Almost like home

I've discovered an interesting phenomenon this year as we're going to many of the parks we've gone to over the past few years.  As we get to our destination I often get the feeling like I'm coming home.  And it's strange that "home" seems to be so many different places.

This past weekend we returned to Columbus, OH to stay in the Alum Creek area.  We've probably stayed at the State Park or the private campground nearby a dozen times over the past 5 years.  And there are so many places around town that we love going to.  Cabela's down by Polaris, Easton (where I buy new work shoes every year), and even out to Brew's Cafe in Grandview.  It's so familiar it's almost like being home.

I noticed the same sensation when a few weeks ago we went out to Mosquito Lake State Park out in Warren, OH.  We used to always make it out for the Italian Festival in Youngstown.  We didn't make it this year, but we got to enjoy a few quiet, relaxing days at the park.  And of course a visit to our favorite wine store in Howland Center.

It's kinda neat that there are multiple places that I can feel so relaxed and at home.  Columbus, Warren, Port Clinton, Streetsboro, Newbury..  even Canadaigua, NY now that we've been there a few times.  This only reinforces for me that when it comes time to hit the road, I will be well-suited to find home where ever we are.

Kamping in Kentucky

We have arrived at Whispering Hills Campground just north of Georgetown, KY.  I really like traveling days, especially when you don't have a specific schedule.  We drove about 300 miles, but didn't feel rushed because we had all day to get there.

First impressions of the campground are very good.  The folks here are very friendly, and the campground is quite nice.  I think I read that this is a newer campground so there aren't a ton of trees, but the sites are nice, well-spaced and laid out.  And ours is right by the pond so we have a lovely view.

The weather is like we planned it this way - clear and in the upper 70s to lower 80s.  We actually got to sit outside for awhile in the evening.  Last time we camped it was a bit too cold.

Jon got a new flashlight awhile back, but I hadn't really messed with it much.  Tonight I turned it on at one point and that thing is like the sun.  I think he said it's 1050 lumens from one LED bulb.  It's really more like a weapon one might use to blind an opponent.

Tomorrow we really don't have any plans as of yet.  Again, nice to not have a schedule.  I'm sure we'll do something interesting, but we'll have to wait and see.

Punderson SP - 1st trip of the year

The view of Punderson Lake

We finally made it out of the yard and into a campground!  Granted we ended up camping in cooler weather, but it was worth it.  Highs were in the lower 50s, but overnight dropped into the lower 30s.  Back when we said having a travel trailer would extend the camping season it was the truth.

The other nice thing about early, cooler season camping is the crowd.  Punderson State Park was not nearly as crowded as regular season weekends, and many of the campers are other folks who really want to be camping.

Not quite sure what this was...

I was also pretty stoked that my sister got to
by as we hauled the trailer up and got set up.  She was in town from Utah, and I really miss hanging out with her over the campfires all summer long.  We got to go to some of our usual stops when camping at Punderson like Mangia Mangia and a little winery called Sharon James.

Looks like my next weekend off will be a full week off, so we're planning on taking the trailer a little further than usual.  Should be fun!

Squishy Yard

Camping was apparently just not in the cards for us this weekend.  Although the weather was pretty nice over the weekend, the prior several days included over an inch of rain.  Not good for a squishy yard.

I tried for over an hour to get the trailer to budge, but of course over 5 months it has sunk down a bit into its spot.  So not only do I need the traction from the truck to move its weight, but also to get it out of its little rut.

By the time I was done I had created quite a mess.  There was mud all over the truck and two crazy lines of mud up the front of the trailer.  I had to get the hose out to clean everything up which of course saturated the ground even more.

Now at the end of the weekend it's much drier, and I think we'll be ok for our next planned outing.

Video: Dewinterizing

Snow on the RV

To say that I'm ready to camping would be an understatement...  I think I've been ready to go camping since we went to the Columbus RV Show.  My partner would say that it's probably been since sometime in November...

But right now the snow still covers the trailer, and the truck couldn't get it out without a winch.  So for now all I can do do is dream and plan.  And of course we probably have a few more days of freezing temps ahead of us, so dewinterizing would be unwise.  Otherwise I'd probably go out and have a few house-camping days.

Luckily, my April work schedule has been posted and it appears that I got my wish for a long weekend at the end of April.  So now at least there is something specific to look forward to.  Unfortunately, one of my favorite KOAs doesn't open until May.  But that's ok because I'll probably go to one of my favorite State Parks instead.

Just over a month until the adventure begins!

Hocking Hills, Day Two

Sunday was forecasted to be a mostly rainy day.  The weather man from Columbus said he expected anywhere from 1/2 to an inch of rain.  Sure enough we woke in the night to the sound of rain on the roof of the camper.  A soothing sound at night.  But when day came along we needed to find something to do.

We decided to drive over to Nelsonville to take a journey on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway.  I love riding on trains.  I've only been on a few including the Cuyahoga Valley Railway.  I think we might have also been on one in Sugar Creek.  The HVSR was pretty cool with a fully restored diesel engine and passenger cars that liked to rock back and forth.  The scenery was more historic than anything, and it was interesting to learn about the area.  I didn't know that the area was so known for bricks and mines.  Had a fun discussion with one of the volunteers who tried to recruit us.

The rain started to abate as we discovered we were pretty hungry.  Somehow we discovered Jackie O's in Athens.  I hadn't been to Athens in almost 20 years and I thought it would be a fun little trip - after all we weren't that far from there at that point.  Boy has Athens changed.  I remember a bunch of little mom and pop shops on the main drag.  Now there are more chain places, but the overall vibe is the same.  And the College Bookstore is still there and even smells the same.

After a tasty bite to eat we decided to try to get to one more part of the Hocking Hills State Park - the Rock House.  After Tom Tom took us on a circuitous route we made it and embarked on the downhill trail.  It was very downhill and we noticed quite a few people huffing and puffing on their way up.  Once we made it to the cave we were instantly glad we made the trek.  The Rock House is actually the only real cave in the Hocking Hills (versus the other places that were large rock overhangs).  It's situated in an interesting place - about halfway up a 150 foot cliff.  The cave itself is about 200 feet long with 25ft ceilings.  What is crazy that there are spots where you really have to be careful because you could step right off of a cliff if you don't watch yourself.  After trying to get some decent pictures inside the cave - which is fairly difficult in the low light - we started the hike back out.  We soon figured out why people going up were so winded..

We got back to the campground too late for the community pork roast, but we still had plenty of time to have our dinner and unwind and enjoy the campsite.  It was hard to believe that our 4 day weekend was coming to a close already.  But we really had a great time, and I'm pretty sure we'll be back!

I'm amazed that having lived in Ohio for 32 years I've never been to Hocking Hills. It is a wonderful area with so many natural resources to explore!  One could easily spend a week or more exploring the area.  The Ohio State Parks are wonderful.  Add to that many good places to eat and fun things to do.  I really want to try ziplining next time!  If you're looking for a place to check out that rivals some of the National Parks, Hocking Hills is worth checking out.  Just don't expect to get any phone calls while you're there! :)

Hocking Hills, Day One

Today was an adventure in Hocking Hills.  We went to three different areas of Hocking Hills State Park.

The first area we went to is probably one of the most popular, and from the number of people there would seem like the most visited - Old Man's Cave.  Several people apparently lived in it starting in the late 1700s.  It was amazing how big it is even though it's not really a cave but more of a huge rock overhang.  There are trails that follow along the gorge, although the river that created it was a bit low this time of year.  We got to see the Sphinx Rock and the Devil's Bathtub at the same park.  Just amazing scenery there.  We took a lot of photos, but I won't subject you to all of them!

The next park we went to was Conkle's Hollow which has some cliffs that tower about 200 feet above the floor of the gorge.  It was pretty amazing to see something like this in Ohio - where we are from in NE Ohio everything is pretty flat with some rolling hills thrown in for variety.  The path was interesting to start because a good portion of it was paved and accessible for those with disabilities.  It also made it a nice relief after the crazy paths around Old Man's Cave.  At one point I was looking at the cliffs when I heard a family walking by talking about the shape of some of the cliffs.  I clearly overheard, "Do you see the butt crack?"  The woman leaned over to the other then whispered in her ear something apparently more salacious and they broke out in laughter.

At the end of the path there was what I think would be a waterfall under more wet conditions.  As I saw it there was a steady dripping...

The last park we went to was like saving the best for last - at least for the day.  Ash Cave took us almost full circle for the day, but it was very worth it.  We walked along the relatively short path until we came across two amazing things.  One was Ash Cave itself which again isn't really a cave but more of a massive stone overhang.  It is about 700 feet from end to end and almost 100 feet high.  It was really breathtaking.

The other cool thing was that a wedding was going on as we walked up to the cave.  I think they had just said "I Do" and kissed shortly thereafter as we were walking nearby.  A pretty cool place to get married I think.  Although our hike out was a bit strenuous so I hope the bride and groom took the lower pathout.

We just scratched the surface of the Hocking Hills today - there are so many parts of the park to visit!  And of course the night ended with a campfire, some cider, and some cool views of the campground at night from our hillside balcony.  All in all a pretty amazing day!

Labor Day Weekend

I’m almost in disbelief that it’s Labor Day weekend - it seems like it was just Memorial Day weekend and the summer was just beginning.  Time flies when you’re camping!

We’ve chosen to spend this weekend somewhere we haven't been to before - The Hocking Hills in SE Ohio.  We’ve talked about coming down here a number of times, but we’ve never seemed to make it.  With a four day weekend we had plenty of driving time so here we are.

Of course yesterday was a work day, but we wanted to leave anyway.  So we took a short drive south on I77 to just south of Canton, OH and stopped at the Canton/East Sparta KOA.  It’s not too far from the highway, but it’s definitely not near much - except some noisy goats. We had a quick (and delicious) bite to eat at Sublime Smoke in Bolivar.  Despite it sounding like it should be a tobacco shop, it was a great BBQ place.  Small but tasty, and worth a stop if you’re traveling on I77.  When we got back to the KOA the goats were asleep and soon we were as well.

After getting up early then taking a work-related recovery nap, we set back onto the highway south towards Logan, OH.  The highway drive was easy, but once we got onto some back roads it got interesting.  We haven’t traveled on hilly, twisty-windy roads much with the trailer, but we certainly have now.  There were a few 15mph banked, twisty, downhill curves that made my knuckles white.  But we made it without incident.

Now we’re at the Hocking Hills KOA which is very nice so far.  The staff here is very friendly, and the sites are nicely laid out.  Ours pretty much overlooks the main part of the campground from a patio which is almost like a little balcony off our site.  The only downside is that there isn’t any cell service here, and for super connected folks like us that’s interesting.

There’s lots to do here, so tomorrow will be an adventure.  Thanks to actual working campground wifi hopefully I will be able to blog about it!

About to float away...

It's a little wet today at our lovely campsite.  Actually, there is a small stream running where I was sitting about 45 minutes ago.  We had a view of Mosquito Lake a little while ago, and now we have our own private lake right here on the campsite.

Morning view

Morning view at Portage Lakes State Park campground. 

Weekend of camping and family

Wine at M Cellars

OK, so even three-day weekends aren't enough. This past weekend we went to Willow Lake park in Geneva, OH.  This was a new find for us as we had never been there.  But we discovered it is quite nice campground and one that we will likely go back to.

Saturday started with lunch with my sister at a local winery called M Cellars.  They had a food truck there that day so even better - wood-fired pizzas!  It was a little overcast, but the weather was beautiful and we got to sit out on the deck overlooking the grape vines. We were there for several hours just talking away and catching up which was really fun.

Afterwards we went to a farmers market, got some coffee at a local coffee shop, and then went to get some supplies for a family gathering at the campground.  Every summer this is one of my favorite things - having family and friends join us at the campground for some food and campfire.  Everyone came by around 4pm, and we had a fun cookout and lively (as always) conversation.

Yesterday we took our time getting started and hung out around the campground for awhile before doing anything productive.  One of my other favorite things about camping - slow mornings.  (I have a lot of favorite things about camping don't I?)  It was a Monday morning so most of the weekend campers had gone home.  It was just amazingly quiet and peaceful, and it was a perfect summer day.

After we were lazy all morning we drove up to the strip at Geneva-on-the-Lake.  Although there were two donut shops there we didn't stop.  Instead we stopped at the beach at Geneva State Park.  We weren't prepared for the beach - no flip-flops, no beach towel, no sunscreen.  But we sat up on the hill overlooking the beach for about a half an hour - just enough time to get some sun and fresh lake breezes.  The beach was actually pretty busy.  I wish I had my DSLR with me because I could have gotten a picture of this - but I was looking at the beach and there was what looked like a bucket or something.  Then it started moving and I realized it was a person buried up to their neck.  AHH! Like a nightmare...

That afternoon/evening had a ride in a GTI, more fun with my family, and some downtime before bed.

It was really hard to leave this morning...

Lights and a swizzle stick

Today we were getting ready for our 3 day weekend of camping.  We leave tomorrow afternoon, but first we had a few things to get done.

We discovered that we had a leak coming from one of our top, rear marker lights.  The light had recently been serviced by a local RV dealer because the fixture itself was leaking.  But in the repair it was made worse to the point where rain water was pooling inside the trailer.  Not good.  So we ordered a different fixture from eTrailer and installed it today.  I think Jon's fingers might fall off from all the silicone he had to get off the surface before mounting the new one, but it looks really good.  We'll see how this one works out and maybe we'll replace the rest of the rear lights.

We also got a new macerator.  This little device is a water pump that also has a garbage disposal like action.  The nice thing is that it will push the water uphill which is sometimes a necessity for us with our low trailer.  Sometimes the top of the sewage dump is higher than the level f the outlet on our trailer.  Lots of stinky slinky dances...

So we decided it would be best to try this at home for the first time instead of at the RV park. (We've seen the Robin Williams film RV...)  So we also decided while we were at it to clean out the black tank with a handy device called a swizzle stick.  Well, I'm not sure that's the actual name, but we have names for everything.  This is a stick that goes down the toilet into the black tank.  Water runs through it and out this nozzle at the end that spins like crazy blasting out your tank.  Well, all I will say is that it's clean now.  What a joy.

Now I'm seeing that the weather forecast has changed to lot of rain over the next day or so.  We're not too thrilled about that.  But w'll be in wine country in NE Ohio, so there's always something to do even if it's raining.

Big Country 3700FL

To start out I have to say that we are not buying this beast.  Not now anyway...  It's always fun to poke around and look at what might be someday, and after shopping at our local Camping World we stopped in the showroom to see what was new and fun.  I'm posting this one because it has a lot of the features and floor plan that we would like if we were to go full-timing.

This fifth wheel is made by Heartland, and appears to be one of the larger varieties they make in the Big Country series.  From their website it would appear that this is a new floor plan for 2015.

One of the main things we like about it is the living area in the front and the sleeping quarters in the back.  I'm not sure if it's just how the rig is divided up, but we like the use of space. The front end of the trailer usually never has a window so having the TV/fireplace area there makes sense.  The slide on the left of the picture gives you some extra light with all the windows, and you could still sit in there even with the slide in. I'm not sure about the carpet, but I'm usually never sure of carpet in an RV.  Only pseudo-complaint is that it only has one reclining chair and there might be arguments over that - although the cats would love all the room on the couches.

I also liked the bedroom area with it's large king bed and ample storage space.  It doesn't look like one would run out of drawers any time soon.  It also had some nice MCD shades in there so you could sleep in as long as you want.  There is a large closet with a washer/dryer prep so that would be nice as well.  Looking back through and comparing what I remember to the floor plan online, I don't think the bedroom would be easily accessible if the kitchen slide was in (if accessible at all).  I think an important factor for full-timing or even traveling in an RV is how usable it is in a pinch without the slides out.  Not sure this would work so well...

The kitchen was quite nice with a full size fridge, nice layout, and a table with chairs (vs a booth setup).  It has all the comforts and conveniences of home including an oven.  Not a ton of counter space, but with the covers on the sink it starts to make up for that.  I think there was also an area by the table, but I'm not sure if it was useful for kitchen prep.

Like I mentioned this fifth wheel was a beast.  It weighed in at almost a dainty 13000lbs with a GVWR of 15500#.  This would require a serious truck to tow with.  It is billed as a 4-season trailer with R-38 in the floor and roof, R-11 in the walls.  Looks like dual pane windows are an option.

Overall a very nice fiver - nice layout, residential feel, and all the amenities one would want.  And if it's not included in this specific trailer it's an option.  Although the lack of access to the bedroom with slides in would give me pause, with them all out it would feel like quite a home.

Mosquito Lake

This past weekend we stayed at one of our favorite Ohio State Parks - Mosquito Lake State Park.  Despite the name there are no more mosquitoes here than any other park.  We lucked out and were able to reserve site 201 - our favorite!  It's in the campground loop that is very treed and many of the sites actually go back into the woods.  They're also far enough apart that you have some privacy from your neighbors.  It was a quiet, relaxing weekend, and the only thing wrong with it was that it was too short. :)

So far we're up to 15 nights in the camper, and the summer's just getting started!

Reminders: Save Water, Save Yourself

Remember to turn the water off when you leave your campsite.

We were reminded of this during our last camping escapade.  We happened to notice that the water pump was running every so often, but didn't think much of it the first few times.  Sometimes there's air in the lines - no big deal.  Well it kept running so we started looking for why.  I happened to look in the toilet, and lo and behold it was full of water.  Had we not noticed it would have overflowed all over.

We thought about it, and had this happened during our last trip when we were hooked up to city water we might have come back to a flooded camper.  No bueno.  Trailers are subject to constant earthquakes as we haul them around so unlike your house, things are a little more likely to go wrong.  It just happened that some plastic in the lines came loose and went through into the toilet valve causing it to stick open.

Turn off the water, turn off the potential flood.

Steel Drums in the Sink

During our last camping trip I apologized to our camping neighbors.  What had I done, you ask?  Something that so many campers do in their trailers - run their hideously loud water pumps!  Luckily she was understanding and said that her camper does the same thing.

I'm not sure if that water pump, being configured the way it was, couldn't have been louder if they had attached cymbals to it.  Every time it came on it was like a steel drum band was full force, and we felt like every camper in a 5 mile radius must be looking our way wondering if our little trailer was about to explode.  Just a quick flush of the toilet could wake the dead.  Heaven forbid anyone take a shower!

But all that has changed with just a few simple pieces of piping.  Jon built what is commonly known as a pump isolator.  Just a few pieces of pipe on either side of the pump to keep it from transferring it's nasty gyrations to the rest of the trailer.  And he did it without even buying the kit which makes it that much better (and cheaper).  When we turned it on tonight we didn't automatically cringe and cover our ears.  Amazing!

Why RV manufacturers don't include this as part of the standard install I don't know.  It's almost like they try to make it as loud as possible running pex tubes through steel holes that double for a percussion instrument.  I had read somewhere that these isolation kits don't work all that well, but if you are having problems with the full band water pump I whole-heartedly recommend trying one out.

We can all see you peeing

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  Somehow I ended up with a 3 day weekend, so of course we are camping. As a registered member of the Procrastinators Society I was obliged to wait until the last minute to reserve a campsite.  So I was pleased when I found 2 sites left at one of my favorite local State Parks - Punderson State Park.

We've had near perfect weather.  And although I was a little too tired to see the meteor shower last night I did get a wonderful nights sleep. I even woke up at an early hour and haven't really been tired all day. We ate at some local places, did a little grocery shopping, and I made a trip to the range to improve my aim. 

Somehow though we ended up right next to a site where there are 13 people. Granted many of them are children, but that only means they scream without abandon.

I also thought of a few reminders for those who are starting the camping season. Remember that if your tent flaps are open, other campers who walk by can see inside. Because there are few campers on your loop does not mean that you should have... intimate relations out in the open.  Also peeing outside in front of everyone is generally not acceptable, especially when there is a restroom less than 30 yards from your campsite. 

Just know that I didn't come up with these at random.

Portage Lakes State Park - Nimisila Campground

I've been going to Portage Lakes State Park since I moved to Akron almost 20 years ago.  The great views of the lake, peaceful surroundings, and easy access to the water make it a great place to be.  It wasn't until years later that I discovered camping at the State Park, and it's still a place I love to go.

Portage Lakes State Park is actually three separate parks.  The northern most park has a marina and picnicking, the one in the middle is the one with beach access, a dog park, disc golf, and many trails and fishing opportunities.  The southern most park in New Franklin is the one with Nimisila Lake and the Nimisila Campground.  The campground is surrounded by the lake, has 6 electric campsites, and 68 more non-electric sites.  The campground has paved roads.  There are no modern amenities here except vault toilets, potable water, and a dump station.  But there is a playground and campground boat launch.

With fewer amenities comes fewer campers, and the campground is generally very quiet.  On weekends the electric sites are usually occupied, so if you want one of those I recommend that you reserve in advance.  But if you can boon dock you pretty much have your choice throughout the campground.  Many of the sites are nicely wooded, although just this year the park has cleared out a lot of the old, dead Ash trees.  Trees have been replanted, but it will be many years before you can sit in the shade under one of them.

Electric Site

For trailer campers like us the electric sites are perfect.  They are nestled in amongst the pine trees and are right near a small pond.  It's a near perfect location for late night campfires and relaxation.  If you need to fill with potable water you'll need a long hose because the water outlet isn't right near the road, and it's also located within the campground on the second road.  If you register onsite you will do so at the small (generally unoccupied) ranger station with an envelope in the registration box. There is a small restaurant, gas station, and ice cream stand nearby.  Go a little further and there are grocery stores, a Target, movie theater, and a Camping World.  AT&T 4G/LTE coverage here is good.

If you're looking for a quiet getaway in a nice, wooded campground surrounded by nature and less by other campers/trailers Portage Lakes State Park is worth a look.

Portage Lakes State Park website

more photos after the break

Storms, Sirens & Socks

It's been a few years since we had to take shelter in a campground toilet with other campers...  Last time we were in a tornado warned campground at East Harbor State Park when we had the teardrop camper.  I think it was around 10 or 11pm when the sirens went off, and the only nearby structure was the campground bathroom.  I remember there were a lot of people in that little area, and it wasn't entirely pleasant.  It was deja vu when the sirens went off again that night around 2am and we all did it again...

The Game room

This time it was much more pleasant as we had an entire room to play in.  The adjacent county was tornado warned and we heard the sirens going off.  We checked radar, and sure enough it looked like the center of a storm was headed our way.  We played the game called "How Fast Can You Take Down Your Awning" and we headed off to the game room which is in the basement of the general store.

There was quite a light show in the sky, and the rain came down in buckets.  But we also got to meet some fun people.  John and Sherie were already there along with a couple from Idaho and their dog, Angus.  They were fun to chat with, and the 120lb dog (who was only 10 months old) was a sweet heart.  Shortly after, David, Elizabeth, and Gracie (the dog) arrived.  I was excited to meet them because we had connected on RVillage and had planned on meeting up at some point.  Granted, meeting people in a tornado shelter situation isn't ideal, but it was fun nonetheless.

It was kinda funny because between all the smartphones, iPads, and laptops we made the game room look like a state of the art weather center.  I'm not sure if anyone in the local area was having with their cellular connection, but I think we were taking all the bandwidth on several carriers reloading radar images.  Sorry about that...

Then came the flood.  The area in front of the game room doors have a big drain right there, but the

amount of water coming down the little hill was too much for it.  Eventually a large puddle formed.  Then it became a water hazard.  A small creek began to come into the game room from the doors which later gave way to a small river.  We had to all move to a different area of the room as a pond formed.

By the time the warning had cleared we were all ready to get out of our little water logged game room - some of us actually had plans to sleep at some point that night.  But upon opening the doors we discovered that leaving would be difficult - there was a huge puddle that would eat our shoes if we stepped into it.  Eventually, several of us just took off our shoes and walked through it in our socks.  That was fun.

I have to admit though, despite the wet socks that are still drying, it was one of the highlights of our camping trip.  I really enjoyed meeting the other folks there, trading travel and camping stories, and getting to know them (and their pets!)  Everyone was very friendly and it could easily have been a potluck or something.  (Food makes everything better, right?)

To those we met I wish you safe travels!  To those reading this, know where to go in an emergency in a campground.  And always travel with an extra pair of socks!