NELLIJA VALIDA OLEKS STORY - III (NELLIJA GOES CAMPING)

(This is the third of some stories about a woman who was talented but could not get herself to write up her own stories.  She lived in Latvia, Poland, and Germany during WW-II  She is now deceased, and I have decided to write up some of her stories in her memory.  Part I is at http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/04/nellija-valida-oleks-story-i.html and Part II is at http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/05/nellija-valida-oleks-story-ii.html)  For an account of life in Europe during WW-II see the story by her younger sister Andra Karena Oleks at http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/05/world-war-ii-through-eyes-of-child_11.html

I wanted Nellija to go camping with me back about 1960.  She didn't want to do it.  I would ask her why and she would reply about all the bombing and strafing.  I told her that this is peacetime and there wouldn’t be any bombing and strafing.  She didn't seem convinced but finally agreed to go.  We were visiting folks up in Minnesota at the time so we drove north with the target of going into Canada and across the Trans-Canada Hwy. to the East.  It was still under construction in spots.

Well, we got to the North Shore of Lake Superior and set up my two-person mountain tent, made a fire an ate.  It started to rain, but softly.  I was a bit apprehensive, but Nellija seemed to be all right and we were happy.  The next night we stopped in Canada at a campground near a little lake.  The spot was very pretty.  Again it started to rain, and I didn't think much of it.  Then there was the worst thunder and lightning storm I have ever been in and seemingly right over us.  If anything mirrored bombing and strafing, that was it.

So that was nearly the end of camping.  As we drove east across Canada, we would ask about the road ahead. and were told there might be a spot we would have to be dragged through by a tractor, but it wouldn't be bad.  Well, we would get to the spot only to find it freshly paved so that was good.  In the east, I found a hotel in a little town and we checked in.  I think it was the first time in a long time a woman was there with her husband.  Nellija wanted to take a bath in the central bathroom, and I had to stand guard while she washed up.

Then we drove south to the U.S. stopping by Niagra Falls, a new experience for her.  We camped again at a campground at Watkins Glen in New York.  A truck came by in the campground and sprayed us with insecticide while we were eating dinner.  I complained to the ranger who just said the insecticide wasn't poisonous to humans.  BS.

Well, that was the end of camping.

Note added August 13, 2018: Nellija's younger sister (Andra Oleks) said she forgot about the bombing and strafing incidents.  It was so terrible that she thinks she pushed it out of her active memory, but Nellija's story brought it back.  I don't know if this is good ar bad.