Northern Trek....

[GoneCamping]

I'm not going into specific details here, but in the past couple of days I've been busy planning my trek Northbound, making reservations along the eastern US from Florida to Maine. I currently have 23 reservations on the books (includes the 8 weeks I have left here), covering roughly 1600+ miles over a 45 day period. And I'm not done yet, have one or two more reservations to be made or adjusted. I plan on spending almost a month in Virginia, most of the rest is traveling short distances moving north....

[4Campers]

Wow, what planning. Not sure I'd be happy moving that many times in 45 days.
But hmmm, if you're spending a month in one place 45 - 30 = 15.
23 reservations in 15 days?

[toomanytents]

Short trips are my preference too these days.  I'm not trying to preserve vacation days at work or be a road warrior covering 12 hour days at mach speed.  Have a good trip!

[GoneCamping]

Wow, what planning. Not sure I'd be happy moving that many times in 45 days.
But hmmm, if you're spending a month in one place 45 - 30 = 15.
23 reservations in 15 days?

45 days for travel north, plus 28 days left here in Florida. I believe a few of those reservations are B2B's (Back to Back, same campground, not actually moving but listed as separate, Thousand Trails is funny like that). Also a month in Virginia is NOT at one campground, will be moving around there too. So that's a total of 73 days...

[GoneCamping]

I'm still playing with the dates etc, shortened one reservation from 4 days to just one, then added Pirateland in Myrtle Beach SC for 3 nights (expensive, $204 for 3 nights). Going to join some friends, and it shortens my 5.5 hour run from Yemassee SC to Newport NC into two 3 hour runs (I like that!!!)

[toomanytents]

Especially when you're driving alone, three hours sounds good.  No hurry, right?

[4Campers]

Good you're planning some fun into the return north trip. I'm guessing with your 5th wheel rig all you have to do is plug in for short stays? (as long as you're level) Do you even unhitch the trailer for a one or two night stay?

[GoneCamping]

Generally not much need to unless the site is horribly off kilter. I'll stay hooked up, maybe drop my rear stabilizers to take some of the wiggle out of it, hook up power and probably water hose. I carry 2 different satellite dish systems (both dish network), one is a big oval dish mounted on a tripod, takes several minutes to half an hour to locate the position, set it up, get the mast plumb, then hook-up cable and a signal meter, then spend several minutes trying to get the birdie locked in, it works better, doesn't fade as much in the rain, and allows my to run 2 receivers at the same time. For one night stays I use my King Tailgater Pro, just have to locate a place to set it, hook-up the wire and turn it on, it'll take several minutes to boot up, but it finds the satellite on it's own. Much easier, and I can set it and forget it while I'm busy doing other things. I don't like a few things about it, like the delay when changing channels and the system needs to sync onto another satellite, can't record on my DVR etc. But it's handy enough for a quick set-up.

Meanwhile, I had accepted a job working evening shift security at a small Mom & Pop campground in Old Orchard Beach (OOB) Maine right around the corner from the park I've worked at last 2 years doing maintenance. So today I get a call (finally, been calling them since December) from the other park asking if I'm coming back. The pay is the same, possibly even more since I'm the only one that knows anything about that park as none of the others are coming back, so maybe I can squeeze a little more out of them. The Mom & Pop is offering me a free site (I pay electric) while the old one is offering me $200 month plus electric (they charged me $600 per month last year, I think my raising a skink about that last fall got them to change their tune). The Mom & Pop are also offering me a 4 day work week (4 ten hour days vs the standard 5 eight hour days). Got kind of used to that, my current position here in Florida is also 4 day work week.

The dilemma for me is continuity! That old park in OOB I've worked at last 2 years and it's owned by ELS (Thousand Trails), and the park I'm at now is also an ELS, I don't even have to apply for the position, just put in for a transfer from my current park. It also makes it simpler for me to get rehired back in Florida in the fall. There is also the element of familiarity, as I know that park extremely well, know the vendors and contractors, know it's needs, and it's residents all know me.

Got to wait on another call from them next week to see exactly what they want, I had already accepted the other gig, but if the offer is good enough, I may blow that one off and go back. Oh, and they have new manager this year, which is why I left early last year. Decisions, decisions!!!

[4Campers]

Sounds easy enough to change sites for a night or two. Guess I just think of our set up for a weekend, which is similar to moving the house to the campground, LOL (should I put wheels on the house?)

The job dilemma. If you're going to work, it should be worth it. Get the best deal that works for you.