Wandrin Blog - RV Camping

Campground visits

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:28:48 -0700

	McPhee Reservoir is located near Dolores, Colorado and about ten miles north of Cortez. Quiet National Forest Campground on a hill with views. Electricity at some sites for $5 more per day. With geezer card, base rate is $7 a day. Cell phone service is excellent -- with the Wilson antenna.
	Cayton Campground is just a few miles north of Rico, Colorado. $7 a day with geezer card and $5 more for electric sites. No cell service here at this remote campground at about 10,000 feet. Stream side sites available.
	Timber Ridge CG (Ouray, CO) is less than a half mile to the Ouray Pools and just beyond is downtown. Great park including use of John Deere green and collectibles by the owner operators. Monthly rate was $550 although I left a few days early. Excellent signal for Verizon.
	Tall Texan CG (Gunnison, CO) All shaded sites just two miles from Gunnison. Excellent signal for Verizon. $169 for a one week stay.

Campgrounds Visited

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:01:17 -0700

With frequent usage of my memberships at Elks Lodges and Thousand Trails, it has been only recently that I have had to use campgrounds available to the public.

Calico Regional Park, Barstow, CA – Electricity and water and old age discount of $5 resulted in $25 a day. In addition, this allows access the Calico Ghost Town. Developed for the tourist trade in the 1950s, Calico is the typical mining the pockets of tourists experience. For the mining history, some of the original buildings and stone constructed hovels exist for to see what it was really like around 1900.

Cattam's RV CG, Hurricane, UT – Full hookups for 33.46 a day. Twenty miles to Zion NP. With hot weather, I opted for the electricity to power A/C. The alternate choice without amenities was to stay in Zion NP for considerably less money. Cattam's is a very well kept campground with large spaces and many shaded spaces.

DeMott CG, Jacob Lake, AZ – a forest service campground about 20 miles from the north rim of the Grand Canyon NP. $9 a night with the geezer card for dry camping. Spaced well with pine trees. Cool nights at 8000 feet.

Wahweap CG, Page, AZ – a public campground at the Wahweap Marina on Lake Powell run by a concessionaire. Full hookups were about $45 a night. My option was the dry camping version at $11.50 a night with the geezer card. The geezer card is not honored for full hookups.

La Mesa RV CG, Cortez, CO – One night stay at this Passport America campground at $16 a night. Needed water and gray and black water dump after a week long stay dry camping at Elks.

Pagosa Riverside CG, Pagosa Springs, CO – This one time KOA campground is on the river. Quiet park with most spaces shaded. $199 for a one week stay with electricity and water.

Navaho Campground, Arboles, CO – on the shore of Navaho Reservoir. A quiet place with open views – at least during the middle of the week. Considering the reservoir, no doubt weekends are much busier. Solar usage allowed dry camping at $14 a night plus a $6 per day park access fee.

Leveling With the Wood Pile

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:32:12 -0700

With enough money -- about $4000-$5000 -- there are hydraulic systems to level the fifth wheel in a matter of seconds.

If there is anything that would make fifth wheel setup easier, an automated leveling system would be that item. However, my choice was the wood pile method of leveling. With about a dozen pieces of 2x8 wood of varying length, I have been leveling the Wandrin Wagon. Over the years while looking at the trailer level, I've gotten very good at knowing how many pieces to attain a level home.

The wood pile consists of 2x8 lumber about 18 inches long. The unfortunate issue is that there is frequent splitting of the wood especially with the front jacks when parking on soft or a slanted surface. To maintain that wood pile for leveling, the split wood is donated to a fire pit and a purchase of more 2x8 wood is made.

I always knew the solution was plywood -- doesn't split. However, making it happen was more difficult. Fortunate for me was the driveway sitting I did this last summer for Roy and Donna in Boulder. Roy's hobby is wood working with all the tools to support the habit. I casually inquired about the possibility of some "throw away" plywood. Sure. No problem. Within a couple of hours of my arrival, the 3/4" plywood was cut and screwed (and glued) together to make 1 1/2" thick blocks. Presto. There was the new wood pile. With a coat of urethane to make the indoor plywood last a little longer, they have been used ever since.

A great solution. No splits. Thanks to Roy and Donna.

Camping Place: Apple Creek

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:24:13 -0700

With a De Pere (Wisconsin) address, it is about ten miles south in corn and dairy country right off the freeway. The road noise is noticeable, but not disturbing. I would rather have the six or seven trains each day at the Brown County Fairgrounds (in De Pere). Here at Apple Creek, the country odors from the nearby "factory" dairy milk farms can be a little over powering at times. Keep the windows closed.

As a Passport America park with three days at half price of the daily rate of $35, it was a convenient choice.

My choice would have been to stay at the Brown County Fairgrounds. However, camping was blacked out for the weekend due to some Fairgrounds event.

Camping Places -- And one more

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:05:00 -0700

Rockford, Illinois -- Rock Cut State Park... Several loops of campsites. My chosen site was in the trees far away from possible camp fires. Most of spaces in this park had trees. Spaces with satellite access would be hard to find. Fortunately, I have no need for satellites once I put my DirecTV on vacation. Internet via Verizon Broadband. $25 a night for electric site.

Round Lake, Illinois -- Nephew Greg's back yard... Family membership required. Verizon Broadband.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- Elks Lodge... Elks membership required. Dry camping or 20 watt hookup. Satellite access no problem. Verizon Broadband.

Madison, Wisconsin -- Lake Farm County Park... This park is on the bike path. On this paved path, the capitol is about five miles away. With the network of paths throughout the city and its suburbs, the entire metropolitan area is available for the bike rider. Satellite access is no problem. $23 a day for electric site. Verizon Broadband.

Wautoma, Wisconsin -- Lake of the Woods CG... Heavily wooded. $25 a day for electric and water site. Verizon Extended Network.

Two Rivers, Wisconsin -- Seagull Marina and Campground... Fishing camp on Lake Michigan. Satellite access no problem. $25 for full hook up site. Verizon Broadband.

Manitowoc, Wisconsin -- Elks Lodge... Elks membership required. Dry camping only. Satellite access no problem. Verizon Broadband.

Updating and adding:

De Pere, Wisconsin -- Brown County Fair Grounds ... Lots of spaces. Some spaces with grass. Few spaces are shaded. $25 for water and electricity. $20 for electricity only. Verizon Broadband. Lots of geese enjoy the grass. Watch where you walk. Before arriving, check the campground calendar for black out dates.

Camping Places

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:53:24 -0700

Colby, KS -- Bourquin's RV.... Just a stop after a 250 mile day from Denver. Full hookups and cable TV for $24. Verizon air card worked on extended network.

Manhattan, KS -- Tuttle Creek SP.... After a visit to New Horizons in Junction City, this was a short stay for more area exploring. $21 a day for electricity and water. Large spacious spaces and lawns with numerous shade trees scattered throughout the park. Verizon air card worked on extended network.

St. Joseph, MO -- Beacon RV Park... An older park close to downtown. Perfect for the one afternoon of exploring the downtown and the Pony Express history. $26. Wi-Fi available for $1.50 a day. Verizon air card worked fine.

Winterset, IA -- Pammel SP.... $15 for electricity and water. Quiet out of the way park. Access is through an underpass of 12 feet 6 inches. Driving through Winterset, I found RV parking could be done at a City park. Internet via Verizon Broadband.

Knoxville, IA -- Lake Red Rock... The usual COE park with spacious camp sites. Shaded sites. $16 or $8 with Golden Age for electricity. Most likely is busy on weekends with the nearby urban areas. Verizon Broadband.

Solon, IA -- Coralville Lake... COE campground at Sugar Bottoms. Spacious shaded spaces. $16 or $8 with Golden Age for electricity. Busy weekends with nearby Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Verizon Broadband.

Blanding, IL -- Blanding Landing... About 20 miles from Galena, IL. COE campground on the Mississippi River. Light usage. Railroad tracks pass right next to the park and trains run frequently with the appropriate train noises including whistles crossing the nearby grade crossing. Price is right at $14 or $7 with Golden Age for electricity. Verizon Broadband.

Arrived Tucson, AZ

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:03:00 -0700

Gilbert Ray Campground in Tucson Mountain Park was my choice for my first week in the area.

My original plan was to boondock at Snyder Hill. However, Gilbert Ray is more quiet and has much better views. All sites have electricity for $20 a night. Lots of spaces available.

Camping: Sonoma County Fairgrounds

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:32:40 -0700

Located in Santa Rosa, CA. Clean park with lots of spaces. No trees to block access to satellites. High speed access on the air-card. Conveniently located about a mile from downtown. For $10 a night (three night limit), this Passport America is a great deal. Don't have PA, then use your SKP membership for a discount.

Camping spot: Chinook RV, Klamath, CA

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:21:00 -0700

This Passport America park is in beautiful Redwood Country. This park is a large lawn for parking. It is well maintained. Even the permanent tenants don't detract from the park. For $12.50, this is a good stop.

Camping: Chinook RV Park, Lincoln City, OR

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:55:50 -0700

Private membership campgrounds will no longer be reviewed.

Chinook RV Park is near Lincoln City, Oregon on the Siletz River. This is a Passport America park. Most of the guests bring their boats for salmon fishing. Standing water, potholed road, and mud did not give a good first impression. In better weather, my impressions may have been more positive. However, there is access to the sky for satellite TV and I could access the internet through the air card.

Camping -- Recent Stops

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:57:25 -0700

Port Townsend Elks -- Membership required. About half full when I arrived, but filled up as I left. Donation is $12 for water and electricity. Dump on site for $3.

Diamond Point Resort -- A little over ten miles from downtown Sequim, this is a membership campground membership. It is quiet and out of the way with trees all around the property. The deer are plentiful and feeding on the little grass that is irrigated.

Sequim Elks -- Membership required. Donation is $15 for water and electricity. Only three RVs parked when I arrived.

Forks Elks -- Membership required. Six spaces with water and electricity. Donation is $12. Dry camping also available.

Camping: Evergreen Coho SKP Park

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:25:00 -0700

This SKP membership park is located near Chimacum, WA. Quiet and well maintained, the RV park is surrounded by trees hiding any view that may exist.

Where I am parked, those trees blocked access to my assigned internet satellite. Fortunately, I am able to use my Verizon Air-Card. Unfortunately, the internet access is at 1X speeds.

Packwood RV Campground

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:21:58 -0700

Located in Packwood, WA on US Highway 12 about 10 miles from the entrance of Rainier National Park. Parked here using Passport America for half the regular rate of $30 for full hookups and cable TV. (Won't use free TV.) It is not the most attractive place around, but it provides a reasonable place to park while exploring the area -- specifically Rainier.

My original intent was to park at Rainier. After making a loop through the campground at the south entrance of Rainier off Highway 12, I didn't find a space that I wanted or that was large enough to park my small rig. With large pine trees all around, it did make for a rather dark environment on a rainy day.

Camping Yakima, WA

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:42:00 -0700

The Elks was the stop this time. Elks membership required. $20 a night donation for water and electricity. Dump on site. All spaces are grass and some are shaded. Mostly quiet, but the freeway noise across the river is heard at times.

Camping Grand Coulee

nospam@example.com (Lloyd Treichel) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:24:00 -0700

King's Court RV Park was a good one night stop while I explored. Not the greatest view (there was none) around, but the price and location were great. The rate was $25 including tax for full hookups. Right on the main road, there is some traffic noise, but hardly noticeable.

As I entered Grand Coulee from the east on 174, I noted the Spirit Canyon campground. I stopped briefly at the turn when it said it was two miles to the campground. The campground was visible at the bottom of that two mile slope to the water's edge. Later after I was parked at King's Court, I drove back to check it out.

With mostly tents and pop-ups spaces, there are some for the small RVs -- less than about 25 feet. All dry camping at $10 a night or $5 with Golden Age.