5 more months

I know it’s too early for camping withdrawal, but I’m already a little bummed out.  This is my first weekend off since April that we haven’t been camping.  Here’s what I miss:

• The anticipation of leaving work knowing we’re getting away for the weekend
• The feeling of leaving the world behind when we hitch up and pull out of the driveway
• Driving a huge vehicle down the highway
• The moment when you get to the campground, set up, and plop into your camping chair
• Campfire
• Beverages by the campfire
• Talking by the campfire
• Getting to explore a new town
• Finding great places to eat
• Miscellaneous festivals
• Having time with my partner
• Getting up slowly in the morning with no schedule or timelines

Ok, the countdown begins now.  Just over 5 months until camping season begins again!

50% off, but not today

While I lament the end of the camping season for us in NE Ohio, I’m finding ways to look forward to next year already.  One of the things I was thinking about was getting a discount camping membership to save on some camping fees next year.  But as I look into discount camping clubs further I’m finding they may not be as useful as I would have thought.

I do actually have two camping discounts already.  One of them I got by accident.  Our Good Sam membership started out as a discount at Camping World.  I got it a few years ago when we started shopping there because it would pay for itself after a few trips.  Then Good Sam kinda merged in there, and now I have 10% off some campgrounds as well.  I've used this one a few times this season.

I also have a KOA Value Kard Rewards membership because there is one nearby that we stay at a few times each year.  We've also found that we rarely have a bad experience at a KOA so when we travel to parts unknown we often look for them.  I've found that this one readily pays for itself because we probably save $10-$15 each time we stay there, and we earn $10 off rewards from time to time.  They even had a free night one weekend which pretty much paid for the membership itself.

I was looking into Passport America because they seem to have a large network of campgrounds that accept it and it looks like a great deal.  50% camping for about $40/year.  Staying just 4 nights would seem to make this one pay for itself.  Even some of the Ohio State Parks participate which is great because we love to stay at the State Parks.  I also looked at a few other discount clubs that have similar offers.

The problem is the limitations that are imposed by the accepting campgrounds.  For many that I looked at on the websites they have maximum stays (which I can understand) and they limit the days of the week that the discount can be used.  Most of the time the limitation is that you can’t use it Fri-Sat.  For weekend warriors such as ourselves, not being able to use the discount when we do most of our camping makes it useless.

I think the point here is twofold.  One is to always read the fine print.  ”Certain limitations and exclusions may apply such as every day that you want to camp…”  I think the other is to know your camping habits and needs and use that to determine if a camping discount or club would be useful.  I think if I were full-timing a discount that is valid from Sunday to Thursday would be beneficial.  But for the part-timers/weekend warriors it may not be such a great deal.

Always one more day

When we go camping for 2 days, we always wish we had a third day because that would make the trip so much better.  When we go camping for 3 days, we wish for four.  And when we camp for 4 days..  well, I think you get the idea.  We left on Wednesday evening and made it to just north of Columbus near Alum Creek.  We stayed at Cross Creek which is a very nice park, and apparently was totally booked for the weekend.  That was ok though because we were only staying the night.  Despite our later than usual arrival they were very friendly and accommodating.

The next morning is where the fun began.  As we drove away we noticed that the brake controller in the truck didn’t seem to be registering that it was actually controlling the trailer brakes.  That’s important when you have 3400lbs behind you to stop.  We ended up at RCD Trailer Sales near Deleware, OH.  Long story short, they were really great!  They got us up and running very quickly despite their facility having been burnt down recently.

After a lunch and shopping trip at Cabela’s (which is quite RV friendly) we headed towards Cincinnati for our weekend destination.  We arrived at Spring Valley Frontier Campground and were shown to the last available spot for the weekend.  Another full campground!  I hadn’t expected this so late in the camping season.  The owner got us set up and went about his way getting the campground ready.

On Saturday we went to the Ohio Renaissance Festival.  We went last year and had a blast so we went again.  It was VERY busy, but we got to see Albannach and the Tartan Terrors perform which was very cool.  I’m not usually a fan of bagpipes, but I really liked their sound.  Unfortunately they’re not on Spotify, but I found some on iTunes.

It was a really great weekend to round out the camping season. I’m assuming that my next weekend off may not be ideal for camping, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.  After that it’s off to Mentor RV for some winter warranty repairs on the Visa.

Review: Buckeye Lake KOA

After an eleven day stretch at work it was time for a break.  My pedometer said I had walked over 100 miles in those 11 days so my feet were definitely ready!  I got to sleep a little on the 2hr drive to the Buckeye Lake area which is just about 30 minutes east of Columbus, OH.  We had stayed there once last year, but it was later in the year - right around October I think.  So this was a little different experience.

I think there are several notable things about this particular KOA which is now re branded a KOA - Holiday.  "Holiday" KOAs are like the mid-level parks that are marketed as getaways.  One thing I noticed is that there are a lot of staff at this one.  There are folks in the office, others at the entrance, more around the campground...  and the owners are present and working as well.  Everyone was very friendly and accommodating.  We had a water/electric site so we needed to make a stop on the way out to dump the tanks.  The dump station was a little too high for our low camper so they had no problem letting us use a nearby site so we wouldn't cause a scene at the dump station. :)

The cleanliness at this park is impeccable.  The restrooms are VERY clean.  There are 3 shower houses/ restrooms.  The one at the front of the park looks like it belongs in a hotel.  One is a trailer-style restroom area, and the other one looks like it is brand new.  It shows that they care about the park and the experience the campers have there.  I don't think I've ever seen cleaner showers...

There are a lot of other little things that add to the experience at this park.  Mini-golf, a pool, activities, and my favorite - breakfast!  I noticed that one of the owners was working breakfast one morning which I thought was pretty cool.  There are some great areas for tent campers in the back of the park - very park-like areas.  They also have a nice store with the camping essentials and gifts and fun stuff for kids.

Buckeye Lake is not inexpensive - I think it's one of the more pricey campgrounds we've stayed at (I can actually only think of one more expensive and it's another KOA).  The KOA discount card helps a bit.  Other nit picks - no recycling so we hauled our recyclables home.  Sites are a little close together - maybe 15-20 feet between our travel trailer and the next one.  Wi-fi limited to one connection and was spotty, although it was Labor Day and there were a lot of campers there.

Overall, I would recommend this park to anyone for the good experience here.  Obviously a popular park for good reasons.  I commend the owners and staff for running such a great park

Review: Wood's Tall Timbers Lake Resort

Like many of our weekend camping adventures we left a little late. This of course also meant we arrived a little later than we expected as well. But as a rule if we arrive before sundown we're in good shape. We got to WTTL about 8pm, and were greeted at the entrance without even getting out of the truck. A staff member checked on our reservation, and then directed us where to park to take care of payment and things. It was a quick process. She then told us to follow her and she would escort us to our site.

We went through the beautiful campground which is mostly on the side of a hill. The campground roads go right up the hills. At the bottom of the hill and central to the campground is a small lake where there is swimming, boat rentals, and fishing. I noticed there are many well maintained retaining walls around as one would expect with all the hills. On our way through we heard live entertainment in one of the lakeside pavilions.

Once we got to our site the staffer, Amanda, helped us back into the site. She clearly had done this many times and knew what we needed to do to get us in properly. Once in she suggested ways to maneuver if we wanted the trailer in differently and offered to stick around and help us. We were good so she departed with an offer to help with whatever we needed. We've been to several campgrounds where the staff escorts you to your site, but this was the most helpful any of them has been.

The site itself is pretty nice. It has electrical, water, and a sewage hookup. There is also a nice concrete patio area, picnic table, and a nice fire ring. It looked a little shallow on the side of the hill, but there is plenty of room for the travel trailer plus the truck parked sideways at the end. We're fairly close to the neighbors, but only when they're out at their vehicles. (And they're nice too which is always good).

This morning we went through our usual routines which of course include sleeping way too late and then sitting outside enjoying the morning. We made breakfast and did the dishes. Then I went to take a shower. I thought at first something was wrong with the trailer because there was close to zero water pressure. After much troubleshooting we discovered through our neighbor that water pressure here is somewhat hit-or-miss. In the mornings and evenings it's ok, but in the middle of the day there are often problems.

We went into town this afternoon which is only about a 10 minute drive. New Philadelphia is a neat city with plenty to do including shopping, restaurants, and sites to see. We intended to get back to the campground at a reasonable time so we could spend some quality downtime. When we came back we had a round of mini golf on their 18-hole course. I stopped keeping score as it's never a good idea to outscore your spouse. :) There is karaoke tonight, and there are a few folks who are pretty good - others not so much.

So far, even without TV reception or any internet connectivity (darn you fake 4G signals!) we've had a nice time here. It's interesting to not be connected to the rest of the world for a few days, and if you're going to do so Tall Timbers is a good place to be

Campground Etiquette...

Happy Fourth of July!  We spent the weekend at Punderson State Park camping of course.  We arrived on Thursday and the park was getting pretty full.  What was over-filled was the campsite next to us.  We counted seven cars, 6 tents, and about a dozen people including a baby (and two dogs).  Mind you the maximum allowed per campsite is 6 people.  I have no idea how they got this past the park rangers...

I know some people don't understand campsite etiquette, but for those of you who may not know, here are a few quick things.
1. Don't walk through other people's campsites.  We had people constantly walking through our site.  Maybe it's because there were too many people on theirs.  What really got me going was when they walked in between our truck and trailer.  I wanted to just stroll right through the middle of their site and see what they would say.
2. Don't cut down trees for firewood.  Other people might want to enjoy the forest.  What made it worse is they didn't even use all the trees they cut down.  Just fork over the few bucks for firewood if you want a campfire that badly.
3. Laying in the road looking dead and unresponsive isn't a great idea.  Neither is putting your earphones in and then laying in the road.  Seriously, I asked the lady 5 times if she was ok before she rolled over, saw me, and responded.
4. If you're going to yell over and over and over that whatever food is ready so the whole campground can hear, you should be prepared to share with everyone.  Otherwise, the campsite isn't more than 40x30ft - just walk over or use your civilized voice.

Punderson is usually not like this past weekend.  Usually it's pretty quiet with generally friendly and respectful campers.  Maybe the holiday weekend brought out the one-timers who aren't yet aware of how to be respectful campers...

Have a crooked awning

Another weekend gone by too quickly. We both commented this morning how we could really go for an extended camping trip, even if just for a few more days than a Friday/Saturday. This weekend was at Alum Creek State Park again. This was the first place we went with the new camper in May. This time was much warmer and the park was much busier. This time we chose a site towards the back of the park which I would recommend if you want a quieter experience. Not a lot of traffic back here. I'd also suggest making reservations. When we arrived on Friday I was glad that we did because there didn't seem to be a whole lot of sites open.

We had a nice day in Columbus Saturday which is only about 15-20 minutes away. When we got back we were enjoying the afternoon when it started to rain just slightly. Before we knew it we had a crazy pop-up thunderstorm with some heavy downpours. Our neighbors nearby had their awning collapse. I can only assume they didn't have it set up right. Always remember when setting your awning to have one side lower than the other so if it rains the awning sheds water instead of holding water weight in the middle.

The 3am problem

Normally I am a heavy sleeper.  I often have difficulty falling asleep, but once I do I'm out like a light.    So the emergency that occurred this morning about 3am took a few minutes to sink in.  I kept hearing, "we're out of propane!"  Truly it took me a few minutes to understand. The new camper has a furnace.  This is a novelty for us as our last camper didn't have one, our teardrop didn't have one, and certainly tents don't come so equipped.  So this is the first year having a thermostat on the wall and instant heat at our fingertips.  And thank goodness - it's been unusually cold every weekend that we've camped.

So this morning we apparently reached the end of all our propane in like 8 nights of camping. I heard a commotion - someone putting on shoes in the dark.  I'm not sure if I opened my eyes at that point, but I knew someone was about to go outside.  When I regained semi-consciousness I heard the heater kick on and then back off again.  No luck.  The second tank which we had hardly used was also empty.  And at 3am what can you do?  Nothing is open at 3am on Memorial Day - at least no where that fills propane tanks. By 7am it was about 51 degrees in the trailer.

I find it hard to get out of bed when the temp is below 65, so this morning was a struggle.  But those tanks are full now you better believe.  Lesson learned: when camping in cold weather either make sure you have full propane tanks or have a backup option

One More Day

This has been an odd weekend for camping. Between work and the weather... We dropped off the camper Thursday night, and then I went to work on Friday. Friday lasted longer than I would have liked. Then the weather has been cold. One night I walked away from the campfire to find that it was 38 degrees outside. Thank goodness for the new furnace.

But today is absolutely beautiful. We were supposed to leave this morning, but we decided that since today is the nicest of the past few days we're staying one more night. It means a little more running around tomorrow, but we get to enjoy one more day at the campground. It's worth it for the sanity and lower blood pressure!

Green Camping

A big part of the camping experience is about being outdoors and being closer to nature.  I'm not sure that all campers feel the same way, but I would surmise that a decent majority of them do.  I've always enjoyed being outside at night.  I think that being away from home with all the distractions that come from inside allows us to enjoy the outdoors more.  One would think then that a camper would want to be environmentally friendly.

One of the reasons we chose and like our Gulf Stream Visa is because it is a "green" RV.  They use environmentally friendly processes and materials in its construction.  Some of the materials are made from recycled plastic, and there is a distinct absence of the formaldehyde smell that I've noticed in other campers.  Apparently it's not just Gulf Stream that considers the trailer "green," but it is also certified by a third party.  Good.

So I was thinking tonight about gas mileage with the new camper, and that it's gone down a bit with the added weight.  This was expected and not surprising.  Although it was surprising that the mileage didn't decrease as much as we thought.  But with all that driving and gas going into the tank I realized we're putting a lot of pollution and CO2 into the air in order to have this nature-centric activity.

So tonight I bought us some carbon offsets through TerraPass.  TerraPass is an organization that invests in companies that help offset carbon emissions in projects like wind farms and landfill gas reclamation.  I simply calculated how much gas we're using, let TerraPass figure out how much CO2 we will be pumping out, and bought enough offsets to .. well, offset it.  Simple.  I've used TerraPass before and like what they do, how they do it, and that they're independently certified.

Other people do other things.  They help pick up trash in parks and communities.  Some may help environmental causes.  In this case, I know that I'm helping to mitigate the impact I have on the environment, and I can help preserve it for the activity I enjoy and for others who do as well.

Book it now

I tend to procrastinate. I admit it. I often wait until the last minute to get something done. I've heard it said that some people work better under pressure. I'm not sure that's true, but I can rationalize right? My next weekend off is Memorial Day weekend and of course we plan to go camping. Yeah, I waited a little too long. Almost everything in the State Park system is booked up. Of course there are still walk-in sites available, but I wouldn't make plans based on that. Even some of the campgrounds in the State Parks that rarely ever fill up are full. There was actually one site (out of two available) that I was interested in at Punderson State Park, but as I was looking at it someone else reserved it. Drat!

So next I checked out some of the local KOAs. Several of the ones we looked at are completely booked, even the one that is way out in the middle of nowhere. Somehow I lucked out, and the one campground we often stay at had some openings. Called right then and there. And now we will be camping Memorial Day weekend. I read that they have a parade and everything. Should I decorate the motorcycle? If you want to go camping next weekend, book it now! I think if you wait until the weekend is over you might be planning 2 weeks out. Procrastination has its disadvantages.

Cedar Point Camping and Opening Weekend

This weekend was opening weekend at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH.  And this was not just another opening day at the park - it was the opening of a new roller coaster called GateKeeper.  As we rarely let a camping worthy weekend go by without camping, we decided to camp near the park. I surprised Jon by getting us reservations at Camper Village which is right on park property and just a quick walk to the park gate.

It was pretty cool to be camping right there by the coasters.  Actually, pretty cool described the weather as well. It was downright frigid Saturday night.  After coming back from the park the wind was blowing right off Lake Erie and it felt like it was below freezing.  We ended up putting the awning away before bed because we thought it might blow off.  For awhile it kinda felt like being in an airplane with the wind rocking the trailer back and forth.  We were glad to have a furnace in the new trailer.

GateKeeper was a great ride - waited 3 hours even after having arrived what we thought was early.  The line actually wrapped toward the front gate and back down the midway.  I'm looking forward to riding it again - just without the 3hr wait.  The highlight of the day though was at the very end when we went to ride Millennium Force (my favorite coaster of all time).  We ended up getting to ride it 6 times in a row.  Although cold, night rides are awesome.

Plan ahead

Saturday night was great.  Although smitten with the new Visa 19RBS, we spent time as we always do by the campfire. The first campfire of the season is special – in that sometimes we have a difficult time getting it started.  Here is my camping tip of the day: use presoaked charcoal.  Get those puppies hot and anything will burn.  Even wet firewood from the state park.  Slept like a rock that night.

Sunday was a bit of a wash out.  It rained on and off most of the day, and it was cloudy and not as warm.  We did get to test the Visa for leaks though – good news that there are none.  Although we did find that if you leave the roof vent open and move the hitch, water will flow from the roof into the bathroom. Oops.  Went shopping for a few things that we now find we need.  One was a ratcheting wrench for the weight distribution hitch.  Yeah, that makes things go a little quicker when hitching up.

Also spent some time getting stuff organized.  We’re both apparently a little OCD about everything having a place in the trailer so there’s not stuff everywhere.  And since we brought the old trailer down with us and basically swapped everything out as quickly as we could at the dealer, there was stuff all about.  We found that there is ample storage space in the new trailer, and we even have a few cabinets that are empty!  We were also able to remove a tote worth of stuff that we never use – it’s always nice to simplify where possible.

I think the worst part of the day was when we brought the camper home and tried to get it into its parking spot.  We apparently underestimated how much rain we got, and the yard was a bit like the tough mudder.  We turfed a few spots, and I think our blood pressure spiked for the day.  But all’s well – it’s in a temporary spot until we can move around in the yard again. Second tip of the day: plan ahead.

Review: Alum Creek State Park

I think this is the first time we stayed at Alum Creek State Park (in Ohio) so I thought I would just add my two cents for anyone who might be planning on visiting.

First is that it's in a great location.  It's just north of Polaris (which is a big retail area) so things you might need and stuff to do is close by.  Downtown Columbus is just a short drive down I71.  However, when you're at Alum Creek you certainly don't feel like you're in an urban area.  In fact, the park isn't really in an urban area.  It's nicely out of the way.

Keep in mind we stayed there in the very early camping season so the place was pretty quiet.  Although there was a camper nearby who seemed to think that everything said needed to be shouted, especially with their music turned up.  We seem to remember coming down here back in the tent camping days and were turned away because the park was full, so I think this one gets pretty busy during peak months. Facilities were functional and decent.  I would give them 2.5 stars out of 5 if I rated things like that.  Sites were nice sized and in the trees - didn't feel like I would be staring right at a neighbor.  It's a big campground with lots of trails right through it, and the lake is easily accessible.  Took a nice walk around one evening and watched the sun set at the lake.

Only downside I saw was when it rained and some of the campsites seemed to have some water issues.  Some were just muddy.  Others had standing water around the power post which I would find troublesome and/or shocking. Overall, I would recommend the park.  Great location, nice park and campsites.  Just be aware when it's raining to not play with electricity.

Gulf Stream Visa 19 RBS

Yesterday we started our 2013 camping season. We're excited because of course it's the first trip out, but we also picked up our new travel trailer yesterday. It's a Gulf Stream Visa 19RBS. We really liked our old TT because it was lightweight and only 14 feet long. The new one is about 800lbs heavier and 19ft long. But it also has a permanent bed and a dry bath. Goodbye shoilet... It towed great for the 12 mile drive from the dealer to Alum Creek State Park. And I slept like a rock last night even with the power going out in the campground.

We're still getting settled in so I'll post more observations later. But suffice it to say we're pretty thrilled with it. And now time has lost some hold over us. We woke up... Whenever. I haven't really paid much attention to what time it is up until this point - and that's because my iPad displays it for me and WordPress likes to post it. It's nice for life to slow down a little every so often. Next time I will bring my blood pressure monitor so I will have concrete proof of my reduced stress level. :)

Camping - the magical moment

Tomorrow starts the camping season - for me anyway.  I've been eagerly awaiting it since we starting planning the trip about 2 weeks ago.  Not venturing too far away this time - just down to Columbus for the weekend. I had to close the store tonight though so we're going Saturday and Sunday nights. Sunday night is a special day at the campground if you are staying the night.  It's the day when most folks pack up and head home from their camping weekend.  The campground empties out and is very quiet that night.  Although campgrounds generally aren't overly noisy, Sunday night is especially quiet.  It also makes it seem like you're getting an extra day off.  You watch everyone pack up knowing you have another 24 hours of serenity.

There's one moment though that I'm looking forward to.  It's the moment when you know you're there - when life slows down for awhile and you can start to catch your breath.  It's when the camper is all set up, the awning is out, and you put the camp chair under it and plop down.  There's nothing more to do, no schedule, and no demands.  I think that moment also includes a significant drop in my blood pressure.  It's one of those slightly magical moments. One should never take magical moments for granted.