A season without camping

[chasd60]

As some of you on this board know, I have been a camper since about 1999. First as a tenter, then as a popupper then on to a hybrid.
 
Last year we sold our hybrid and out truck with thoughts of moving on to a motorhome. So far this year we have not camped at all.
 
 
DW and I did go on a week long cruise in the Western Caribbean and that was fun but it was still missing something. I went to Texas twice to get my grand daughter and bring her back. I was there for a week each time and spent time with my brother and his family.
Still missing something.
 
After logging back on to this board a week or so ago to delete a reported post, I lingered and read some of the posts. I started to remember what I was missing.
We sure do miss the campfires and general atmosphere of being away from home even if just for weekends. We miss the family time we have at the campgrounds as we are out an about during the day. We miss the carefree attitude and relaxation of sitting in a lounge chair and nodding off.
 
I miss the daily visits to my camper as it was parked in my driveway..... sometimes to tinker and sometimes to just sit down and have a beer with the radio playing. I really miss tinkering with the camper and being a techno-geek on the camper.
 
I have begun the search for a motorhome again. We don't plan to drive as far as we had in the past (ie. Maine to Florida and back) so we don't need anything very new or expensive.
 
A have found a nice 23 footer that sleeps 6 but it is old (1978). Has a nice Dodge 440 V8 that loves the gas. The seller is asking low dollar for it and he has replaced almost everything in it and says it is all solid. He even suggested he may take one of my cars in trade (1998 Buick Park Ave Ultra). I bought a 2008 Toyota Yaris a couple of months ago and was just getting ready to sell the Park Ave anyway.
 
 
Should know more in the next few days but I am looking forward to getting away for the weekend and sitting around a campfire again.

[Jim K in PA]

Being a fairly recent member of this board, I recognize your handle but do not recall your adventures, but welcome back, just the same!  Do keep us posted and share some pictures!

The old Dodge sounds like a cool way to ease back in.  

Like Mr. Corleone said: "I try to get out, and they just keep pulling me back in"  

[tlhdoc]

Welcome back Charlie.  I hope you find a motor home soon.  I am planning on coming up to Maine next year, so maybe we can camp together again.  How old is DD now?

[chasd60]

Welcome back Charlie.  I hope you find a motor home soon.  I am planning on coming up to Maine next year, so maybe we can camp together again.  How old is DD now?

She will be 15 in about 2 weeks.

[cjpoppin]

I know if my DH and I couldn't go camping it would be sooooooooo sad.  Getting older we think about something happening to one of us and this all coming to an end.  Yuck to even think about lets hope we have many years left to camp and be with our camping friends......I hope you get that RV and are back on the trail soon........Happy camping.......... :-()

[ForestCreature]

She will be 15 in about 2 weeks.

She's 15!  :eek:  it seems like just a couple years ago we shared a wild horseback ride in the Smokies.

Charlie, I hope you find a Moho soon and get back to smelling like a campfire. Sure would like to camp with you guys again someday. :!

[austinado16]

Sounds like a fun adventure and I hope it works out.

[tlhdoc]

She will be 15 in about 2 weeks.

WOW how time slips away.  I think the last time I saw her was in Maine, on the trip when she went to the lumberjack show with us.

[GeneF]

Cmon Chas did you really think you were fooling all of the people all of the time?  That Yaris wasn't purchased to save you gas money, it was really purchased to be your TOAD.

Good luck on this endeavor and we hope to see you sitting OUTSIDE of the MOHO. (AWWWWWKKKK, I never thought you would do it.)

At least it is small enough to fit on a site in Acadia.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I can see you tinkering and modding that thing already.

[chasd60]

Sounds ready to go. I may just buy it outright then sell the Park Ave. He said he would rather have cash but would consider trades.

The Yaris would make a good toad on a dolly................hmmm did I consider that already...........

1978 Allegro 23' Class A motorhome,has a 440 Dodge motor with 62,000 miles, No Leaks, Solid Floors, All alluminum chassis,Basically New Everything!this 23 foot MH gets 8 miles to the gallon at 55-60mph! has cruise control,a/c. It looks good, runs good and drives good,I have fixed or replaced just about everything! New 18' awning, 7 new tires, new brakes, new interior/carpet and captains chairs too,a 20 gal water heater gives you 30 minute showers!,ice cold roof top AC, Onan 4000w generator (LOW HOURS)central heat, with new digital thermostat and refurbished heater (works awesome)new microwave & fridge,new fantastic fan, new Sealand China toilet, 4 burner stove/full kitchen,2 New MaxxAir vent covers, New Starter,New batteries,Cd, complete tuneup last July, Air filter is Brand New too, CD Player & seven speaker stereo with amp and bass speaker, new water fixtures, (kitchen and bathroom, full shower, new water lines and new Shurflo water pump,Extend a stay propane hookup,3000 watt coverter,Cb ect...

[cyclone]

It sure sounds like a good one!  Hope it works out and you are sitting around a campfire soon.

[DiW]

She's 15!  :eek:  it seems like just a couple years ago we shared a wild horseback ride in the Smokies.:!

Sure brings back memories. On that Tenn trip, my oldest was 15 (redhead with arm in the cast). If I remember, there was a trio of 15yo girls circling the cg - no doubt looking for boys.

Charlie, you took my youngest (now 15) along on one of your hikes/daytrips. We loved that trip, especially the river tubing.

We've cutback on our camping trips - life sometimes gets in the way. HS/club sports seem to consume us and the other 2 kids are in college.

Glad to hear you're finding your way back. We don't go as often but I still enjoy it just as much - maybe even more so. It's just different.