I would love to hear about the plans some of you have for upcoming camping trips!
We won't be camping until August since we will be going up to our cabin in Colorado soon (next weekend! Yeah!) and then in mid-July I am going with DD to Texas State U. for freshmen/parent orientation. (Beware the empty nest looms closer! Sniff!)
We are looking at at least two and a half months of no camping. :(
So cheer me up with your camp tales ;)
Umm, no money...no camping! Next planned trip will be Labor Day Weekend. At this rate, I may as well sell the trailer, hate to keep making monthly payments and not be able to use it! Hopefully we'll find a cure for the financial blues soon!!! It's possible I might be able to squeeze something in July 4th weekend, we'll see if funds are available or not...
Leaving for our first camping trip to the beach on this Thursday! We mostly camp in the NC mountians, but I have always wanted to go to the beach. I installed an A/C this winter and made my reservations to Ocean Lakes Campground right after that.
I opened the camper today to finish our last packing before leaving. Wanted to make sure everything is in good working order and go through our check list one more time. Our family is really excitted about this trip!
I hope to have lots of photos and a review as soon as we get back.
Next trip will be a short stay at the Boone KOA in the NC mountians for the 3rd, 4th, & 5th of July. This is one of our favorite campgrounds-They really take good care of the facilities and we love the location.
ours will be the PUT Eastern Rally in Gettysburg. We mostly camp locally at SP's, which are w/i 50 miles or so. So the rally will be the farthest we will camp this year. I'm sure this rally will be wonderfuly with all the activities that are planned.
Next Thursday, we leave for 5 days at Pismo Beach, CA at the Nick-Neff-Cough/SCCampers mega-rally. There will be almost 40 familes, with more than 70 adults and 60+ kids. With this group, it should be a real kick in the pants! We've even got some good-natured competition going with the Eastern Rally in the way of a photo contest.
July has my family camping for a weekend in San Clemente, CA; August is wait-and-see if DH's schedule clears and we can sneak a weekend at Vail Lake Resort in Temecula, CA; September is a mini SCC "non-rally" at Lake Casitas, CA; October is SCC's 2nd Annual "Trick-or-Treat-in-Temecula" back at Vail Lake again; November will be a weekend at Campland on the Bay on Mission Bay in San Diego, and then, I assume December will be the traditional Lake Cachuma trip the week between Christmas and New Year's.
If I could go camping more often than that, I would! :)
Quote from: griffsmomNext Thursday, we leave for 5 days at Pismo Beach, CA at the Nick-Neff-Cough/SCCampers mega-rally. There will be almost 40 familes, with more than 70 adults and 60+ kids. With this group, it should be a real kick in the pants! We've even got some good-natured competition going with the Eastern Rally in the way of a photo contest.
I'll be thinking of you all, Lori. Sure wish that trip hadn't fallen through!
I just got back from 4 days up north (that's Minnesotan for the northern part of the state!) camping with my parents. They have a beautiful site on a lake and a good-sized Class C for those rainy days! The kids got to go fishing and caught enough for a fish fry even!
We went to see the bears at the Vince Shute Wildlife Preserve and caught them on a fairly active day.
The new van towed the old PU just fine and my mileage didn't suffer as much as I expected ~ always good news! LOL I also managed to back it into a nasty site without embarassing myself too bad!
Next weekend we're off to southern Minnesota for a weekend with some friends. In July we're heading to Montana for some tent camping with my sister and her family. (ds when he found out ~ "but mom, we won't have air-conditioning in a tent!") After that some weekend trips to MN State Parks.
Wow! Those are some great plans! I love hearing about them. Share pics with us when you have them!
We usually camp more in the fall/winter/spring months than we do in the summer. We average about 10 trips a year. Most of them within 30 minutes to a 2 hour drive. The last couple of years we have camped less due to DD high school activities. She will be going to college this fall so DH and I should have more weekends to camp.
Quote from: Kelly I'll be thinking of you all, Lori. Sure wish that trip hadn't fallen through!
Us too, Kelly, us too! :( But even if you can't be with us in body and mind, you wil definitely be with us in spirit!! :) I'm glad that even tho you aren't camping with us (
this time!;) ) you and the kids are getting out and camping together. btw, isn't a/c in a tent just unzipping the zipper? :D
We'll be going to Wawaloam in Kingston, Rhode Island for five days on Saturday. Then in July DW and I will be going to Lake George in New York for a weekend to get some quiet time by ourselves. In August we'll be going to OceanView on the Jersey shore for a week. I'm really looking forward to these trips. I hope the weather is nice !!!
Staryart,
Will be leaving on the 1st of July for the finger lake region in central New York for about 10-11 days. Will be pulling into Gettysburg for the Eastern Rally coming from New York area. Only staying 4 days before going home.
Quote from: StarryartI would love to hear about the plans some of you have for upcoming camping trips!
We won't be camping until August since we will be going up to our cabin in Colorado soon (next weekend! Yeah!) and then in mid-July I am going with DD to Texas State U. for freshmen/parent orientation. (Beware the empty nest looms closer! Sniff!)
We are looking at at least two and a half months of no camping. :(
So cheer me up with your camp tales ;)
As you all know after 24 years of service I am retiring from the Marine Corps next week. Because of movers and retirement events I can't make the Pismo Trip with SCC (Marine Corps commitments have kept me from most of the others too!). On Wednesday we head north from here stopping in Vegas for one night then beginning 2+ weeks of camping as we travel to Northern Kentucky to begin our new lives as civilians!
Our first camping stop will be Zion NP. We will then stop a couple times in Utah before stopping in Yellowstone for 4 days. After Yellowstone we will be in more of a travel mode as we travel across WY and SD, we will stop to see Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Of course we will make a stop at the cultural mecca Wall Drug! In MN we will bow to the demands of DD and make a stop at Mall of America. It's then a mad dash to Cincinnati where we will take up temporary residence at my sisters until I can find gainful employment and a place to live.
Some of you may remember that it was our tent camping trip across the country 3 years ago that led us to buy a PU. We are really excited about this trip. :) :) :) :) :) What a way to start a new phase in life.:-():-():-():-()
Quote from: DiplomatAs you all know after 24 years of service I am retiring from the Marine Corps next week. Because of movers and retirement events I can't make the Pismo Trip with SCC (Marine Corps commitments have kept me from most of the others too!). On Wednesday we head north from here stopping in Vegas for one night then beginning 2+ weeks of camping as we travel to Northern Kentucky to begin our new lives as civilians!
Our first camping stop will be Zion NP. We will then stop a couple times in Utah before stopping in Yellowstone for 4 days. After Yellowstone we will be in more of a travel mode as we travel across WY and SD, we will stop to see Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Of course we will make a stop at the cultural mecca Wall Drug! In MN we will bow to the demands of DD and make a stop at Mall of America. It's then a mad dash to Cincinnati where we will take up temporary residence at my sisters until I can find gainful employment and a place to live.
Some of you may remember that it was our tent camping trip across the country 3 years ago that led us to buy a PU. We are really excited about this trip. :) :) :) :) :) What a way to start a new phase in life.:-():-():-():-()
Anxiously awaiting your arrival in the Cincinnati area. Someone else was also moving here this summer, gonna search to see who it was.
I've been to Wall Drug. I didn't get to see a lot of it but I would recomend it to anyone traveling trough the area. If you have time while in WY you should see Yellowstone. Only problem is traveling east out of Yellowstone toward Cody. The mountains you will cross are not towing friendly ones. Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse are must sees also.
Quote from: aw738I've been to Wall Drug. I didn't get to see a lot of it but I would recomend it to anyone traveling trough the area. If you have time while in WY you should see Yellowstone. Only problem is traveling east out of Yellowstone toward Cody. The mountains you will cross are not towing friendly ones. Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse are must sees also.
I am glad to hear that Wall Drug is worth the stop. I am not sure how long we will have to spend there, long enough to check the box at any rate.
Since we got the Suburban I haven't met a paved hill I can't/won't climb, a 2500 is a little overkill for a PU but at least we don't have to worry about the tranny like we did in the Voyager!
All of these trips are sooo exciting, good for all of you! Hope you all have a blast! May you have clear skies and safe trips.
I am leaving Friday for a two week trip to our litttle Colorado cabin. It will be nice to relax there. :tent:
Have fun all!
Jeff & Kathy,
While I am sad that we only got to camp with you the one time in Temecula, I am excited for you both as you embark on this new chapter in your lives. Thank you for the giving of yourselves in the service and protection of this country. We all wish you a safe trip and much happiness and success in all your future endeavors. Keep in touch with us out here in California and know that you are still always welcome to any of our rallies. :)
Diplomat, When you go thru the Black Hills, dirve the loop thru the Badlands NP! Cost ya a couple bucks, but 3 miles off the road the terrain turns to something from the moon! You could never imagine what it looks like, or could I properly describe it here. There are high jagged rocks, and deep craters..... Very unusual, but worth the time to at least drive thru it. I drove by it for 25 years, then finally took the time to drive thru it. AWESOME!
We leave next Friday for Washington DC. We are camping at Pohick Bay and commuting into the city to sightsee each day. It will be our first long trip with the camper. We have had all the warranty things done on our shakedown trips so hopefully all will be well. One question for those of you who have camped at the Pohick Bay regional park. Are there water spigots within hose reach to re-fill our tank, or should I plan on having some type of water carrier to fill up with? Have safe fun everyone!
I haven't had a lot of time to sit and list the many camping trips (mostly just weekends) this summer, but here it goes...
July 4th weekend in Sebago Lake Maine -- not camping, but right on the lake
July 14-18 -- Sea Pirate outside of LBI, NJ
July 30 weekend -- Killens Pond State Park, DE
August 13 weekend -- 3 Seasons in Rehoboth Beach, DE
August 28 WEEK -- Lake-side site at Raystown Lake, PA! YEE-HAA!
Sept 16 weekend -- hotel in N. Wildwood, NJ for the NJ State Fireman's Convention
Oct 1 weekend -- back to Lake in Wood, PA
Oct 8 weekend -- Knoebel's amusement park
Oct 22 weekend -- Halloween at Spring Gulch in PA
That's about it for our remaining trips this season. We're keeping it pretty close to home because of the price of gas, but next year, I'm telling DH we are traveling much farther for our week of vacation!
Even if it's just for a weekend of camping, each trip gets us SO excited to be out and about. Camping is SO wonderful for our family!
We just got back from a pretty long trip, Started out Memorial Day, and that night we were at Mahonney State park in Nebraska. The next day we pulled all the way to Carmel Indiana, for a 2 day stay at my niece's house. Time to take a break! From there we went north to The Pinery Campground in Ontario. Enjoyed a weekend with all the Canadian campers, and left there on Sunday. Onto Niagara Falls, spent 2 days there, and played tourist. After this, we crossed back to the US at Buffalo NY, and went on to Pokagon State Park in northeast Indiana, for a night stay. Left there and went to Mirror Lake State park, near Baraboo Wisconsin. Here it rained on us to teh tune of 5 inches overnight. Packed up the next morning, and onto Minnesota. Were we stayed at our old family farm for 5 days, visited family, and returned to Mahonney State Park, then finally returned home last Wed. 4109 miles...... What a trip
The camper did well, again. I blew a tire on my truck on the QEW and had to fix that. But other than that and the rain, it was a great trip!
harpers ferry and white water tubeing for us this weekend, provided i get off the computer and get them going... my family is a band of rack monsters from way back. 7:00 am is some kind of ungodly hour for this bunch. wish me luck.
Quote from: cruiserpopharpers ferry and white water tubeing for us this weekend, provided i get off the computer and get them going... my family is a band of rack monsters from way back. 7:00 am is some kind of ungodly hour for this bunch. wish me luck.
Looks by the post time, you let them sleep in... :yikes:
We just returned from vacation. We went to the Pioneer Auto Museum, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, the Badlands, Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Cody, WY, Yellowstone (stayed there four days), Grand Teton Natl Park, Dinosaur Natl Monument, Rocky Mountain Natl Park, and ended with Dodge City, KS (NOT worth a stop IMO). We had a wonderful trip and weather was outstanding. I hated to come back to Oklahoma heat. One day we're walking through snow and slush with cold fingers and ears, and the next afternoon we're in the driveway setting up the PU for cleaning with sweat running down our faces. :(
Now we have to start saving for next year's trip, lol!
Quote from: Miss-TeriWe just returned from vacation. We went to the Pioneer Auto Museum, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, the Badlands, Black Hills, Devil's Tower, Cody, WY, Yellowstone (stayed there four days), Grand Teton Natl Park, Dinosaur Natl Monument, Rocky Mountain Natl Park, and ended with Dodge City, KS (NOT worth a stop IMO). We had a wonderful trip and weather was outstanding.
Sounds very similar to our trip. We went through Dodge City 3 years ago and I feel the same way, don't think I'll be visiting again. At least we can say we were there! I'm willing to go anywhere once if for no other reason than to 'check the box'!
Quote from: Mike&JudyWe leave next Friday for Washington DC. We are camping at Pohick Bay and commuting into the city to sightsee each day. It will be our first long trip with the camper. We have had all the warranty things done on our shakedown trips so hopefully all will be well. One question for those of you who have camped at the Pohick Bay regional park. Are there water spigots within hose reach to re-fill our tank, or should I plan on having some type of water carrier to fill up with? Have safe fun everyone!
Mike&Judy..nope, the water at Pohick isn't close enough for a hose! You can fill up right at the campstore on your arrival but for the rest of the trip we always just fill up one of our handy dandy blue containers and pour it into the tank. Several here have made some fancy pump type things to make it easier, but we just pour it into a flexible funnel. Takes a few trips, but it works. :>
I hope you have a fantastic trip!!! What days will you be in this area?
Our summer camping agenda is pretty full:
We just returned from a 5 day trip to Yosemite N.P., where we PU'd at the Wawona Campground. Our site was kind of funky shaped, however, we were literally right on the bank of the Merced River! With my bunk end window zipped open, I could see the river, the trees, the moon, and the stars! Awesome!
We had a small bit of car trouble with our SLX. It developed a loud motor KNOCK, couldn't tell if it was top end of motor, (valves, camshaft, etc.), or bottom end, (rod knock, main bearings) etc. It ran OK, but the noise was awfull. I was scared to death it was something major serious. However, we drove down to Oakhurst, and a garage recommended by locals diagnosed it as probably being a timing belt tensioner. Which is what it turned out to be. So, we lost a day of activities fooling around with the car, howevre a big THANKS and recommendation for Lil Joes Automotive, located on the main drag in Oakhurst. Also, the folks at the Hertz next door rented us a nice Pontiac Grand Prix for a good deal for the day that the car was out of service.
But, back to the topic...
On our way home yesterday, we were headed towards Bakersfield, and the dreaded Grapevine. However, the Grapevine was closed due to a fire, so, instead of going towards Tehachipi, we had a wild hair, and headed to Morro Bay, where we camped at the Morro Dunes RV Park. Small spots, with overcrowding, however the girls enjoyed the extra night of camping, especially given the car problems we had previously.
We will also be camping in Ventura at McGrath State Beach in July, and down at the National City KOA down in San Diego in August. And, our annual Indian Princess campout at Two Harbors on Catalina Island in August as well!
Just got back from a nice stay at New Market KOA in Virginia. It started pouring just as we were setting up, and rained for most of Friday night. Saturday was gorgeous. Went to Endless Caverns and enjoyed musical entertainment at the campground by several different campers. The couple across from us had a cute Scamp 5th wheel and played on their dulcimers (or something like that) and later two sites down, the men were playing a fiddle and guitar. The campground was fairly full, but there was a quiet calm as the music played and the fire crackled. This is what camping is all about.
Quote from: wynotJust got back from a nice stay at New Market KOA in Virginia. It started pouring just as we were setting up, and rained for most of Friday night. Saturday was gorgeous. Went to Endless Caverns and enjoyed musical entertainment at the campground by several different campers. The couple across from us had a cute Scamp 5th wheel and played on their dulcimers (or something like that) and later two sites down, the men were playing a fiddle and guitar. The campground was fairly full, but there was a quiet calm as the music played and the fire crackled. This is what camping is all about.
That sounds like a fun and unusual camping evening! My DFIL handmakes and plays Dulcimers. Interesting instrument!
Quote from: vjm1639Mike&Judy..nope, the water at Pohick isn't close enough for a hose! You can fill up right at the campstore on your arrival but for the rest of the trip we always just fill up one of our handy dandy blue containers and pour it into the tank. Several here have made some fancy pump type things to make it easier, but we just pour it into a flexible funnel. Takes a few trips, but it works. :>
I hope you have a fantastic trip!!! What days will you be in this area?
We arrive on Friday we think, but don't camp until Saturday. I was able to get away earlier than I had expected, but our 7 days in Pohick start on Saturday. We'll just stay somewhere cheap on Friday if my wife can't sweet talk them into letting us have an 8th night. Thanks for the info about water. I figured we'd be hauling it, but wanted to confirm. Now I have to remember to buy a funnel and a water bottle.
Quote from: Mike&JudyWe arrive on Friday we think, but don't camp until Saturday. I was able to get away earlier than I had expected, but our 7 days in Pohick start on Saturday. We'll just stay somewhere cheap on Friday if my wife can't sweet talk them into letting us have an 8th night. Thanks for the info about water. I figured we'd be hauling it, but wanted to confirm. Now I have to remember to buy a funnel and a water bottle.
We're leaving this Friday morning for Tennessee until the middle of next week or I'd love to have stopped by and say hello!! Pohick rarely is full but with this being the 4th, it's possible I guess. There is another nice place a little further south on 95 at Prince William Park, however there are no hookups at all there...but..it's only $15 a night. It's one of my favorite campgrounds when it isn't too hot. There are no reservations taken there at all, but I've never seen them full. There's also Prince William Travel Trailer Village also off 95..a little more expensive, but full hookups and wouldn't be bad for a night. Have you tried calling Pohick to see if you can arrive early??? And there are three Walmarts, a Target, and various other places to find something if you forget anything! :> No shortage of shopping areas around here! Let me know if you need any info on any of the other areas. As I said before...we only live a few miles from Pohick.
Just got back from Pigeon Forge, TN.
We spent 8 days and 7 nights there. Watched it rain 5-1/2 days out of the 8 we were there.
I got to go up into the Smokey mountains, walked up to Climgman's Dome and eat a picnic lunch a Chimney Tops picnic area as the kids played on the rocks in the river. As we were coming back down the mountian we saw a bear cub standing on the side of the road and watched it run back into the woods with out us getting out and taking pictures. MAMA was somewhere near.. Came down and drove the road over to the "Y" near Townsend. My son wanted to climb the rock wall and jump off like he did 2 summers ago. He did it 4 times and we needed to get on back to the CG. Drove back through Townsend and showed the friends with us Little River Village CG. Came on back to cook out and watch it rain again. This time flash floods, watched our river view change as the night got darker. I knew it was a good storm towards Gatlinburg. Our friends had drove up there to go to the aquarimum. Mark said he had to wade back to this truck to pick the other sup. We made this trip with 2 other couples and their kids. Friday it rained all day and we went to Knoxville Mall just to do something different.
We made the Black Bear Jamboree Wednesday night and this was also a nice show. Glad the kids eat free..
Over all the trip was a fun trip just wished it hadn't rained so much....
Nothing this weekend, i even have friday and monday off. just going to work around the yard and house and catch up...
July 22-25 heading for Jordan Lake with friends for a long weekend and then maybe something Labor day. Then we get into our fall camping mode.
October Nascar racing at Lowes MotorSpeedway and then RJ's Ranch for Halloween, then November at Ocean lakes MB, SC for Thanksgiving.
randy
Quote from: PopupSgtours will be the PUT Eastern Rally in Gettysburg. We mostly camp locally at SP's, which are w/i 50 miles or so. So the rally will be the farthest we will camp this year. I'm sure this rally will be wonderfuly with all the activities that are planned.
Hey Sarg, Just returned from Gettysburg myself and had a great time! We stayed at Little Drummerboy Camp Resort. nice place, clean wooded. Enjoy!!
I took the family thru the Adirondacks and also stopped at Niagra Falls. We were gone 2 weeks and put on about 2,500 miles. Now that Ive rested for 3 days Im ready to go again in a couple of weeks.
Quote from: sully349Hey Sarg, Just returned from Gettysburg myself and had a great time! We stayed at Little Drummerboy Camp Resort. nice place, clean wooded. Enjoy!!
The Eastern Rally is being held at Drummer Boy Camping Resort in less than 2 weeks. Too bad the timing didn't work out and you could have gone to the rally. :)