Travel amid Covid19 is a whole new ballgame. The next twelve months have a look of extreme uncertainty. There is the danger of the virus, plus the risk of lack of access to needed goods and services while away from home. I am also concerned about our personal safety. I haven’t really worried a lot about safety while camping in the past, but now feels like a greater risk.
Our Situation
My husband and I are part of the at-risk population. Both over sixty-five, we also have lung issues. We can’t just go out into the world like younger, healthier members of the population. The virus could easily prove serious or even deadly for us.
However, at our age, there are only so many opportunities to get out and see this beautiful world. I believe there will be some time to hang around the house when we are not able to travel, but we don’t want to start that phase of our life just yet.
Travel is our favorite retirement pastime. We love air travel, but will have to wait until the virus risk is greatly diminished. Camping is considered much safer and we plan to actively camp this year. Our ultimate goal is to camp in all fifty states. We planned to visit more than a dozen new states this year. I have partially booked a long, far away, autumn trip and an extensive summer trip is now reserved.
Our Preferred Travel Style
Under normal circumstances, we like to cover a lot of ground on our longer camping trips. Our desire is to experience life in other parts of the country. We prefer State and National Parks because they generally offer a closer experience with nature and a bit more privacy than commercial campgrounds. Additionally, we like to check out small and medium cities while on the road. Museums, historic sites, and presidential libraries are also sought. Lastly, we like to experience the local cuisine and have had some exceptional meals on the road. Our last trip, Skidaway Island State Park, One of Georgia’s Finest, is a good example of how we like to travel and camp.
Travel Amid COVID19 Modifications
Spending More Time in the Campground. While we love visiting the local sights, they often involve close contact with others. Also, two presidential libraries I wanted to visit during our summer trip will be closed. It is likely this will be true for most attractions. So, we will be prepared to enjoy the natural beauty of each area we visit without having as much of the cultural experience. Games and leisurely walks will be our entertainment.
Cooking Most Meals at the Campsites. For many, this may be the norm, but we love finding great food on the road. We will do takeout in the local areas and perhaps to eat outside at a restaurant. However, we will not be having any meals inside restaurants.
Fully Utilizing Our Camper’s Bathroom. Many of the campground bathhouses in our summer trip are currently closed. Also, there has been some indication that public bathrooms can be somewhat risky because of the virus. We generally take showers in campground bathhouses because our shower is small. The toilet in our camper has mostly been used at nighttime. However, travel amid Covid19 will require our T@B 400 to be our only bathroom resource for much of the trip.
Safety Precautions. Masks, increased hand washing, and social distancing will be a part of our camping trip, just like it has been at home. The greatest risk will be when we buy groceries and fuel or go out among people.
Our tiny bathroom
New Gear as a Precaution
I was concerned that if there is a severe outbreak of the virus while we are on the road, we might not be able to get back home when planned. We thought a generator was a good idea. We chose the Sportsman 2200 because it runs on propane and gasoline.
Our 2019 400 has a heavier tongue than later models. So, we don’t have the option of adding the platform to mount a generator and gasoline to our camper. Additionally, our tow vehicle is an SUV. So, we don’t have any outside storage. The propane option for a generator meant that we wouldn’t have the gasoline smell inside our camper or tow vehicle. We hope this proves to be a good purchase.
Sportsman 2200 Dual Fuel Generator
The thought of being on the road again and visiting unfamiliar places is exciting. However, it will be different from trips of the past.
Happy and Safe Camping!
Update
Here are posts about our travels during the pandemic.
My bucket list has included Skidaway Island State Park in Georgia since we first began camping. We were eager to visit because it’s so highly rated and near the beautiful Savannah. So, it seemed a logical stop on our way home from our winter trip along the Florida coast.
At the campground, there was a handy map of all the Georgia State Parks. I took a photo because I think it might help future trip planning.
Georgia State Parks
Skidaway has an abundance of gorgeous Spanish moss laden live oak trees which are such an iconic part of the Savannah area. We had site # 42; a lovely pull through with full hookups.
Skidaway Island State Park
We arrived just before sunset and were able to set up ahead the rain. However, dinner out at a nearby Chinese restaurant involved torrential rain and wading through ponds of water. Also, it had gotten much colder! The rain did, however, sound good on our camper while we slept.
A Rainy Day Plan
Our first full day in the area was filled with cold and rain, so we sought mostly indoor things to do. Despite the weather, it was a memorable day.
Pin Point Heritage Museum
This proved to be an interesting place. The museum is dedicated to the Gullah/Geechee culture, of which I did not know anything. The people there harvested oysters and crabs for 100 years, starting during the time of slavery. There is a movie with interviews of people in the area and an excellent tour that takes you into the history of the life and times in the area.
Interestingly, a famous person hailed from the area. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was born there.
Mrs.Wilkes Dining Room
We were looking for lunch after Pin Point and literary stumbled on a very unique dining experience. I chose it because we wanted a nearby place to eat while it was raining. The address was in our GPS, but it it was not much for signage. I asked a man on the street about it and he said, “follow the smells.” You could tell there was food in the area.
At Mrs. Wilkes, there are large tables that seat ten people and you eat with those that arrive at the same approximate time as you. We sat with travelers from as far away as New York. All were friendly! One couple had traveled hundreds of miles to eat at this restaurant for his birthday.
The food was homemade, abundant, and delicious. Some of our lunch mates had been there many times before and they said that the line is typically around the block to get in. That day for lunch, the rain was our friend.
A feast at Mrs. Wilkes
Forsyth Park
After eating way too much lunch, we were in need of a little exercise. Nearby Forsyth Park was just the ticket. It is a beautiful park with a lovely fountain. However, we did not stay long because of the rain and cold.
Forsyth Park FountainBeautiful Savannah
American Prohibition Museum
This was a great rainy day thing to do. It is the only museum in America dedicated to the history of prohibition, which occurred from 1920-1933. Firstly, it features some excellent displays with realistic wax figures.
Display at the Prohibition MuseumSome clothing of the times
Most noteworthy, the museum also provides scads of facts about what lead to the 18th Amendment which banned liquor and the resultant times. Prohibition ended with the 21st Amendment.
The self-guided tour ends with entrance into a speak easy where you can have a cocktail reminiscent of the times. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and learned a bit as well.
Skidaway Island and A Sunny Day
Our second full day was sunny and dry. Such a welcome sight! We rented bikes and explored the campground. It was a nice peaceful day.
Biking the Campground
Lastly, we met friends who had moved to nearby Jekyll Island from our hometown for dinner. It was very nice to see them!
A Foreboding
The last few days of our trip, we were beginning to hear more everyday about a new threat, the Covid-19. As we were still traveling, we sought some hand sanitizer. Alas, none were to be had at the local Publix nor Walmart. Little did we know that most of the world would soon be on lockdown and future travel plans would be cancelled.
Wishing you well and safe from the virus! Hoping we can all go camping soon!
Michigan camping was the third of our four-state summer trip and it was incredible. We camped in three different locations in the lower peninsula and loved them all. However, we needed to purchase a Michigan Annual Pass to avoid entrance fees of $9 per day to the state parks. The annual pass was $32 and was good for Sleepy Hollow and Straits campgrounds in the Upper Peninsula.
Sleepy Hollow State Park
Firstly, we visited Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg, which was a very nice campground. We had a large, level lot very near the well-maintained bathhouse. It was an electric site, but we did need our extension cord. It was the first time we have ever had to use it. There was a source of water nearby but no water hookup or sewer. Also, there is a beach, lake (Lake Ovid), fishing pier, and Disc Golf Course within walking distance. The site was very reasonable at $29 per night.
Sleepy Hollow Site # 129
We also walked the beautiful shaded path to check out the beach. The beach can also be accessed via the road. It was a very relaxing afternoon.
Path to the beachView from the pathThe beach
Another reason we chose Sleepy Hollow was that it is only about 30 minutes from Lansing, the capital of Michigan. We liked this because there were two attractions we wanted to visit: the Michigan History Center and the R.E. Olds Museum.
Michigan History Center
The History Center is an impressive five-level museum depicting the history of Michigan from prehistoric times through to 1975. It was one of my favorite museums ever! There were tons of actual artifacts plus many dioramas illustrating life in various points in time. Helpful docents were also on every floor.
The museum reminds me somewhat of a Disney Epcot attraction that depicts the history of mankind and what each stage was like. It is a real bargain because admission to the museum was only four dollars.
Michigan and the Great LakesWW I Recruitment DisplayNewspaper from 1940Retro Kitchen
R.E. Olds Museum
I liked this museum more than I expected. The old cars were beautiful and the story of the founder’s life was also quite interesting.
Mama and Baby REOMy favorite
We finished our day trip to Lansing with a late lunch at the Soup Spoon Cafe, a walk through Old Town, and last but not least, a visit to a local laundromat.
Next, our Michigan camping trip took us to the Upper Peninsula, which is covered in a separate post. Below is a link. The next photo is a view of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Huron from the Lower Peninsula. The bridge connects the upper and lower peninsulas.
On our way home, our next stop in the Lower Peninsula was at the Platte River Campground in Beulah.
Platte River Campground
Our second Michigan camping in the lower peninsula was at Platte River Campground, which is part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This was by far our favorite campground. The site was a huge electric site with an immaculate bathhouse just across the street. There was also a separate enclosed dishwashing room in the bathhouse. We attended an entertaining ranger-sponsored musical performance at the Amphitheater that night.
Platte River Campground Site # 105
We only had the site for one night. Before leaving the next day, we drove down a gravel road to check out the dunes. It was fairly early and there was no one there. This was Peterson Road Beach and this area is not the major portion of Sleeping Bear Dunes. I suspect we have missed something by not seeing the major section of Sleeping Bear. Dunes, but there was no availability when we were booking our trip.
Path to the dunesPeterson Road Beach on Lake Michigan
The campground and lake were beautiful, but there was not much to do in the nearby area. After spending a little time on the dunes, we headed to our next Michigan camping location in Kalamazoo.
Two Stops Along the Way
Gerald R. Ford Museum
We are trying to visit all the presidential libraries and this trip offered an opportunity to visit the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. It was right along the way to Kalamazoo.
Statue of Gerald FordPiece of the Berlin Wall
The library included films and artifacts from the Ford presidential years. It also had quite a bit about the First Lady, Betty Ford. Gerald Ford had the distinction of becoming president without ever running for the office of President or Vice-President. I was impressed by the information provided about his presidency. I think he was a very good man.
The Outdoor Discovery Center
The Outdoor Discovery Center was a detour for us, but it had great reviews and my husband loves animals and birds. It is a nature preserve in Holland, Michigan.
There are two large rooms with taxidermy displays that feature all sorts of animals, which look very lifelike. While we were impressed with the inside of the facility, the nature walk and the Birds of Prey exhibit was the most enjoyable.
Stuffed Polar BearRealistic-looking animals
The Center rescues Birds of Prey that have been injured and can no longer take care of themselves in the wild. Most had either wing or eye injuries. There were several varieties of owls, two bald eagles, and a falcon. There was also a couple of buzzards. It is not often that we are able to see birds like this up close. However, it was also sad to see these majestic birds in captivity.
Injured Bald Eagle
It was a lovely walk to the Birds of Prey exhibit, most along a shady boardwalk. There were bird feeders and flowers along the way, which made the walk more interesting.
Boardwalk to Birds of Prey Exhibit
The Center was really worth the detour, especially considering that admission is free.
Kalamazoo
Our last Michigan camping experience was in Kalamazoo. It was also our first ever boondocking experience. As I understand it, boondocking is free camping. Perhaps this was moochdocking as we were staying on our friend’s property and using their electricity.
We arrived in time for a delicious outdoor meal they had prepared. It was wonderful to watch the sun begin to set over the water. We enjoyed the view and their company.
View from our Friend’s PorchOur Friend’s Lakeside Patio
When our friends mentioned a nearby YMCA, we requested a trip to the gym the next morning. It was our only opportunity to use gym facilities during our trip and we we excited to be able to get some gym-related exercise .
After our workouts, we ate at Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it was awesome. In fact, my favorite breakfast on our entire trip was at Breakfast at Tiffany’s Restaurant in Kalamazoo. Korean BBQ and waffles was the special. It sounded a little weird, but I am so glad I tried it! The dish is fried chicken with Korean barbecue sauce topped with peanuts and diced green onions served over a malted waffle. So good!
Korean BBQ Chicken and Waffles
Our friends took us sightseeing and we visited nearby Saugatuck that afternoon. It is a lovely area with parks and nice shops.
Visit to Saugatuck
We returned that night to pouring rain, but our camper kept us very cozy on our friend’s property. The only downside was the very aggressive mosquitoes.
Sadly, our Michigan camping experience was ending. We had a delicious home-cooked breakfast prepared by our wonderful friends and said our goodbyes. So, we headed to Indiana, looking forward to the next adventure. So long lovely Michigan! However, we must return someday.
Our Kentucky camping was part of a larger, monthlong trip that began with a plan for the NuCamp Rally in Ohio. NuCamp is the company that produces our T@G camper and also a larger model we are considering. We chose a path to Ohio and beyond to see previously unseen states. The link to the plan for our overall trip is below.
This was our first time to camp, or really spend any sort of time, in Kentucky. We had three quite different stops. First, we stayed at Holly Bay, a National Forest campground with full amenities. Next, we parked our camper in Versailles and spent a couple of nights in our cousin’s home. Lastly, on our way back home, we visited Mammoth Cave National Park, where we camped without electricity. There was definitely a wide range of amenities.
Kentucky Camping, Holly Bay Campground
Holly Bay was our first experience with Kentucky Camping and our first time to camp in a National Forest. Our site, D03, was extremely large and well-shaded. I was concerned that we would roast considering it was July and still very much the South. Thankfully, the immense shade provided by the forest greatly reduced the heat. We did not bother with our side tent as our site was not very hot and the restroom was close.
Site D03
Laurel River Lake surrounds the campground. We spoke to several campers from nearby areas who were there with their boats. The water is very clear. We took the small hike to the waterside, but did not go swimming. It was so pleasant in the campground that we spent a good bit of time just hanging out there and talking with our camping neighbors.
Laurel River Lake
Cumberland Falls
However, we did leave camp the next day to visit nearby Cumberland Falls State Park. We were there for lunch at the Riverview Restaurant and particularly to visit the Falls.
We have not yet visited Niagara Falls, which I am sure is very grand. But, frankly, the waterfalls we have seen on our past travels have been sadly lacking in the water part of the description. Not so, however, for Cumberland Waterfall! It is 68’ high and has been called the Niagara of the South. It is the only place in the Western Hemisphere to have a regularly visible moonbow. There is a schedule for when the moonbow occurs, but unfortunately, it was not visible during our stay.
Cumberland Falls
We viewed the waterfall from several lookouts and it was incredible! I particularly liked the lower lookout. You could clearly see the the mist rising from the falls and feel it on your face. Invigorating, to say the least!
The lower lookoutLookout at Cumberland FallsDownstream of the Falls
The Wilderness Restaurant within the park served a dish we have never encountered, Kentucky Hot Brown, which was quite good.
Visiting Family
Stop number two was not Kentucky Camping at all. We stayed a couple of nights in Versailles, Kentucky, to visit cousins.
The countryside around Versailles is beautiful! Green rolling hills with spectacular-looking horses and stately homes nestled behind immaculate fences are abundant in the area. Justifify, the winner of the 2018 Triple Crown, hailed from one of the horse farms in the area.
Kentucky HorsesBeautiful countryside
While visiting, we parked our camper in our cousins (Jamie and Ellen’s) driveway. We enjoyed their hospitality and guest room during our stay.
Camper Considerations
Our Norcold cooler was packed with food, so we hooked up to their 110 using an adapter. It is important to remember when parking a camper with a cooler that is on for an extended period of time to hook it to a power source. This is because the Norcold will eventually drain the battery. It is my understanding that it is very damaging for batteries to be fully drained. Also, it is important to remove the 7-pin adapter from the tow vehicle so it will not drain its battery.
Family Time
Our time spent with family was great—we loved hanging out with our cousins and seeing their home and the area in which they live.
They provided us with a couple of home-cooked meals during our stay, which was very nice. Also, I had a delicious lunch at Glitz, a local restaurant, with Ellen. It is located in a store/antique shop that was fun to browse as well.
Woodford Distillery
We all took a tour of nearby Woodford Distillery, which produces the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. The tour was quite interesting and featured a tasting of two bourbons and a bourbon chocolate candy at the end of the tour. Yum! I bought a bottle of a special production of their double oaked Rye to take to the rally in Ohio.
Woodford Stills
We headed to Ohio next and then Michigan and Indiana. However, our last site on the way home was also Kentucky camping.
Kentucky Camping, Mammoth Cave Campground
Our last opportunity for Kentucky camping was at Mommoth Cave National Park. We had booked Site # 11 at Mammoth Cave Campground. This was our first time to actually camp inside one of the National Parks. Our site was only $10 a night with the Senior Pass. However, the showers are provided by a vendor and there is a $1.50 additional charge for them.
Kentucky camping, Site # 11 Mammoth Cave
The sites do not have electricity and we were there for two nights (Yikes!), so it was a real test of our new solar panels. There is a separate post that includes what we learned on this trip about using solar panels. It was not a rousing success!
Site #11 was large with an asphalt pull through, which was perfect for us. It had a lot of shade, but also some sunlight for the solar panels. Another plus, it was right across the street from the air-conditioned restroom, which appears new and is immaculately maintained. Truly, this was the nicest and cleanest restroom of all the sites on our trip!
We were concerned that we would be miserable camping this far south in August. However, it was reasonably comfortable sitting in the shade. Sleeping was more difficult because we are accustomed to sleeping in a cool environment. When camping, we usually have the fan or air conditioner running. It took some time to get to sleep, but it was nice to be sleeping with just the sound of the crickets. I feel this is the closest we have been to real camping since we began. My big guy did not love it though.
The Cave Tour
We had the 8:30 Frozen Niagara tour the next day. It lasted about 90 minutes and was quite nice. It includes some of the more spectacular parts of the caverns, but is considered a relatively easy hike.
Frozen Niagara Tour
We learned that Mammoth is over 400 miles long and is the longest cave in the world. It is about twice as long as the second longest.
It was distressing to learn that Mammoth has lost approximately 80% of its bat population to a fungus called white nose syndrome that is present in caves in the eastern United States and Canada. The disease has been associated with the death of 5.5 million bats and there is currently no known cure. This is very disturbing as bats devour insects that are harmful to agriculture. After all tours, everyone must walk through sudsy biosecurity mats to remove spores and dirt from their shoes to prevent spreading the fungus to other caves.
Currently, the Cave has bats, crickets that do not chirp, and unique blind creatures far below that have no eyes. We only saw crickets on our tour.
National Park Land
The land for the park was purchased from farmers in the 1930s and the Civilian Corps planted miles and miles of trees and laid out the road for the park. Prior to that, the park was not forested at all.
Many of the people on the land lived and died on what is now park property. A church and graveyard still exists with headstones that indicate people who were born in the early 1800s, along with some much later dates.
Couple buried on park property, each almost 100 years old
Exploring the Park
We also took a scenic drive through the park and saw a cool place, Dennison’s Ferry, where rental canoes are put into the water. A young couple was leaving for an overnight trip in which they would camp on an island on the river. Very daring and cool!
Dennison’s Ferry access to riverThe Green River
We never left the National Park during our stay and had meals the full day that we were there at the Lodge. It was not the greatest, but it was okay and very convenient. We were enjoying the park and also babysitting our solar panels.
Our evening ended with a ranger presentation at the Amphitheater. It was a presentation about the land above the caves and the abundance of wildlife. The morning that we left to return home, we saw a doe and her fawn on the road about twenty feet away. They allowed me to get fairly close. It was a great way to end our time in the park.
Fawn at CampgroundMama Doe was nearby
We survived two days without electrical hookups. I’m proud of us!
One Last Stop
Bowling Green was on our path home, so we stopped at the Corvette Museum. My big guy really enjoyed it and is posing below with his favorite car.
60th Anniversary 2013 Corvette Stingray
We thoroughly enjoyed Kentucky camping! It is a beautiful state with friendly people. We hope to return someday.
This visit included a couple of firsts for us: first Ohio camping and first visit to the state. We had three stops in Ohio and all were quite different. Our visit was in mid-July and it was hotter than we would have liked. Our Ohio camping visits began at Heuston Woods State Park.
Hueston Woods
First, we had a one night stopover at Hueston Woods State Park located in College Corner. On the way, we stopped for a late lunch at nearby Patterson’s in Oxford. It was very good, but the highlight for me was the freshly squeezed orange juice. Delicious! There were some leftovers, so we did not have to worry about cooking that night.
Our site, B25, had electricity. It also had some shade and was very near the bathhouse and a laundry room. A water source was nearly, but was not on each site.
We had some downtime, so it was a good opportunity to do laundry. The park has a lake and horseback riding, but we did not utilize them. In fact, we did not even unhook. We just hung out at our site and planned for an early morning departure for the rally at Sugarcreek.
Hueston Woods Site B25
We drove to the Lodge for breakfast before heading out. It was a decent breakfast. Lodge and cabin guests also have access to an indoor and an outdoor pool. I inquired about access for campers and our server informed me that campers can purchase a pass.
The Trailblazer Dining Room in the LodgeActon Lake
After breakfast, we headed east to Sugarcreek. We enjoyed staying at Hueston Woods, but it was a bit too hot. We needed the air conditioner on on all night to be comfortable.
üCamp 18
Our next opportunity for Ohio camping was at a rally near the nüCamp factory in Sugarcreek. Since our T@G Max XL was produced at this factory, we were excited to see it. In fact, the rally was the initial destination for this trip and there is a separate post for it.
Winklepleck Grove in Sugarcreek was the campground for the rally, which is in the heart of Amish country. Our site was right by the road and we saw many Amish carriages go by each day.
Site 1B, Winklepeck Grove CampgroundAmish carriage
The town of Sugarcreek was fun to visit. It boasts the world’s largest cuckoo clock, which took twelve years to build at a cost of $50,000 in 1975. The clock has an elaborate display on the hour with music.
World’s largest cuckoo clock
While in Sugarcreek, we also purchased a nice quilt in one of the shops to use for future camping trips.
The Amish countryside was beautiful. We saw many farms and narrow rural roads.
Beautiful Amish countryside
We also took a tour of Yoder’s Amish Farm. The tour included very interesting information about the Amish and their lifestyle. Two homes that depicted their beliefs and customs were included in the tour. A barn and schoolhouse were also on the tour. The tour was reasonably priced and very interesting.
Amish school
Ohio camping at Winklepleck Grove was the highlight of our entire trip because of the wonderful experience meeting other nüCamp trailer owners and our wonderful interactions with the factory.
Cleveland Camping
Next, we camped for two nights at American Wilderness campground, which is about thirty miles southwest of Cleveland. Our site was very nice and had electricity and water. However, it was raining a good bit of the time. The roads were made of gravel and had some large potholes. The bathhouse and laundry facilities were quite far from our site. Vault toilets were nearer to us, but were not nice, so I made the hike in the rain one night to the bathhouse.
Site #82 at American Wilderness Campground
The campground had a swimming area, but it was cold and raining and was not being used while we were there. Our site was nice, except for the long hike to the bathhouse.
Swimming area at American Wilderness
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
We wanted to see the Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was the main attraction for us. There is ample parking nearby, but they were having a run in the city when we arrived. The city had closed several blocks near the museum. It was very frustrating trying to find parking! We ultimately had to walk about five blocks which was not good for my husband’s bad knee.
Once there, however, we enjoyed the museum.
Outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The museum featured films, personal items, musical instruments, and photos of rock and roll legends.
Allman Brothers BandBeatles ExhibitVery young Rolling StonesZZ Top exhibit
It took about four hours to see the museum. This is something not to be missed in Cleveland.
Christmas Story House
My favorite Christmas movie is Christmas Story and the house that was used in the movie is an attraction in Cleveland. We took the tour and it was fun.
Christmas Story HouseChristmas Story KitchenLifebuey soap & Little Orphan Annie decoder ring
It was great to see so many details from this sweet movie, which reminds me of the time when I was a child! It is also a relatively inexpensive tour that I recommend if you are a fan. For my husband who is not a fan, it was not so great. However, he was a good sport.
Favorites
Campground: Hueston Woods had the nicest facilities.
Campingexperience: üCamp 18 was the most fun we had at an Ohio stop.
Nearbyattractions: American Wilderness was best for its close proximity to Cleveland.
Food: Our best meals in Ohio were actually breakfast. The breakfast prepared by nüCamps president and his wife was amazing. Rebekah’s Bistro in Walnut Creek was also very good. For lunch, Patterson’s in Oxford was the best.
Regrets
We were within blocks of Lake Erie in Cleveland, but did not see it. The weater was bad and I wanted to get to The Christmas Story House before it closed. We will have to return to Cleveland because I am sure there is more to see besides Lake Erie.
In conclusion, Ohio camping was a great time for us! Michigan is our next state to visit.
We have attempted camping in the south during the summer and were uncomfortably hot because my husband and I are very hot natured. After some very hot days last year, I vowed that we would always travel north for the summer. This will be our first long summer camping trip and we are very excited about it. We took our first long trip last winter out west. It was for a similar length of time, but we traveled many more miles in that first trip.
This summer camping trip will last twenty-eight days covering 2,773 miles in fourteen stops. It includes approximately forty-five hours driving time. This trip is much more leisurely than our first long trip with longer stays and fewer miles between stops.
We expect to see three of the Great Lakes and two larger cities, Cleveland and Indianapolis. Our most anticipated area is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is our understanding that it is incredible.
Goal: Camping in Each State
Teardrop camping became a major activity for us nearly two years ago, when we first retired. Our camping retirement goal is to camp in each state in the United States. So far, we only have fourteen states, but this trip will get us four more: Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.
Kentucky is pretty far south, so we will still have hot weather, but are counting on the other three states to be more comfortable. July average high temperatures are around 90 degrees in our state, with lots of humidity! Not much cooler, the average high temperature for Kentucky is in the high 80s. However, Ohio highs are in the low to mid 80s and Michigan highs are around 80. We will be on the road for twenty-eight days, so we are really hoping it will not be miserably hot.
Visiting with Cousins and Friends
Our trip has two stopovers, one with cousins in Kentucky and one in Michigan with friends we have traveled with in the past.
One of my husband’s favorite cousins lives with his wife in Kentucky and we will be staying with them a couple of nights. While there, we will have all the comforts of their home and our teardrop will be parked at their house. The stop is early on our trip and we are really looking forward to spending time with them!
The visit with friends in Kalamazoo is nearer to the end of our trip. We will be camping in our teardrop on their property for a couple of nights. This would be a first for us as we have only camped at campgrounds in the past.
uCamp 18
The second annual rally hosted by nuCamp is the cornerstone of our trip because we have their T@G MAX XL camper. The rally is held in Sugarcreek, Ohio, near the factory where all nuCamp campers are manufactured. They also produce a larger camper we are considering, the T@B 400. Owners of their campers come from all over to attend this rally, which includes a tour of the factory. We missed the first rally, but it looked like a great time based on the feedback we have seen.
The dates for the rally were set, so we planned the remainder of the trip around it.
Reservations
We have reservations at every stop on this trip because it is a popular time for camping in the areas we are visiting. Four nights are with friends/ relatives, five are at the rally, and four are in National Forests. Also, we were fortunate to book a good bit of time at State Parks: one night in Ohio, five nights in Michigan, and three nights in Indiana. We only have four nights at private campgrounds, this is to be near the two larger cities we will be visiting. Lastly, we have two nights at a National Park.
I love that we know where we are going and that we are staying at desirable places. However, we could not stay everywhere we wanted. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was already fully booked, despite the fact that I was booking about four months in advance.
Unfortunately, there can be a downside to prior reservations. If something happens and you need to leave early or stay longer, it can create problems.
Dry Camping
We have booked three nights at campgrounds with no electricity. This will be a first for us. Our most recent camping purchase was solar panels and we hope they will make it a pleasant experience. We have read posts from many campers who seem to manage well without electricity provided at campsites. I really hope we can join their ranks! If we can do this successfully, it opens the door to all kinds of boondocking options!
Packing for Summer Camping
As it will be summer, we do not need to pack any heavy clothing, but we might need a light jacket for a cooler evening. I plan to take more changes of clothing than on our prior trip because I do not anticipate as many opportunities to do laundry.
We have a standard camping checklist, but some optional items are needed. From the optional category, we will take our smaller side tent on this trip and, of course, the solar panels. We will also need the awning, porta potty, and privacy tent. We will pack using our typical packing method.
I also anticipate more cooking on this trip than our first long trip. However, I really want to keep it simple. More planning is needed in this area.
Conclusion
This summer camping trip will indeed be an adventure for us. We have never before spent any time in these four states and everything will be new to us. The rally should be a lot of fun and the dry camping will be a challenge. Can’t wait for it all to begin!
Update
Our summer camping trip was wonderful! We saw some amazing sights and met lots of friendly people. If you are interested in reading how the trip went, below are links to posts for each area.
This post is directed to new campers who have not yet made a long trip. Included is detailed information that would have been helpful to us. The trip was four times longer than our previous ones and just under 5,000 miles. It gave us an opportunity to see nine states and three national parks.
First Long Camping Trip Recap
Our first long camping trip was four times longer than our previous trips and nine times as many miles. The trip lasted twenty-seven days during the last month of winter, beginning mid-February and ending mid-March. We camped in Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
We wanted to accomplish a few things. First, to get away from the boredom and cold of winter, so we needed to go south. With a teardrop camper, we would not be comfortable if was very cold outside. Second, we wanted to visit as many states as was practical. We have a goal to camp in all the lower forty-eight. A southwestern path all the way to California became our choice with a more northerly return to include a Utah if the weather permitted. Lastly, we wanted to experience something of the local area at each stop, knowing we could not see everything. An earlier post details the planning we did for this first long camping trip. Planning That First Long Trip
Our Concerns
It was an ambitious goal for us of towing just under 5,000 miles, much in areas we have not visited nor driven. It was also a lot of together time. We generally get along well together, but a month in a vehicle and tiny camper was new territory indeed!
First long trip
The Campgrounds
There were stops in 17 different areas, nine states, and 18 campgrounds. The type of campground with number of visits and average costs per night were as follows:
Five State Parks, $27.11
One County Park, $20
Five KOAs, $40.49 (with KOA membership)
Three Small Commercial Campgrounds, $27.77
Three Large Commercial Campgrounds, $45.13
One Large Commercial Campground Overflow, $15
The campground prices did guarantee enjoyment of them. Ironically, the most expensive campground was our least favorite. The small campgrounds and State Parks were overall the best, offering a comfortable stay, reasonable privacy, and a relatively low price. The KOAs were consistently near popular areas and provided full hookups, laundry, and nice bathhouses. The large RV campgrounds were our least favorite. They offered full services and generally some extra entertainment, but little privacy. They seemed to cater to longer term guests.
Campground Challenges
Two campgrounds did not have showers. Okay for one night, longer stays or a string of them would not be desirable. One had pit toilets, but it was not an issue. We were in overflow one night at a large RV campground with no electricity and water. The water was not an issue as we had access to very nice facilities, but we sorely missed the electricity. We were a bit cold overnight and concerned we would drain our battery.
Though we visited three national parks, we did not stay at the national campgrounds. Most sites did not have hookups and we did not have solar panels or a generator. Also, reservations should be made early for the national parks as they fill up quickly.
To Reserve or Not
Reservations give you a better shot at desired campgrounds, but take away flexibility. If you are having a very good or very bad time in an area, you may not be able to cut your stay short or stay longer if reservations are upcoming. Also, we were traveling in the winter in a camper that does not provide comfortable daytime accommodations. Our solution was to book the first few sites, including Big Bend, the single national park we were certain to visit. We wanted to visit two others in Utah, but they are much further north. If the weather was bad, we did not want to risk travel in ice or snow.
It actually worked out well for us. We booked stops one, two, three, and five. The remainder were booked a couple of days out. We were very lucky to get our spot at Augua Caliente State Park in California, but struggled in Tucson and spent one night without electricity.
If traveling during the popular times in an area, reservations are more critical. We are making a second long trip later in the year and are reserving all the stops, but will be traveling during popular times.
Our Campsites
We did not stay long at any one place and spent the majority of our time away from the campgrounds, so our set up was always very simple. If we were only at a site for one night, we often did not even connect the water as it was cold outside in the early morning and we frequently had breakfast away from our camp.
Setup and breakdown was very quick and easy. We just put the items that were being transported in the cabin on a picnic table, stabilized the camper, and plugged in the electricity. Below is an example of how simple our sites were for much of the trip. We were basically traveling with our camper as our bed versus spending time in a campground.
Hurricane Utah
We used our Kingcamp awning a few times in places with longer stays when shade was needed. It was nice to have and setup was quick and easy.
Yuma Arizona
Packed Versus Needed
Two items were never used: a small attachable tent and a porta potty. We managed to always be within a reasonable distance from restrooms and the tent was not needed as so much time was spent away from the sites.
We took a bit more food than was needed and had our footlocker with all our dishes. Had we known how little cooking would be done, we could have greatly reduced the dishes. We also took a small folding table that was only used once. We could have easily done without the table.
Clothing for a week was packed with the intent to do laundry. This worked pretty well. We had some winter outerwear that was not used and could have used a little more lightweight outerwear.
Biggest regret: no solar panels for the trip. It would have made the night with no electrical hookup much better and would have provided flexibility for other stops. We now have solar panels for future trips.
We were relying on a small heater and an electric blanket to stay warm as nights were cool. Solar panels would not enable those options, so for future trips like this, we have purchased a down comforter rated for cold weather. It would have likely been adequate for this trip.
There is a new earlier post with information on how we typically pack for camping where we consider a long camping trip as well. Packing for Teardrop Camping-Our Process
The Weather
The weather was quite good considering we were traveling in the last month of winter. It was pleasant to be outside most days with no more than a lightweight jacket. We had one rainy day in Austin, Texas, and one cold day in Julian, California, where there was some snow on the ground. Utah, the most northern part of our trip, was warm and sunny the entire time we were there. During the entire trip, typical nights were high 30s and typical days were low 70s.
Our Health
I worried about one or both of us getting sick while in the trip, but we managed to stay healthy. Last year during this time, I was on my third bout with being sick. Thankfully, we were well and able to enjoy this trip.
A prescription needed to be filled near the end of the trip, but we use a national drug chain and they filled it just as easily as it would have been at home.
The Tow Vehicle
We drove our SUV an extra 1,000 miles more than the camper because we used it to visit the surrounding areas. We had no issues towing and our camper was a breeze to pull, even through some quite high elevations. I had worried a little about not having electric brakes, but our camper is very light.
Our tires were almost new, but at one point, my husband noticed that one of the tires appeared to have slung a weight and there was vibration. We bought the tires from Pep Boys and local dealer in Arizona corrected the issue under warranty. We also needed an oil change while on the trip, which we had done while in Utah.
Our tow vehicle suffered a minor ding at one of the stops at a very crowded campground while trying to turn around when our way was blocked. Frustrating, but that’s life.
Tow vehicle
We were always careful to keep at least a half tank of fuel, which was important because fuel opportunities were few and far between in some areas. We had no problems, but if we had waited until a quarter of a tank, we might have ran out of gas. Our gas mileage for the entire long camping trip was 17.4 miles per gallon. We thought that was pretty good.
Long Camping Trip Favorites
Our best stop was in Moab, Utah. The area was absolutely gorgeous and we loved the town and Arches National Park. We had beautiful weather and a fabulous time at this stop!
Arches National Park
Our favorite campground was Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona. The park was beautiful, fairly new, and very well-maintained. It had all the amenities we needed. However, for those who prefer to have sewer, it did not have that.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Surprisingly, our best meal was at Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The entire meal was delicious at a reasonable price, with a limo that picks you up at your campground. You have gotta love it! Here is a link to Big Texan if you would like to check it out. https://www.bigtexan.com
Other food highlights were apple pie in Julian, green chili cheeseburgers at the Blue Moon Diner on the way to Albuquerque, and fabulous Mexican food at La Posta in Las Cruces and Tacos El Cositas in Yuma.
Big Texan Steak Ranch
There is a post to my blog for all the stops along our long camping trip for anyone interested.
We had a wonderful time! That said, we were ready to be home near the end. I think that for us, four weeks is about as long as we should travel, considering we have a tiny camper.
For those new to camping, get out there and take a long camping trip. Go see some of this beautiful country. It is so worth the effort!
Shreveport was our last stop on our way home and the weather was glorious. We noticed as we were getting nearer how green everything was becoming!
Shreveport camping was a relaxing last stop. However, the drive to Shreveport (6 1/2 hours) was longer than our usual and we had a comparable drive the next day because we were driving straight home. We were rather tired and just wanted to get to the campground and chill. A very late lunch while on the road at Weidman’s in Meridian meant that we would not have to go out for dinner.
As soon as we neared the state of Louisiana, It was evident that everything had begun to turn green. We did not really see that in our earlier stops. Also, my allergies kicked in with a vengeance. The official date of the beginning of spring was just around the corner.
We had one tow vehicle issue to address first. Our SUV indicated that the battery on the remote needed to be replaced. We found one at a nearby Wal-Mart and while there, we rented a couple of movies.
Shreveport Camping
We then settled in for the evening at the campground. Our last night on the road was very relaxing and quite comfortable, but we were both ready to be home.
The Shreveport-Bossier KOA was very nice. It had concrete pads and a wrought iron table with chairs. The bathhouse was immaculate and our site was lovely. We had no complaints whatsoever. For those interested, below is a link to the website.
This was our first time to camp in Louisiana, though we have visited several times. Unfortunately, we did not really have an opportunity to any sights. However, I do want to acknowledge the very best rest stop of our trip. According to my phone, the photo below was taken in Choudrant, Louisiana. The facility looks new and is very, very nice. Thanks Louisiana!
Oklahoma City camping included the memorial in Oklahoma City. It was a lovely dedication to the victims of the bombing.
Oklahoma City Camping
Oklahoma City camping was a lot of fun for us. It offered sites to see, good food, and very nice weather. The memorial was one of the main reasons we chose Oklahoma City for this stop. It was a somber reminder of what was for me, the beginning of a heightened awareness of the dangers of terrorism in this country.
The Bombing
The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, shocked the nation. Later, it was incomprehensible to learn that the horrific act was performed by a homegrown terrorist. It marked a profound change in the way most Americans regarded safety. It has been almost twenty-two years since that act occurred; yet, this violent trend has continued.
However, Oklahoma City is so much more than this act of violence. We are aware there is much to see and do in the state. For this trip though, as we were so near Oklahoma City on our return home, the memorial stood out as something we needed to see.
The Memorial
View from rear of monument
The memorial was dedicated exactly five years after the bombing. The photo above was from the rear and is my best overall photo because of the direction of the sun. It was taken from an overlook from the Federal Building.
In the photo above, you are seeing the backs of empty chairs, each one representing a life lost in the bombing. The smallest chairs represent children who died in the bombing. A reflecting pool is beyond the chairs and the building in the background is the museum.
Most noteworthy the chairs and each represents a victim and the floor in which they were on that day. Each chair includes their name of a victim. The photo below shows them from the front.
Empty seat for each person lost
Tragically, the bombing killed 168 people, of which 19 were children. In addition, the bombing injured more than 500 people. Consequently, it was a devastating day for Oklahoma and for our country. The reason so many children died is there was a daycare center in the building. The plaque and lawn pictured below is a memorial to those children.
Children’s playground plaque
The memorial addresses the timing of the blast with what is called “The Gates of Time”. There are doorways and a clock on each side of the reflecting pool, one stopped at 9:01 and the other at 9:03. The 9:01 represents the innocence of the city just before the bombing, which occurred at 9:02. The 9:03 represents the moment that the city began healing. There is also a Survivor’s Wall with each of their names and there is a Survivor Tree.
Below is a link to the website for the memorial and museum.
The museum is very much worth the effort to visit. While the memorial is free, there is a charge for the museum. However, it has a wealth of information about the bombing and the recovery that followed. There were many films with personal accounts of the day and there were artifacts. Most is all, it illustrated how the people in the city came together to help and to heal.
The building was named for Alfred P. Murrah. I have heard that name many times, but knew nothing of the man. I learned that he was orphaned at 13 and was covertly riding the rails before he was booted from a train in Oklahoma. He got a job milking cows and convinced school officials to allow him in classes with other thirteen year olds despite his fourth-grade education. He worked two jobs and graduated with honors. After high school, he continued to distinguish himself academically. Most noteworthy, he was appointed as a Federal District Judge in 1936. He was the youngest to have ever achieved that position at 32 years old. Very impressive!
Other Activities
We like to find a unique local restaurant on our stops. For this Oklahoma City Camping trip, it was Cattleman’s Steakhouse. It is located in historic Stockyard City and has been in business since 1910. We had a delicious steak with all the trimmings and the service was excellent.
There were a couple of large stores with western clothing nearby. They they were calling my husband! Previously on this trip, we have hardly done any shopping. However, in this case, we walked away with a big bag of clothing—mostly jeans.
The KOA Issue
Oklahoma City camping would have been better for us if we had not had a problem at the KOA. The Oklahoma City KOA was pretty nice overall, but I did not like how it managed its bathhouse. It had seven private rooms, each with a toilet and shower, but the campground had reserved one restroom for handicapped. Theoretically, guests are provided access to six non-gender specific rooms.
First, while at the campground, we had two occasions where we were waiting outside for a long time because no bathroom was available. Subsequently, we learned that they were keeping a couple of them locked because the campground was not full.
Consequently, I was quite angry after standing outside for twenty minutes waiting to use the restroom to learn that there were locked rooms. After my husband made a request, they opened a door for me. It is one thing to have inadequate facilities, quite another to not offer what you have. Because of this, it is my least favorite KOA.
Site #C1
In conclusion, we enjoyed our Oklahoma City camping experience, despite the bathhouse wait.
One more stop in Shreveport, Louisiana, and we are home! It has been wonderful to be on the road, but home is sounding pretty good.
A link to our post of the Shreveport stop is below.
Amarillo was only a one-night stop on the way home, but we discovered our favorite KOA, had a great meal, and saw an interesting nearby attraction.
Amarillo Camping
Amarillo camping was for just one night, but it was a wonderful stop for us. The area provided interesting attractions and a unique and wonderful restaurant. We also loved the campground and enjoyed very pleasant weather. Who could ask for more?
Cadillac Ranch
I have heard the name, Cadillac Ranch, a number of times along the years and it is referenced in several songs. I really had no idea what it was. We had the opportunity to see it on our stop in Amarillo. It turns out, it is ten Cadillacs from the years 1948 to 1963 that were buried face down in the ground in 1974. Vandals with spray paint arrived soon after. Eventually, the vandalism was encouraged.
Cadillac Ranch is located on a large field very near Amarillo on historic Route 66. It is visited by tons of people armed with cans of spray paint to add their artistic touch to the graffiti-covered cars.
Cadillac Ranch
Wikipedia describes Cadillac Ranch as “public art” and “sculpture” . To me, it is a perfect example of “if you build it, they will come.” Nonetheless, I am glad we stopped to see it.
Cadillac Ranch entrance
Our Favorite KOA
The Amarillo KOA Was a big reason Amarillo camping was so great for us. We just loved it because it has all kinds of cute southwestern art and the folks who checked us in were wonderful. Also, the facilities were very nice and the cable and WiFi were strong. I asked about nearby restaurants and they offered to have the limo from Big Texan Steak Ranch pick us up at our site and bring us back. We thought this was a great idea, especially after our nighttime driving in Las Vegas.
Amarillo KOASite # 64
Big Texan Steak Ranch
A driver in a limo with big horns on the hood picked us up and drove us approximately five miles to the restaurant. The restaurant also provides this service to several hotels. Our driver was very friendly.
Big Texan Limo
I did not expect much from the food since they were escorting customers to the restaurant and because of the free giant steak deal if you ate it all. Surprisingly, the restaurant was huge and very crowded. We had about a fifteen-minute wait.
We shared a very large ribeye steak and it was excellent! They also had craft beers in big mugs. We each had one as we were not driving nor navigating back to the campground. The Big Texan also has many flavors of gelato, which got my attention. However, my husband saw a piece of carrot cake he really wanted, so we shared a piece. The entire meal was wonderful and totally unexpected. A link to the website follows.
Mrs.Wilkes Dining Room
