden bed bottoms, and Reveille sounded just as unwelcome as ever. But there was one change: a six-o’clock dip!
Breakfast too seemed to have a different flavor. Food cooked on an open fire just has a flavor all its own.
It seems that for those of us who were making the trip for the first time everything was going our way — no rain, few bites, campfire comradeship. So much so in fact, that one feels like thanking everyone — and Blue Bend — for the experience and fun of being out-of-doors.
Edited by Mottie Haverstick
