Honeymoon Camping, Lost in the Dark

My husband and I have always enjoyed the great outdoors, so it was only natural that soon after we were engaged to be married we bought our first item together – a used Coleman popup. We were so excited about our plans to go on our “first” camping trip – our honeymoon!! Needless to say when the news was announced to our parents they thought we were absolutely crazy. Never less, we cleaned our new popup and practiced setting it up like two kids with a brand new toy. The big day finally arrived and we were off with a final wave to our still not so enthused parents. We traveled to a beautiful Georgia State Park, Skidaway Island. Our first day as husband and wife we eagerly shared the process of setting up the camper. As time went by we couldn’t figure out why we were unable to get it level. Then it occurred to my husband that we forgot to take the camper off the truck, one obstacle down and many still to go. That first night of camping I had to take a trip to the restroom in the middle of the night. I awoke my husband to let him know I was leaving the camper. With my trusty flashlight I headed off in the direction of the well lighted bathhouse, all was fine, I smelled the burned out campfires and listened to the sounds of animals scurrying in the night. A few minutes later when leaving the bathhouse I noticed that all the roads looked the same, dark! I ventured down one passing many campers that were not mine. Those sounds that sounded friendly earlier weren’t... Read more

The Newest “First RV Trip” Memory Yet: Broken Bones in Tampa, 2009

You are going to love this story. We are very new to RVing. In fact we have only been in our RV three times, so far. The reason for this is; we found a RV that we wanted to look at for purchase in Florida in late December 2009. We made airline reservations for January 5, 2010 and had a smooth flight from Ohio. We landed at 11:30 AM in Tampa and at 7:00 that evening, I landed. I fell and broke my left arm and my shoulder in three pieces and my right thumb was also broken in the fall. Transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital where they recommended surgery. After a a seven hour wait there, we decided that we would rather have the surgery performed in Ohio. We made immediate plans to fly back home the next morning for the upcoming surgery and recovery. I have therapy two times a week for my arm and follow-up doctor appointments. Also to make things worse, because of the stress, my husband started to have some heart problems and had to have a stent implanted in an artery in his heart in March, and now he has follow up appointments too. Good news, we found a 1999, 35 foot Newmar Dutch Star in pristine condition with only 25000 miles, just 20 miles from our home. Needless to say the useless trip to Florida was costly to say the least. As all of you can identify with, we are having some anxious times waiting to get away in our RV. One weekend we needed to visit my husbands mother who lives 110 miles from us. We decided to take the RV. So our first overnight experience was spent in... Read more

Camping in a 1965 Chevy Van in San Diego

Our first “camper” was a very used 1965 Chevy Van. We had two young children and could take the back seat out to allow all 4 of us to sleep. We went to the San Diego area for our first camping trip and arrived late at night so we immediately went to bed. Next morning we awoke to a very cloudy sky and very large fancy campers on either side of our little van. We had purchased a brand new Kangaroo Kitchen that enabled us to cook, wash dishes, grill, etc. all in one very small compact unit. I set the unit on the picnic table and started fixing breakfast. We could see the other campers watching everything we did and looking down on us from inside their campers but we were excited with our new camping set up so we went forward. I fried bacon and then when the grill was good and hot, I poured out 4 pancakes. They immediately stuck to the grill and burned. Smoke going everywhere, could not get them off the grill. About that time, it started to pour down rain so we let the rain put out the pancake mess and we all four set in the van eating fruit and chips for breakfast. We ended up piling the kangaroo kitchen in the back of the van and driving home in the rain. Used the kangaroo kitchen for years after that but it always had 4 perfect burned on spots where the pancakes were. Our family still laughs about this and the amusement we provided to the other campers. Submitted by Sarah Speck from Palmdale, CA as a part of the RV Centennial Celebration “Share Your Favorite RV Memory”... Read more

Gr8LakesCamper: Ohio State Parks introduces camper rewards program

Just in time for summer, Ohio State Parks is offering a new rewards program for frequent campers and cottage guests, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).   The Ohio State Parks rewards card is free of charge, and is available through the state parks website, www.ohiostateparks.org, the reservation call center at 1-866-OHIOPARKS, and from local state park offices.   “The rewards program is our way of saying thanks to campers who come back year after year,” said Ohio State Parks Acting Chief John Hunter. “We want to help make an Ohio vacation a little more affordable, and encourage frequent camping trips and getaways in our parks.”   For each dollar spent on camping at one of Ohio’s 56 state park campgrounds, rewards card holders earn points toward a free night of camping.  Rewards card holders who stay in the getaway rentals offered at numerous state parks, as well as the vacation cottages at Buck Creek, Cowan Lake, Dillon, Hocking Hills (Hocking Hills’ Ash Cave is pictured above), Lake Hope, Mohican, Pike Lake and Pymatuning state parks, will also earn points toward a free stay.  Other activities earning Rewards card holders points include camp store purchases and shelter house rentals in Ohio State Parks.       In addition to earning points for future stays, those who enroll in the Ohio State Parks rewards program by June 30 will also receive points for their camping and cottage stays in 2009. Once registered, rewards card holders... Read more

2005 Fleetwood Flair

2005 Fleetwood Flair Previously $61,950 – Now $59,950 This 34 ft. triple slide Class A coach features a pull-out sleeper sofa, booth dinette, pantry, enclosed corner shower, and more! Offered from RVs Northwest in Spokane, WA. Email seller for details on this 2005 Fleetwood Flair! Find more great RVs on  Read More →

RVing and Birding 101: Discover Gilbert Riparian Preserve, AZ, Part 1

Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is an oasis in the Phoenix desert. Well actually this oasis is in Gilbert—in the Metro Phoenix East Valley—just east of the intersection at Guadalupe and Greenfield roads. Black-necked Stilt © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved This unique area was designed to utilize recycled water to create community wetland wildlife sanctuaries for recreation, education, and research. This wetland wildlife sanctuary is an incredible resource for hikers, bikers, bird watchers, and desert wildlife photographers, or for an afternoon stroll with your family! It takes a lot of imagination and just as much ingenuity to use gallons of wastewater to create a desert oasis. But that’s just what the town of Gilbert has done with its Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. Not long ago much of what is now Gilbert was devoted to farming—citrus, cotton, and cattle. With industry and jobs and the ever expanding metropolis of Phoenix the fields gave way to neighborhood after neighborhood of residential homes. Tens of thousands of people generate millions of gallons of waste water—which, thanks to modern treatment techniques can be made pure enough to drink. Although people are still averse to using waste water for direct human use, it is a resource beyond value in this arid desert. An American Avocet sweeps its bill from side to side looking for lunch © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved In 1986, the town of Gilbert made a commitment to reuse 100% of its effluent... Read more

On Facebook? Do you LIKE Afternoon Campground Checkout Times?

Long Long Honeymoon is now available on DVD. In a recent RV.net blog post, I expressed my strong support for afternoon checkout times — with 2PM being the best! Now we’ve got a support page for this cause on Facebook. We prefer afternoon checkout times for the following reasons: For “weekend getaway” campers, the afternoon checkout time allows folks to fully enjoy Sunday morning, and then depart after lunch. On a similar note, an afternoon checkout time makes it easier for people to attend morning church services. Physically disabled campers benefit from the extra time to break down camp. For “location independent professionals,” mornings are often important times to get work done. Consider the process of hitching and breaking down camp; having a little extra time to do these chores is quite helpful. The checkout situation with hotels is different, since hotels have maid crews that must clean rooms. And yet, even many hotels offer afternoon checkout times! If you AGREE with these statements, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT ON FACEBOOK. Simply “LIKE” our new page for 2PM Campground Checkout Times. 2PM Campground Checkout TimesPromote Your Page Too Long Long Honeymoon is now available on DVD.  Read More →

One RV Travelling Pet Peeve

A Lug_Nut pet peeve.  When travelling with many RV’s, 5th wheels, large class A’s and towing combinations, finding a place to stop can be challenging on many roadways.  In that regard interstate highways offer the best places, the rest stop.  These pull offs provide ample maneuvering space and large parking spaces for both trucks and RV’s.  Additionally you can always find a little grass, designated the “Pet Walking Area” for Fido to stretch and take a potty break.     Want to stop for lunch at a restaurant?  Cracker Barrel offers RV parking at their many locations throughout the country and they are usually located within sight of the interstate highways.  RV parking can be found at the rear of the restaurant.  For large class A coaches towing, some of these may not be long enough.  So you may have to take a look first.  On some routes this chain is very abundant, for example my wife and I counter 49 Cracker Barrel locations off I75 from the Ohio/Michigan border to Fort Myers Florida.     At both rest stops and Cracker Barrels, over night parking may be allowed depending on the location.  Check for signage, ask the manager or inquire with the security staff if you are considering staying over night.  This, of course, is the same courtesy you would use to stay in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Most rest stops have separate parking for autos and trucks/RV’s.  Some have three sections, autos, trucks and RV’s.  The later offers the RV owner a truck free area. ... Read more

Keeping a Visual Record of Your Travels

You’ve probably chosen RVing because you love the travel, or you don’t want to miss out on all the natural or manmade wonders of North America, or you just don’t like being tied down to one place.  Whatever the reason, are you keeping a visual record of your travels, or, in other words, taking pictures?  Like any other art form, picture-taking means different things to different people.  And like buying a recreational vehicle, costs vary widely, depending on the buyer’s/user’s objectives.            Why take pictures?  Are you looking to keep memories alive?   Are you planning to give a talk to the Kiwanis Club when you get home?  Or is there a big bodacious dream of having your pictures published in a table-top book or in magazines?  They are all good reasons to keep a camera with you and snap pictures.  I take hundred of pictures every month because we always seem to be on the move.  Then I download my shots onto my laptop and delete about 80 percent of them.  My immediate goal is to just keep a record of the places we’ve been, mostly to help us recollect what we’ve seen.   This may sound like I’m excessive compulsive, but I try not to let taking the picture interfere with taking in the scenery.  We’re there to enjoy our surroundings; the photo is like a bookmark in the novel.  The least important element in picture-taking is the camera.  Whether you’re using a $2,500 single-lens reflex or a point-and-shoot budget model, or even your... Read more

The Rally 2010: Passport and Day Pass Options Available

The greatest RV rally in the world is right around the corner and you will not want to miss all of the entertainment and activities planned this year. Held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY, July 22-25, The Rally 2010 will feature new RVs, 150+ seminars by the RV industry’s leaders and experts, exhibits, headlining entertainers Bob Newhart and Tanya Tucker, contests, a golf tournament, a youth program, ladies’ social and much more! If you want to take advantage of all The Rally has to offer without parking your RV on site, a Passport admission is available. Or, if you only have time to attend the remarkable exhibitor areas, you can purchase a Day Pass to browse the extensive selection of RV dealers and manufacturers on hand. The Rally Passport is a pricing option available for those who wish to park off-site and drive to the Rally site each day. It’s just like a full reservation – you can take part in all of the festivities, exhibits, RV seminars, and nightly entertainment – without parking your rig at the Rally site. Passports are valid starting Wednesday, July 21 through Sunday, July 25, and are $69.00 per person. Call us at 1-877-749-7122 and ask about a “Passport Attendee” reservation or click here to register and select the “Passport” option. The Rally Day Pass will grant you admission to the indoor and outdoor exhibitor areas only (no seminars or entertainment). Whatever RV-related product you need, you’re... Read more

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