Boondocking America
Boondocking is fun! Boondockers go anywhere they want, at any time they want and at any speed they want! If you are a member of Loners on Wheels (LoW) or any other single RV'ing group you will want to boondock at least some of the time.
Boondocking provides an almost perfect way to see America for little housing costs. I have parked on streets in small towns and explored all the town had to offer. (Get me to tell you about the two weeks I spent in Williams, Arizona, one night!) I've enjoyed libraries, bars, restaurants, parks and who knows how many retail stores. The towns benefit from my spending and I benefit by being able to see the out-of-the-way spots across this country.
Boondocking does take some planning, however.
Electricity is the first need. Most of us have solar panels on the roofs of our RVs. These panels serve one purpose and one purpose only - to recharge our house batteries. As a general rule you should plan on one solar panel for each house battery in your rig. Be sure you do not add batteries without adding solar panels. If you do, your panels will not provide sufficient recharging and you'll always have low batteries.
In addition to solar panels, many of us have a generator in the back of the pick-up or installed in our rigs. This makes it possible to sometimes run the air conditioner or microwave and to recharge batteries. The problem, of course, is that generators are noisy and drive your co-campers nuts.
After you have portable electrical output, you need propane for the space heater, water heater, stove and refrigerator. All rigs are equipped with the necessary propane tanks and most have a refrigerator that runs on electricity when you are connected to a land line and on gas when not connected. Check the propane often. You'll find that you only run out of propane on the coldest of nights at 1:00 A.M.
Finally, water must be carried. Many full-timers try to travel with a minimum of water to save weight. I prefer to have a full tank when I pull off the highway for an undetermined period of time.
Now, where will you camp?
Almost anywhere you want! K-Mart or Wal-Mart parking lots are my favorite on the road RV stop-overs. Some cities have ordinances against the use of such lots but the stores themselves generally like to have us. They have the space and don't like empty parking lots. We all spend a bunch of money in them when we stop and we provide an unofficial guard service for the stores. Please, if parking in one of their lots, don't unhook your rig or extend your slide-outs.
I often spend a night or two at a truck stop. They always have plenty of parking space but my problem is that I always park next to a diesel whose driver, for some unknown reason, keeps the damn truck running all night. (If anyone knows why they do that, please let me know.) If you can put up with the noise, there's always good food in their restaurants and plenty of air, water and fuel for your travels.
Roadside rest areas are also good stopping places. I've talked to lots of boondocking women and almost all have expressed fear of rest areas but none has ever experienced a problem. After trying the rest areas they all found that they enjoyed the fact that other travelers are around for company and protection. Clean restrooms and nice places to walk their dogs are high on their list of reasons for using highway rest stops.
Many of us are members of fraternal organizations which provide inexpensive camping for members. The Elks, Moose Lodge and VFW are a few of many such organizations. Use them! They want to meet you and have your patronize their clubs.
Finding a place to dump can be a problem for some. Not me, though! I have many times pulled into an RV park and asked if I could dump. I've never been turned down! Usually they charge about $5 to dump and refill the water holding tank. One dump a week is plenty.
Finally, I enjoy caravanning when I travel. Sunsets are prettier when you share them! I like the company and the protection of having friends with me when I'm traveling or staying overnight at some far removed spot. Get with some fellow LoWs and try boondocking for a week or two.
You'll love it!
Jack Matlock is a senior and single full time RVer who is enthusiastically endorsing the RVing lifestyle. He started his RVing with a small pick-up and a Coleman tent camper. He presently has a 33 foot 5th wheel with three slide outs.
As a single Jack quickly learned that we live in a mated society. Even the RVing society was based on couples. He wanted to escape into a world where he could socialize with other singles. He looked for a group of single campers who would share his coffee hours and fishing trips. He found Loners on Wheels, a singles only RVing club dedicated to enjoying the single lifestyle and retaining the independence and travel each RVer enjoys. For the past seven years he has enjoyed this group. He plans to enjoy it for the rest of his life! http://www.lonersonwheels.com/
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT Movies opening this week - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Mercury News "Burn After Reading" (R): The Coen brothers follow "No Country for Old Men" with a dark comedy about two inept gym employees who get hold of a CD-ROM containing a CIA operative's memoirs. Toronto Review: The Coen Brother's Burn After Reading Pitt Rocks to Madonna Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMT Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage - New York Times
New York Times - By FRANK RICH SARAH PALIN makes John McCain look even older than he is. And he seemed more than willing to play that part on Thursday night. An Apostle of Alaska 'Sarah Palin Is Wasilla': Town Stands Behind VP Pick Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:18:29 GMT Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News
CNET News - Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy. Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy You Thought Vista Was Bad? Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT Dodgers overtake first place - MLB.com
MLB.com - By Michael Schwartz / MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez's five RBIs propelled the Dodgers into first place in the National League West for only the second day all season Saturday after a 7-2 win over the D-backs at Dodger Stadium. Ramirez, Billingsley lead streaking Dodgers into first place Dodgers move into first place Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:14:26 GMT European space probe completes asteroid fly by - Reuters
Reuters - BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets. Rosetta spacecraft takes asteroid photos Spacecraft flies by remote asteroid, camera stops Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:13:31 GMT Jenkins: Murray willing to play the spoiler - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle - (09-06) 18:24 PDT New York -- Andy Murray must feel very alone just now. He's a long way from his native Scotland. He's carrying the hopes of British tennis, but the London press would really prefer him to be English. Federer beats Djokovic to reach US Open final Split stadiums for US Open semis ruffles crowd Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:44:27 GMT Report: Samsung working to acquire SanDisk - San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News - AP Samsung was reported Friday to be considering buying Milpitas-based SanDisk, whose revenue has diminished and stock has plummeted in recent months due to the saturated flash-memory market. SanDisk Shares Soar on Samsung Interest SanDisk Shares Surge as Samsung Considers Acquisition (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:19:13 GMT Add RSS Feeds to My Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Are your kids begging you to take them camping, but... Read More When you look at a river, what do you see?... Read More 1. Take the early morning drives on safari even though... Read More With so many different designs, packing a backpack will vary... Read More My river-rafting adventure started on a bicycle. The small daypack... Read More Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More Touted as one of the world's fifty destinations of a... Read More Recently we stayed at a state campground in Michigan near... Read More The intricate details on a topographic map can be befuddling,... Read More The Cairns Fishing Adventure A Great Australia Road TripYou love... Read More Sun, Sand and Surf ? an apt description for Goa?... Read More Drive along one of South Africa's scenic strips and you... Read More On Lake Michigan, at the end of the Stonington Peninsula,... Read More Campgrounds are a perfect Pigeon Forge lodging option for visitors... Read More Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More Camping for fun is a great way to enjoy the... Read More A canoe trip is a great way to appreciate Nature!A... Read More For the 92nd time, the Tour de France has started.... Read More Spain: sun, sea, sand and Spanish... discover us! Spain, a... Read More Yes, it's real. There is a place called Timbuktu and... Read More There are two types of used inflatable boats for sale... Read More Camping is an excellent way to explore and experience the... Read More The climb up the glaciers to the summit of Mount... Read More When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio... Read More Everyone has a travel dream. For many it is hitting... Read More
Adsense
websites
Backyard Camping Trip
Its an Alien World in Every River
Ten African Safari Tips That You Must Know Before You Go
Packing a Backpack - A Guide
Bicycling Down The River
Shark Pictures Not The Real Thing
Kerala ? Holiday in Gods Own Country
Catch Another Falling Star
Topographic Maps 101
A Fishy Road Trip in Cairns
Holidays in Goa
The Cast of Culture in South Africa
Ultralight Backpacking Skills - A Three Day Test
Pigeon Forge Campgrounds
Camping - Get Those Tents Up!
Camping For Fun
Canoe Trip with Nature
Cycling in Europe: There?s More to the Tour de France than Lance
Spanish Courses in Spain
All the Way to Timbuctu
Should You Buy a Used Inflatable Boat?
New Technologies in Camping and Outdoor Clothing Enhance the Outdoor Experience
Mount Chimborazo: Climbing Glaciers Near The Equator
San Francisco Beaches
10 Tips to Planning Your Dream Road Trip
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trekking Poles
How to get the most out of your trekking poles... Read More
Sleeping Pads For Ultralight Backpackers
Ultralight backpackers want to give up weight, not comfort. Sleeping... Read More
Japanese Garden of Monaco
Have you ever seen an authentic Japanese garden? Well, I... Read More
Kerala ? Holiday in Gods Own Country
Touted as one of the world's fifty destinations of a... Read More
River Rafting in Colorado
The sport of river rafting was practically invented in Colorado.... Read More
The Best Backpacking Food
Maybe your favorite backpacking food is a freeze-dried turkey dinner.... Read More
Spanish Courses in Spain
Spain: sun, sea, sand and Spanish... discover us! Spain, a... Read More
How to Grab a Bite to Eat and Help the Planet
You CAN grab something to eat, enjoy every bite, AND... Read More
Find a Camping Gear Outlet Near You
When you search online for a camping gear outlet you... Read More
Topographic Maps 101
The intricate details on a topographic map can be befuddling,... Read More
Kenya Safari Top Five National Parks
The Kenya safari circuit is one of the best in... Read More
Camping - Get Those Tents Up!
Have you ever thought you might like to try a... Read More
Ultralight Backpacks - The Lightest
Why ultralight backpacks? Devotees of ultralight backpacking know you reduce... Read More
Inflatable Pontoon Boats
Bryce Whitmore designed the modern whitewater inflatable pontoon boat, and... Read More
Creative Camp Cooking - Part 2
In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens.... Read More
Survival in the Wilderness: What to Do, What You Need
Summer is for picnics, hikes, outdoor concerts, barbeques ... and... Read More
Unforgettable Cape Cod Vacations: The National Seashore Gift
Take a captivating trip through the Cape Cod National Seashore... Read More
Navigating on the Mountain, in Water, or in Woods there is an eTrex Unit For You
Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features... Read More
River Rafting: An Overview
White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences... Read More
Costa Rica White Water Rafting Trip
Costa Rica's mountainous topography and copious rainfall are both responsible... Read More
New Technologies in Camping and Outdoor Clothing Enhance the Outdoor Experience
Camping is an excellent way to explore and experience the... Read More
Ireland Golf Vacations ? Top Tips To Help You Plan an Ireland Golf Vacation
Live your golfing dreams on an Ireland golf vacation.The K... Read More
Creative Camp Cooking
For most people, outdoor cooking is synonymous with barbeque, but... Read More
Trekking Poles And Walking Sticks
Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking... Read More
Whale Watching ? The Biggest Show on Earth
Whale watching is a spellbinding, entertaining, and thought-provoking adventure trip.... Read More
Outdoors |