Propane Stoves

The day started out with a beautiful sunrise.  As Mom and Dad started the campfire for the morning’s breakfast, they looked at the sky.  They were hoping the day would stay fine for the hike they had planned for the family.  The children crawled out of their sleeping bags and sleepily stumbled to the campfire. They were thankful to have a cup of hot cocoa Mom had made for them.  The morning was chilly in spite of the sunny sky.

By the time breakfast was over and the camp was cleaned up, the children were ready for any excitement the day could hold.  Dad had told them at breakfast that they would be hiking further up the mountain today to the lake near the summit.  Dad had given the children the choice of keeping the camp where it was or taking everything with them to set up camp at the lake.  The children enthusiastically decided to move camp to the lake.  The girls helped Mom pack away the camp forks, the plates, and other utensils.  Dad helped the boys take down the camping tents and pack them into neat bundles.  Then Dad made sure all their gear was together.  It would never do to leave something behind! 

Before the trip, Dad had looked at different camp stoves.  The children had laughed as Dad read all the reviews about all the different camping stoves that could be purchased!  “Why would Dad waste money on a camping stove?” the children asked each other.  The children were sure they wouldn’t need it - they would use the campfire, of course!  It never occurred to them that it might rain while they were camping, and the campfire would be of no use to them.

That day, the children learned a lesson they would never forget.  They never again laughed at Dad for buying something that they thought was unnecessary.  By the time they had reached the lake, the sky was filled with ominous-looking clouds.  The boys quickly set up the tents in the spot Dad had chosen.  Dad had picked a very sheltered spot for the tents, because he knew the rain was coming.  The girls helped Mom set up the “kitchen,” then helped the boys gather firewood.  It had been a long day, and they were ready for supper.  They were so hungry, it seemed like yesterday since they had eaten anything!

Just as Mom was putting the camping dutch oven on the campfire, the rain came down in torrents!  The children groaned!  Now what would they do?  None of them remembered the camping stove with an oven that Dad had purchased and brought with them!  Dad quickly set up the stove and soon had the oven ready for use.  Mom put the dutch oven into the camping stove oven.  Then she set the coffee pot on one of the burners.  She was heating water for hot cocoa.  The rain continued to come down as the family ate their supper.  When supper was finished, the rain ceased.  Not only had Mom been able to cook supper, but the stove and oven had kept them warm while the rain came down!

The children had time before bed to do a little night fishing from the lake shore.  They thought fresh fish would be great for breakfast!  They didn’t worry about the rain coming down anymore. They knew the rain or shine, Mom would have their next meal ready for them all because Dad had purchased a camping stove with oven!  Certainly that stove with the oven had saved the day!