GAS - having driven over 1700 miles and getting just over 14 1/2 MPG, we are very conscious of gas prices. Still a little cheaper than when we left home. Have paid a range between 389.9 and 419.9.
RV Campgrounds - Many (most?) campgrounds are like parking lots, some with more trees and separation than others. We are in the midst of many bus-sized big rigs. Also many pop-ups, which are quite cute, practical, and economical.
At least many of the buses hold large families. With 2-3 kids, bicycles for the whole family, and some musical instruments (seen/heard a guitar and a keyboard).
Finding a few vans similar to ours. And like the communities that often form around various vehicles (Harley's, Volvo's, etc), we gravitate towards the other Road Trek-ites.
RVers - We and many of our friends have said -- we are not the RVing type. As boaters, we have always enjoyed entering a town via its waterway and chatting with the other boaters. Although we have had some short but sweet contact with our fellow travelers, we have not yet found anyone we wanted to share a meal with or just sit around and chat with for awhile.
BATHROOMS -- in my free time, maybe I'll write a sociology treatise on women's campground bathrooms. How they are designed, the best times to find an empty shower stall, and how much paraphernalia females bring in for their morning ritual.
COMMUNICATION - Well, as you can see we do have internet capacity here. This campground has free wifi. We also have an aircard which can help us hook up in some places which don't.
Phone calls are also interesting...we have no cell phone coverage here but Alan is talking on the phone right now -- via Skype. An online service that Alan registered for and downloaded before we left (with help from our friend, Josh). With an internet connection and a headset, we can call any phone. Also, if we call another registered Skype user with the right equipment, we can talk with video. We might be trying that out soon.
Please let us know if you have any comments or questions.
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3 comments:
We were not the RVing type either, being dedicated backpackers before we undertook this trip. In fact, we HATED RVs! But we knew that the only way to see this big country, comfortably, was to do it in a 5er. We bought small (24') so we could take our rig to places most can't go, and we've been able to escape the maddening RV parking lot parks.
Give up the hookup campsites and a whole new world will open up. If you get away from KOAs (they suck), and get into real campgrounds (i.e., forest service, or BLM lands), you will find lots of people you have things in common with.
Of course, you'll give up the WiFi, but that's a small price to pay for getting away from screaming kids and obnoxious tourists!
Thanks for your comments/suggestions.
We will probably alternate between amenities and more primitive places to stay.
In the area we are in now, actually this KOA seems the best. The other campgrounds, without hookups, are in open sun. Here we are shaded by some lovely trees. We are getting our laundry done now on an afternoon break, after some nice morning hiking. It is relatively quiet at the moment and we are just minutes frm the park.Our next planned spot, in Custer State Park, has no hookups (inc wifi, of course) so I'll let you know how they compare.
Dear Barbara and Alan,
We've been following your adventures with great interest. The Badlands don't sound bad at all; in fact, they sound fantastic! Glad to hear about the new wildflowers sprouting there. I can picture a wonderful book growing from your RV year.
Love, Libby
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