Clementine Draws a Crowd: A Big One

The funniest thing happened while I was camped out on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, on my way north to Grand Teton National Park. I arrived at my campsite by the Lake in the mid afternoon, unhitched Clementine, opened up the kitchen in the back, and set up camp. I’d had enough sun for the past few days, so I opened up all the windows and the screen door in Clementine and sat inside at my little table to read and write. About 20 minutes later, a huge tour bus with Chinese tourists came by to see the Great Salt Lake. However, they were far more intrigued with Clementine, than the Lake. So much so, that 30 tourists wandered through my campsite, taking photos and talking with great enthusiasm. Mind you, this is all happening while I’m INSIDE Clementine with the windows open and the screen door set up. I can see them and they can see me. They were looking in and pointing with genuine excitement. I wish I knew a little Chinese to understand what they were saying, so I just waved and said, “hello” with a smile on my face. They waved back, and continued to walk around Clementine taking pictures of her. When they went around the back and discovered the outdoor kitchen, well that’s when it went off the rails. They loved the kitchen so much that they waved over the rest of the tour bus to come and see it! At this point, I’m of two minds. Half of me is thinking, “Well this is a great example of cultural difference in personal space. It’s not right of wrong, just different.” The other half of me is thinking, “Hey! Get out of my campsite!” My guests continued to take a good look around, no rush at all. A few of my new friends sat down at my picnic table to rest and adjust their cameras. For a moment, I actually thought maybe I should bring out some snacks. When the tour bus driver gave a honk to signal that it was time to leave, they took a few hurried pictures of the Great Salt Lake, but clearly Clementine was the star of the afternoon. I stood on the step to my front door and waved goodbye! Many of them waved back. It was a moment I will never forget.