camping Archives - Big Guy Tiny Trailer

New Interests, Retirement Year Six

New Interests

New interests has been the theme of this sixth year of our retirement and at this stage in our life, it is exciting to be doing something new. When I first retired, how to fill the time was a concern. Fortunately, camping and our sweet girl, Sophie, kept us mostly busy and engaged. However, it is nice to have a couple of new interests.

Biking

Biking is one of our new interests and I have to give my husband credit for making it a thing for us. It’s an obsession for him and I was more of a reluctant participant. He has been wanting an ebike for a year or so, but I was always cool on the idea. But, we finally pulled the trigger and bought a couple of Rad Rover 6 bikes.

It was a big deal to figure out how to transport these heavy bikes when camping, but we discovered that they transport quite well on the front of our truck. See Hauling Bikes Camping With Lance 2075 for details on how we carry them. Once we had an easy way to haul them, we have taken them everywhere.

New interests, one is in biking — Riding the Santos Trail in Ocala

Kayaking

I wasn’t sure that kayaking was something I could do because of a bad shoulder. So, we never gave it a try until a camping trip with a favorite group at Silver Springs State Park. They made it look like so much fun that we had to try it. I loved it and my husband was the one who was not so enthusiastic. He seems to be coming around though and I think a purchase of a couple of kayaks is in our future.

Family

The most important time that we spent this year was with our family. I am happy to say that our children are doing well and we have a close relationship with them.

Our son and daughter-in-law live in another state, but we were able to visit them a couple of times in 2022. They are doing well and have just bought a beautiful condo. We enjoyed their company for several days.

Our oldest daughter lives near us and we are able to see her and her husband more often. She hosted us for Christmas this year and really made it special. She is so sweet and always works hard to make birthdays and holidays nice for us. We really enjoyed seeing them and the grandkids.

Our youngest daughter and her husband live nearby as well, so we are able to see them frequently. They took great care of our pup when we were in Alaska for a couple of weeks. We always have fun with them.

Long Winter Trip

We were fortunate to be able to spend several weeks in Florida during the winter and it was an amazing trip. Topsail State Park, near Destin, was our home for two weeks. The weather was nice and the sea air was good for my underlying lung condition. Our pup loved it too!

Port Saint Joe was our second stop and it was a wonderful week . Our friends from Michigan were also there, so that made it a lot of fun.

Our last stop, was Gamble Rogers State Park. It was a wonderful week that included meeting our friends and having a few days on a beautiful site with an ocean view. We were there for Valentines Day and our friends hosted us for a delicious steak dinner. A day trip to St Augustine and another to Ravine Gardens State Park kept us entertained.

Not a new interest, camping — Gamble Rogers State Park

New States

Our summer included a trip to New England. That trip added six new states to our effort to camp in all fifty. We camped in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. While in Maine, we had lobster on multiple occasions. It was fabulous! If interested in reading about this trip see New England Camping.

A favorite in Newport, Rhode Island was Cliff Walk. It is a gorgeous trail by the sea with enormous old-money mansions on the other side. So beautiful!

Vermont was a standout because of the many quaint covered bridges. Really, each of the states we visited was special in its own way. I hope we get to come back to the area again.

Alaska

Our trip to Alaska included a rental camper and a train trip to Denali National Park. The weather was great, but a little cool on some of the days. We were camping right on the water at Resurrection Bay in the photo below.

Homer Alaska was another beautiful spot and the shot below was taken from the beach below our campground. It felt other worldly with very large rocks on the shore.

Our rental camper was from Great Alaskan Holidays. They were a pleasure to deal with and the camper was a current year model that was in great shape. We highly recommend this company.

One of our new interests is Alaskan Travel — Rental camper for our 10 days in the Kenai Peninsula

A highlight of our trip was seeing the Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. The glacier was calving while we were there, meaning big chunks were falling off. If interested in more details about our Alaskan adventure, see Alaska Camping in a Rental RV.

Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park one of our new interests — Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park

Other Camping

We made it to three camping events with Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends. It is a great group and we have known many of its members for several years. They are a lot of fun and they allow us to hang around even though we are in a bigger camper now.

Lastly, there was one short solo trip to Tupelo, Mississippi and Tombigbee State Park. It was a nice campground and Tupelo is a nice city. Elvis tributes are everywhere.

Downtown Tupelo, one of many guitars — One of many guitars in Tupelo

Dance and the Vikings

Dancing is not one of our new interests. In fact, we have been dancing for more than ten years. When in town, we still dance with our Viking Dance Club. There were two Viking-sponsored lead outs this year and we were happy to be able to attend both.

Dancing is not one of the new interests — Tuxedo Junction Lead Out

In Conclusion

It was an incredible year for us and we were so blessed to be able to have lived it. At this stage of our life, we are trying to live life to its fullest. Our new interests give us something to look forward to that will be a bit of a challenge. However, we will have to stay as healthy as possible to be able to enjoy them.

Be happy and healthy!

Vermont Camping Summer 2022

Vermont Camping

Vermont camping was a thing of beauty for us for many reasons. For example, the Green Mountains were all around and the state has more than 100 covered bridges. Also, there were picturesque small towns near our campground. So, we we spent lots of time just taking in the sights. From driving through this lovely state in late summer, I can tell that it would be breathtaking in Autumn with the turning of the leaves.

Arlington

Our campground was in the small town of Arlington, population roughly 2,500. It is an old town, established in 1761, with a rich history as the first capital of the state.

The Arlington countryside was gorgeous with very green grass, rustic structures, and mountains as a backdrop.

One very famous Arlington resident was the iconic Norman Rockwell who lived in the town for fourteen years, from 1939 to 1953. The house below was his home while in Arlington, which is now a hotel called Rockwell’s Retreat.

There is a free Norman Rockwell museum at the Sugar Shack. It features the Post magazine covers of the time that Rockwell lived in the area. He used local residents as models quite often.

I especially liked the display below that had information about a self portrait of Rockwell’s.

Just across from Rockwell’s home is the Arlington Green Covered Bridge that was built in 1852 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We also drove our truck through this bridge.

Vermont Camping on the Battenkill

We spent three nights in Vermont and all our nights were exclusively at Camping on the Battenkill. The campground has much to offer: great location, full hookups, large level sites, beautiful landscaping, large dog park, laundry, and the Battenkill River. Many campers took tubes and floats into the river. I understand it is also a good spot for fly fishing.

Our site was very wide with a lush grass base. I was surprised that the grass does so well being covered with campers and rugs so much of the time.

Below is a photo of the Battenkill. We did not get in it, but I did dip my toes in and it was cold.

Vermont camping on the Battenkill River — The Battenkill River

Manchester

We also visited Manchester, a nearby town. It home to the historic Equinox Resort, built in 1853. Four US presidents have stayed at the hotel and Theodore Roosevelt gave a campaign speech on the lawn. It is said to be the most haunted hotel in Vermont. Mary Todd Lincoln visited in 1864 and planned to come back the next year with her husband, but he was assassinated. Hotel employees have claimed to see the ghost of Mary and a small child. It might be interesting to stay there.

Manchester also has the beautiful First Congregational Church, established in 1784.

First Congregational Church, Established 1784

Lastly, I loved the Manchester countryside with the Green Mountains all around. Note the flying object my camera caught. Not sure what it is.

Bennington

We came through Bennington as headed to our campground and returned a couple of days later. While passing through, we visited the impressive Revolutionary War Battle Monument. We saw it from a distance while stopping at the local Wal-mart. I later learned it is the tallest man-made structure in Vermont.

The monument is for the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777 because it was a pivotal victory for Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys, the New Hampshire Militia, and volunteers from Massachusetts. They were protecting provisions stored in Bennington that the British troops were seeking.

Bennington has three covered bridges. Paper Mill Village Bridge below is also on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1889. It is 126 ft long and 14 1/2 ft wide. We drove through all the bridges in this post.

Silk Road Covered Bridge was the oldest bridge we saw, built in 1840 and 88 feet long.

Vermont camping and visiting covered bridges — Silk Road Bridge

Robert Frost also lived near Bennington and his former home is a museum. We stopped by and walked around. However, we couldn’t do a tour because it was closed that day. However, it was a beautiful piece of property and I can see how it would be inspirational to Frost.

Vermont Food

We had a couple of good meals, both in Bennington. I had excellent fish and chips with a craft beer at Madison Brewing Company Pub and Restaurant. The fries were especially good. We also had burgers at Jensen’s that were good and very reasonably priced.

We purchased some robust maple syrup, pumpkin butter, apple cider doughnuts, and local raw milk cheese at the Sugar Shack in Arlington. In Manchester, we had some local non-dairy ice cream made by Wilcox Dairy. That was our dinner! We stopped there because they were dog-friendly.

Vermont Camping In Conclusion

Our time in Vermont was lovely. However, it makes me want to come back for the turning of the leaves. Camping in the fall doesn’t work though because most campgrounds close by mid October and we would have difficulty getting home. So, I think we might have to fly up here and rent a car to really see Vermont at its most beautiful.

If interested in other states we have visited, check out , States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping!

Fresh Water Sanitation for Lance 2075

Fresh Water Sanitation

It is important to annually perform sanitation of the fresh water system on RVs. I did an earlier post on this topic, Sanitize the Fresh Water System on the T@B 400. It has general information on why it is necessary. However, it was for our NüCamp 400 and the Lance 2075 sanitation process has a few differences.

Lance Differences

The Truma Combi water heater is in the 2075 and Truma instructs that bleach should not be used in it. See page from Truma Combi manual below.
More bleach is needed in the 2075 because the fresh water tank holds 45 gallons. So, 3/4 cup of bleach is required. (1/4 cup per 15 gallons)
Lastly, one must bypass the Truma hot water heater to perform the Lance sanitation process.

Truma Fresh Water Sanitization — Truma Sanitization Instructions

Fresh Water Sanitation Steps

Empty the fresh water tank.
Perform steps to bypass Truma Combi water heater. (See below)
Put 3/4 cup of bleach (1/4 cup per 15 gallon tank) into a gallon container and fill with water. Pour contents of container into the fresh water tank.
Fill fresh water tank with water.
Use pump to draw water through to all faucets to bring in the bleach water.
Allow bleach water to sit at least three hours or (preferably) overnight.
Drain the bleach water from the tank.
Fill the water tank with fresh water and pull it through the all faucets using the water pump.
Drain the water.
Reverse the steps used to bypass the Truma.

Truma Bypass Valve

Our Lance has a yellow tag near the bypass valve. Once on bypass, I verified that our hot water heater was indeed not taking in water. Water does flow to the hot water faucets, but no water flowed to the Truma. (I could tell because I emptied the Truma and after drawing water to the faucets, it was still empty).

Our valve is right next to the door to the Truma compartment at the bottom. The first photo below shows the normal valve position and the second is in bypass mode.

In Conclusion

The process was easy, but a bit time-consuming. I found that doing this increased my understanding of the Truma.

Happy Camping Y’all

New York, a New State on a Long Trip Fall 2021

New York

This was our first camping in New York, but we visited New York City several years ago. First, we stopped for three nights in western New York near Niagara Falls. Second, we spent a couple days in central part of the state in the Finger Lake area. Our last stop for a couple of nights was in the southeastern corner near Hyde Park. Throughout it all, we saw quite a bit of the beautiful New York countryside.

A significant portion of our travel was on interstates and most, if not all, were toll roads. None of the toll stations were manned and they bill using your license plate. I expect we will be getting a sizable bill in the mail after we return home. There were many service center exits and exits for texting, which is not seen in our state.

As we drove close and parallel to the lakes, Lake Erie in particular, it was windy and driving felt uncomfortable. Big trucks passing coupled with the wind made it feel quite treacherous.

Grand Island

Grand Island is just a few miles south of Niagara Falls and we chose it for that reason. Our campground was Branches of Niagara and it was very nice. The bathhouse and laundry were immaculate and modern. We did our only laundry of the trip while there.

The weather was not very nice during our stay. It as overcast or raining most of the three days se were there, but the temperatures were mild.

Branches of Niagara New York — Site # 23

Niagara Falls

We have long wanted to see Niagara Falls and it did not disappoint! The park is beautiful and very well maintained. The falls were incredible!

Our plan was to cross over into Canada as well, but it didn’t work out. I tried to get a sitter for our pup and did not have any luck. We could have left her for several hours in the crate, but we were not comfortable crossing the border under that circumstance. Also, the Covid test that would have gotten us across was $140 each. That seemed too much for just a couple of hours.

Niagara Falls in New York — Beautiful Niagara Falls

What we ended up doing was spectacular because we rode the Maid of the Mist. It is a ride in an electric boat that takes you right under the American and Canadian falls. We really felt the force and magnificence of nature under the falls. I don’t remember seeing my husband happier than he was on that ride. He said it was almost a religious experience.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site

Buffalo, New York was very near our campground. So, we took a day trip to see some of the sights. The actual house where Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as president is a historic site. They did a re-enactment of the circumstances surrounding his taking office. It was quite dramatic because he was sworn in after President McKinley was assassinated.

The guide at the site provided a lot of information about the issues of the day and President Roosevelt’s demeanor. It was definitely worth a stop!

Manilus, New York

Manilus is located in what is known as the finger lake area. The area is very beautiful and there are many quite large, finger-shaped lakes. I chose this area because it was close to where we needed a stop on our route and the state park was highly-rated. Also, I like to book state parks when we visit new states.

Green Lakes State Park

Green Lakes State Park was awesome! The park was beautiful—clean, well-maintained, and nicely-landscaped. We had an amazing corner site with lots of grass around and well-shaded. Our electric site was only $35 a night. We did, however, have to be careful to select a pet site. I also had to show our pup’s vaccination record.

Se used our one free day to just enjoy the park. The two lakes at Green Lakes are a sight to behold. I personally think they should be called Blue Lakes because they are really more like the color of the Caribbean. The two glacial lakes are very deep and are products of the last ice age. The lake appears green because of the presence of calcium carbonate.

In the photo below, the chalky white areas are reefs comprised of living organisms called “microbialites”.

The park allows swimming in the lake from Memorial to Labor Day. One can also rent rowboats and kayaks.

There is a wonderful trail around the lake that is relatively flat and wide. My husband hiked it with me and it was a wonderful afternoon. We encountered these weird-looking mushrooms. I thought they were kinda cool.

Rhinebeck, New York

Rhinebeck is very near Hyde Park and we were there because we wanted to go to the nearby Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. The countryside there was very beautiful.

Interlake RV Park

Interlake was a very cute campground because it was very decorated for Halloween. We had full hookups for $63 a night.

We were just beginning to see some turning of the leaves during the last couple of days in September. The photo below was taken from an empty site in the campground.

Reinbeck New York — Beginnings of Fall Colors

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library

The FDR Library was our main reason for stopping at Reinbeck. We had a full day dedicated to seeing it but discovered that because of Covid reduced hours, it was closed that day.

Our day was spent instead in the camper while it rained heavily and in late afternoon walking the grounds of the library. We were also checking to see if we could tour it as we left the next day with trailer and Sophie in the parking lot. We knew she would be okay with windows open because the high temperature was forecasted to be in the low seventies.

The Roosevelt family home is also on the property, but was not available for tours. It appeared to be undergoing significant work. It was a grand old home for its time with an incredible view from the rear.

FDR’s home in Hyde Park New York — Roosevelt home in Hyde Park

Careful planning made the strategy work. We had scoped out a corner of the parking lot and had sandwiches ready for lunch so we wouldn’t have to stop on the road to make up for the late start.

Entrance into the library required tickets and a specific time. We obtained the earliest possible tickets. They were for 11:30. So, we were able to spend about an hour and a half touring the library.

I learned that this was the first ever presidential library and the presidential office in the photo below is only office in a presidential library that was actively used by a president.

Val-Kill

We also stopped by Val-Kill, which was Eleanor’s home for a number of years. The home was not open, but you could tour the property. It was nice to see.

The Great Lakes

We have now seen all five of the Great Lakes. Before this trip, Lakes Ontario and Erie were outstanding. While on a day trip to Buffalo, my husband and I drove to Wilkeson Pointe Park to see Lake Erie. It was a cold and very windy day, but I managed to put my hands in the water.

While camping at Branches of Niagara, we drove to Porter on the Lake Town Park to access Lake Ontario. It was getting close to dusk and the lake was quite beautiful.

In Conclusion

I never expected New York to be so beautiful. Two places we really wanted to visit on our trip, Niagara Falls and the FDR Library, are there and were the highlights of this long trip. Each stop in the state was different, yet very special.

Conversely, the worst thing thing on our trip also happened in New York. I got a ticket that will be almost $200 for taking a trailer on the Taconic Parkway. Evidently, everyone in New York knows that you can’t take a trailer on any “Parkway”, but this Alabama gal was oblivious to the rule.

Check out our adventures in other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Enjoy the ride, guys!

New Puppy and Her First Camping Trip

New Puppy

We took a camping trip with a brand new puppy after traveling for four years without any pet and after having no dog for decades. We have a precious goldendoodle, Sophie, who was three months old when we begin our two-week trip. This major change will certainly have a big impact on how we experience camping.

Sophie is such a smart girl. She is progressing well on potty training and has learned basic commands such as sit, down, stay, and leave it. But, she can be quite a handful. Biting and nipping, standard puppy behavior, is a challenge every day. So, it will be interesting how she adapts to a camping environment.

Paraphernalia and Limited Space

Our T@B 400 is a wonderful camper, but space is definitely limited. We chose a doodle predicted to top out between 35-45 pounds. She will not require a lot of room in the camper, but when you add all her stuff, it will have an impact.

Undoubtedly, the biggest use of space is her crate. We have an interim crate that is smaller than what she would need if fully grown, but it certainly takes up our dining space.

We also brought a variety of items including toys, bully sticks, a brush and comb, harnesses and leashes. I packed those in a covered box. Lastly, we needed food for the two weeks and her bowls. Whew, camping has become much more complicated!

Riding in the Car

Sophie has previously taken a couple of short trips (45 minutes one way), so we believed she would be okay riding in the car. However, we didn’t know how she would do on a much longer trip. I am delighted to say that she was a real trooper. Mostly, she slept in her crate. We made frequent stops to stretch her legs and for potty breaks. She was such a good girl in the car!

Puppy and First Night Camping

Out trip consisted of three different campgrounds with a one night stopover at a Corps of Engineers campground. This would let us know how she would adapt to new surroundings and sleeping in the camper.

Puppy in camper — Sophie’s First Night in the Camper

She slept wonderfully well in our camper, just like at home. I think she was a bit tired from the long drive, but she was a good little camper.

Three Campgrounds

We stayed at three campgrounds, Tomoka State Park for eight nights, Fort Clinch State Park for four, and Coastline for two. The awning and rug helped with the sandy site at Tomoka and the dirt site at Fort Clinch.

Hanging out on the rug at Tomoka State Park

I wish I could say that she stayed on the rug most of the time and played, but she did not. She discovered digging! So it was sand at Tomoka and dirt at Fort Clinch and it made quite the mess!

She was so sweet to have as a campsite buddy though. The potty training continued to go well and she was mostly a nice companion.

However, she would not leave sticks and Spanish Moss alone. We were constantly taking them away from her.

Campground Environments

It rained a lot at Fort Clinch and because the sites were dirt only, we had a horrible, muddy mess.

We have dealt with wet campsites before, but kept our trekking in and out to a minimum. But, that was not an option with a puppy who had to go out often.

Our last campsite was a dream for puppy camping though. Coastline RV was all bricks, concrete, and gravel.

Walking with Sophie

Sometimes, it was easy to walk Sophie. She would stay close and not pull. I began working with her to heel. At times, she did an amazing job. At other times, she became a crazy puppy. She would bite on her leash, jump upon us, and nip at our hand and clothes. It was like a switch was flipped. That part was not fun!

One thing she really loved about walking was encountering other dogs and people. She loved them and tried to go see everyone near her. That tail would be wagging like crazy! It was a joy to see all that puppy happy.

First Visit to a Restaurant

We had a very delicious lunch at Sandollar, a restaurant with outside seating on the water. It is a very dog-friendly establishment. Our server was very responsive to Sophie and gave her a big bowl of water. You can’t really tell by the picture below, but Sophie was really good. She just didn’t want to pose for a picture.

Puppy’s first restaurant visit — First Restaurant Visit

Puppy Camping Conclusion

So, our new puppy is a great little traveler. The issues we had with her, such as the biting and not behaving on the leash are issues we had at home as well. I hope she will outgrow those tendencies with proper training. The downside is that our small camper is much tighter with the three of us. We may have to get a bigger camper at some point in the future.

Lastly, if you would like to see more of our posts, check out our page, Retirement and teardrop camping!

Happy Camping from the three of us!

Year Four of Retirement During the 2020 Pandemic

Year Four of Retirement

Winter Travel

Our year four of retirement began better than most of my adult life. In January and February we took two distinctly different trips, both of which were wonderful.

Phoenix

We were fortunate in January to spend several days in Phoenix, Phoenix, A Winter Getaway in the Desert. It was a outstanding winter trip! The weather was dry and warm and we were well entertained by local sights including the Arizona Capital Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Phoenix Art Museum. Our hotel, The Hilton, was in the heart of downtown and near some incredible restaurants. Our meals on this trip were outstanding, better than most of our travels.

However, we did not exclusively stay in the city. One day, we took the Metro to Scottsdale and on another an Uber to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home. I highly recommended both.

Year Four of Retirement Scottsdale — Downtown Scottsdale

Camping in Florida

For almost a year, we’ve had a winter trip planned along Florida’s coastline, with most stops at state parks. We met friends at several of the campgrounds, which greatly enhanced our trip. Highlights of our trip were Topsail State Park, the Florida Keys, and Everglades National Park. This was truly a dream trip!

Enjoying the beach at Topsail State Park

COVID-19

Just after our winter travel, it became known that COVID-19 was a serious thing. Undoubtedly, 2020 will go down in infamy for its devastating impacts. It was horrific for many families with loss of life and livelihood. Some survived, but with lasting impacts to health. We actively strived to avoid exposure to the virus and it appears we have succeeded. The promise of a vaccine in a few months does much to brighten our hopes for next year.

Quarantine Activities

We spent much more time at home this year than our other retirement years. So, there was the search for things to keep me entertained and engaged. My husband is more comfortable than I just puttering around.

Sewing

I entertained myself by dusting off my limited 40 year-old sewing skills on a used machine I bought from a friend. I made many masks and altered a few of my clothes. It is good to have a working sewing machine again.

Year four of retirement, masks are the norm — Masks are the new normal

Painting

Paint by Number kits helped me while away many hours and I found the painting to be quite relaxing. After completing one kit, I ordered a custom one using a personal photo. I think we are recognizable in the painting below.

My husband actually painted a kit too, but he was far more freestyle than I. I believe he has more actual talent.

Exercise

Lastly, as a person who had a regular routine at our local gym, I needed a way to continue my exercise. We had purchased a stationary bike before the pandemic and it helped immensely. However, a major part of my exercise regimen was Body Pump classes with weights. Just using hand weights was not doing it for me. I learned that Les Mills classes, including Body Pump, was available by subscription. So, I ordered weights and a bench and could do those classes I loved at home. I do miss seeing my friends at the gym though.

Pandemic Camping

When the pandemic lessened during the summer, we took several camping trips. The breaks really made it easier getting through the isolation. We felt that camping was relatively safe because we were social distancing.

The Midwest

We took an amazing five-week trip to the Midwest in the summer, Midwest Camping in a Pandemic. It was different camping for us however. We like to eat out a lot while camping. This trip we had a few outdoor meals that were great, but so many were in our car or camper. Museums and libraries that we would normally visit were closed, but we did get to visit the Lincoln Library. Masks and a reservation were required to limit the number of people. We also visited parks and gardens, which greatly enhanced our trip.

Our amazing lunch at Jack Stack in Kansas City

Camping With Friends

We met some friends at Myrtle Beach, Pandemic Camping with Friends .
It was a wonderful time, but the weather could have been better. A couple of days were sunny, but there was a lot of wind and rain.

We also met our SE T@B group for a couple of short trips, one at Vogel State Park and the other at Fort Mountain. While we made these two trips, we cancelled three others because the weather was colder and virus cases increased dramatically.

Family During Year Four of Retirement

Sadly, our time with family suffered during the pandemic. We were fortunate to spend several weeks with our son and his wife who stayed with us, but didn’t see the rest of the family very much. The photo below is our granddaughters and one of their friends who visited us once. Our visits with family members were mostly outdoors or limited time inside with masks. There were no birthday parties nor holidays gatherings. A very strange year indeed!

We ventured out to a local restaurant for my husband’s birthday. It was a bit hot, but felt luxurious.

Health

My lung issues escalated this year. This meant many rounds of antibiotics and steroids, plus a cough has not gone away. At one point, my doctor was recommending a hospital visit. I managed to stay home though. Using a nebulizer daily has become a part of my routine. I am happy that it has not prevented me from doing most things I enjoy and am grateful for that.

Retirement Year Four means using a nebulizer — Using a nebulizer daily

I am delighted to say that my husband’s health has been good! The knee replacement is all healed and he is doing better than when we first retired.

Year Four Retirement and a New Family Member

We have considered getting a puppy for awhile, but were concerned it would limit our travel. It is still a concern, but we took the plunge. We picked up Sophie a week before Christmas. She is such a sweet pup, but despite our research, far more work than we realized. We are committed though to getting through the puppy stage.

Year four of retirement, a new puppy — Sophie, Our New Goldendoodle

In Conclusion

We were truly blessed this year, especially knowing that so many have died or suffered greatly with the virus. The economic toll that has been experienced by a large portion of our population is also heartbreaking. I hope that we can come together in 2021— physically and emotionally. Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year!

Travel Amid Covid19 for At-Risk Campers

Travel Amid Covid19

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.

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.

A generator for travel amid Covid19 — 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.

Camping at Pigeon Forge with Friends

Camping at Pigeon Forge

This was our first time camping at Pigeon Forge or anywhere in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. We have visited several times in the past though, staying in a cabin or chalet. This was a trip planned by our friends from ballroom dancing. We stayed at Kings Holly Haven RV, which is in a great location near Pigeon Forge attractions. Holly Haven offered full hookups for only $40 per night, which was good considering the location. Our friends have much larger RVs and the campground can easily accommodate large rigs. We were the only small camper there.

Tennessee is a beautiful state for camping. We have also camped in Crossville and following is a link to that post: Camping and a Total Eclipse of the Sun.

Cades Cove

We visited Cade’s Cove many years ago, but wanted to see it again. It is an 11-mile scenic loop located within the Smoky Mountain National Forest. The establishment of the park was in 1934. There are several hiking trails along the road, but we were with non hikers, so we just checked out the buildings. The road is one way and even though it was a weekday after school has started, it was quite crowded.

Camping at Pigeon Forge — Blue Ridge Mountain View from Cade’s Cove

The park has several buildings dating back to the 1800s, built by European settlers.

The establishment of the Primitive Baptist Church was in 1827, but the building below replaced the original in 1887. Some early settlers are buried in the cemetery. However, we saw graves dating from the early 1800s to as recent as 2019.

We made several stops along the loop and while at the Methodist Church, a bear cub whizzed by and crossed the street into the woods. So exciting!

The Methodist Church at Cade’s Cove — The Methodist Church

We stopped at the Cable Mill Area and saw several old buildings including a blacksmith’s shop, grist mill, and the large Gregg-Cable house. A park ranger provided a lecture about how life was in the Cove so long ago.

Grist Mill at Cade’s Cove — John P. Cable Grist Mill

Gatlinburg Skybridge

The Skybridge is relatively new to Gatlinburg and was on the top of my list of things to do. A few of our friends went while we were at Cade’s Cove and one couple was a bit nervous crossing the bridge. I still wanted to do it, but was prepared for a little uneasiness.

The Skybridge is 680 feet long, consequently, it is North America’s longest pedestrian suspense bridge. It opened in 2019. Because it is a suspension bridge, it wobbles a bit as you move across it. A section of the bridge has a glass bottom and you can see the drop of 150 feet below.

I was a little nervous, but it was not too difficult to manage. We arrived at a time just after a rainy morning and the bridge was not at all crowded. However, I did see a few people who appeared quite uncomfortable crossing it. I just walked it without holding on to the side except for glass bottom. I could just imagine the glass cracking under my weight. My husband had no qualms whatsoever.

Man on Skybridge — My Big Guy on the Skybridge

View From the Top

The view from the top was so worth the effort. The entire Skybridge area is new and attractive. More noteworthy, the view of the mountains from the bridge was breathtaking.

Gatlinburg From the Skybridge — View of Gatlinburg

Camping at Pigeon Forge and visiting the Skybridge — The Mountain View from the Skybridge

Our senior discounts made our trip to the top plus access to the Skybridge cost only $46.82 for both of us. The price of a ticket also allows as many trips to the top as you wish for the day. I doubt we will do this again, but am so glad we were able to do it once.

Camping at Pigeon Forge Activities

We had two potluck meals with all the couples in our group that included games after dinner. On another night we had an amazing time at the Smoky Mountain Opry. It is a variety show that was surprisingly good. My favorite was the aerialists, but the juggler/comedian was also very good. I highly recommend the show.

My husband also had the opportunity to visit Smoky Mountain Knife Works and also was able to fly his new DJI drone near the campground. We stayed busy our four days in Pigeon Forge.

Restaurants in the Area

We had two very good meals in Pigeon Forge. My favorite meal on our trip was at The Old Mill Restaurant. We had a 30 minute wait, but it was worth it. Be aware that the meals are huge. We shared an entree and it was still plenty of food. The Local Goat was also quite good. Everything is fresh and homemade. The Goat also has an extensive offering of craft beers. We tried an oddity for me, fried deviled eggs. They were quite tasty.

In Gatlinburg, we ate at Blaine’s Grill and Bar. The food was good and reasonably priced for being in the center of Gatlinburg. The only thing to be aware, the restaurant is on the second floor and there are quite a few steps.

Lunch at Blaine’s Bar and Grill — Lunch at Blaine’s

It was a wonderful four days camping at Pigeon Forge with our friends!

How to Use Your Phone to Watch TV

Using Your Phone to Watch TV

It enhances our camping experience to have the ability to use our phone to watch TV. While we love camping and the freedom of being outdoors and visiting new areas, we really like to watch a little television before going to sleep at night. Unfortunately, there are little or no options in some of the lovely, remote areas we like to visit. That is where having the option of entertainment via our phone is so nice.

The Jensen TV in our camper is not a smart TV and I believe this is true for many campers. However, any television can display content like a smart TV using the process described in this post.

Actually, it is quite easy to use a phone to watch TV and it is particularly useful when there is no cable and poor cell/Internet/air antenna reception. I am specifically addressing the use of the iPhone or iPad with the Jensen TV. I suspect there are similar options with android phones, but I am not familiar with them.

Here is What You Need

It is a very simple process, but a few essential components are needed.

1) Content on Your Phone or Device

The foremost thing needed is access to a streaming source. Netflix is probably the most popular streaming source and many watch Netflix on smart televisions. With a Netflix subscription, one can also download shows and movies to their phone or tablet to watch later when no cable, Internet, or even cell signal is available.

We dropped cable many months ago and now all our viewing is through streaming services. This link covers our conversion, Cable Cutting, A Retirement Cost Savings Strategy. However, we had Netflix and Amazon Prime long before dropping cable, both of which allow downloads to view when there is no cell/Internet service. Just be sure to do a little planning to download a few shows/movies you like before arriving in remote areas.

When Internet or cell service is available, we also use our phone to watch TV through YouTube TV. It provides live television and many channels, including local. So, it essentially gives us as many options as we have at home! The only concerns are the strength of the signal and data plan limits.

2) Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter

The next item needed is this handy little adapter to connect the Apple device (iPhone or iPad) to an HDMI cable. This link takes you to the adapter on Amazon, Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter. The cable currently sells for $49 and also has a receptacle to allow charging of the iPhone or iPad while using the phone to watch TV. It is also available through Apple and other retailers.

Use phone to watch TV with adapter — Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter

Adapter for phone to watch TV — Receptacle for HDMI Cable and Apple Charging Cable

We use this cable to listen to music on a stereo at home that does not have Bluetooth as well. It is quite handy!

3) HDMI Cable

The HDMI cable is the same on both ends—one connects to the Apple adapter above and the other connects to the television’s HDMI port.

For the Jensen TV on our camper, I wanted a short cable to keep the area around the television neat. The following link is to a 1 ft HDMI cable that is only $7 and does a great job: HDMI Cable .

Optional Equipment

After we began using our phone to watch downloaded shows and streaming channels, we discovered it was a pain to have to unhook cables between watching with an air antenna and the phone. If we were in an area with good air antenna reception, we liked to use it for local stations. So, it would be very beneficial to have the the ability to use both options without having to access the back of the television. Our air antenna is just a piece of coaxial cable, but it does a remarkable job picking up channels if there is a good signal.

Air antenna on teardrop camper — Air antenna

Our solution was a splitter to switch between antenna and phone. The item sells for approximately $10 and a link follows to the item on Amazon: Signal Splitter.

Signal Splitter to use phone to watch TV — Signal Splitter

For this option, two short HHMI cables are used. One end goes into the top of the splitter and the other end goes into the back of the television, as in the photo below.

HDMI cable inserted in Jensen Television — HDMI Cable inserted in back of Jensen Television

Now for the bottom of the splitter: insert the television cable into one side of the splitter instead of into the back of the television. Next, plug the other short HDMI cable into the other side of the bottom of the splitter. Lastly, attach the other side to the Apple Lightning to AV Adapter, which attaches on the other side to the phone.

Splitter for Jensen Television — Splitter and cables attached

With this configuration, the signal can be changed from air antenna to phone by pressing button one or two.

If you are interested in the basic operation of the Jensen TV/ DVD player, check out my post, Jensen TV and DVD Player—Basic Use .

Please let me know if this is helpful. Happy camping!

Florida Campgrounds, Three Highly-Rated Parks

Florida Campgrounds, Three Different Types

Florida campgrounds are incredible, especially in the spring before it gets too hot. Our trip began with in Jacksonville at Hanna Park Campground, which is a city park. Second was Salt Springs Recreation Area, which is a federal park and Hillsborough River State Park was last on our journey . Campers have rated all three of these Florida campgrounds highly and we found all to be uniquely beautiful. Each also offered very different ways for us to experience the surrounding area.

Hanna Park Campground

Hanna Park was one of the most beautiful Florida campgrounds we have visited. For all that the park offers, its nightly fee of $30 for full hookups was a bargain!

Enormous Live Oak trees enshrouded in Spanish Moss were everywhere. It is described on the website as a “coastal hammock” that is increasingly rare on the Atlantic coast. I felt we were in a tropical paradise while there.

We camped in site # 17 and loved it. The sites are fairly large and offer a degree of privacy.

Florida Campgrounds Hanna Park — Site # 17 Hanna Park Campground

The park is in Jacksonville, with all its attractions available to campers. This trip originated for us because of a desire to attend a concert at the Florida Theater and Hanna Park was a perfect home base. We were camping with friends who also attended the concert. It was a great evening! My only complaint is that the music was unnecessarily loud.

The campground includes a very large private beach right on the Atlantic. It was a reasonable walk from our campsite. We only walked on the beach, because it was too cool for us to get in the water. It was not the least bit crowded.

Beach access at Hanna Park — Beach Access at Hanna Park

Hanna Park had amenities that we did not have an opportunity to use. Bikes are available for rent and there are 15 miles of bicycle trails. There is also a freshwater lake.

Since we were camping with friends, we cooked in for most meals and played games (Mexican Train, Hand and Foot, Uno). We had a fabulous time.

The Negative

This Florida campground is amazing! It would be perfect except for the lack of cleanliness in the bathhouse. They were not the worst we have ever seen, but they certainly were a sharp contrast to the quality of everything else in the park. In fact, I used the shower in our T@B 400 while at Hanna because of this. As former T@G owners, we did not have that option nor did we have a toilet. It would have been a bigger issue with our previous camper.

Salt Springs Recreation Area

Salt Springs is in the heart of the Ocala Forest. The campground and facilities were immaculate and offered full hookups. Because we have a small grey water tank, this was very nice. With our Senior Pass, the nightly rate was only $23. 18, another bargain in Florida campgrounds. It was easier to keep our camper floor clean at Salt Springs because the site had asphalt. The campground also offers WiFi, though we were told it was sporadic. We happened to be near an access point and it wasn’t bad.

Salt Springs Site 17 — Salt Springs Site # 17

Our site had shade for part of the day, but when it did not, it was quite hot. We moved our rug and chairs around a lot to avoid direct sunlight.

The Springs were the main attraction and we really enjoyed them. We got into the water on two of our three days there. It gets its name from the potassium, magnesium and sodium salts in the water, which is a constant 74 degrees. The Springs provide a very clear, shallow pool that ranges from approximately 2 to 5 feet deep.

Salt Springs Florida Campgrounds — Chilling at the Springs

We also hiked the 1.5 mile Bear Swamp Trail, which was a treat for me because my husband’s knee replacement now allows him to be more active. It was an easy, shaded path with beautiful vegetation.

Our friends were with us at this campground too and we enjoyed cooking in and more games. We had lunch and one breakfast at a nearby restaurant, but the meals at the campground were much better.

The Negative

If there is a negative at this campground, for me, it would be that there is nothing of interest outside the campground. For some, this may be a big plus. We loved the Springs and time spent with our friends, but by ourselves we would miss nearby things to do after a couple of days.

Hillsborough River State Park

The third of our Florida Campgrounds was actually a repeat. We stayed at Hillsborough River in the fall of 2017. This is a link to our earlier post. Our son and his girlfriend are in Tampa, so we stay at this park when camping and visiting them. We had Site # 84, but it was quite sunny when we arrived, so we requested a change to 101. The site was quite large and shady. Sadly, no sewer though. It was a bargain as well at a nightly rate of $29.50.

The park has several hiking trails. We walked the Rapids Nature Trail, which runs alongside the river. It was an easy, shaded walk with magnificent views of the river. I so loved the “Prayer of the Woods” at the beginning of the trail in the photo below!

Florida Campgrounds Hillsborough River Prayer of the Woods — Prayer of the Woods

When we were at the campground before, the pool was closed. This time, it was open and we loved it! It was huge and a perfect temperature and not a bit crowded, though that will probably change once school is out for the summer.

Enormous Hillsborough River State Park Pool

The Negative

Hillsborough River State Park is wonderful, but we had terrible experiences with bugs. First, it was lovebug season and they were all over our SUV. We were told they like white vehicles and they certainly liked ours. The only way to get the massive numbers of dead ones off our vehicle was using dryer sheets. If you allow them to remain on your car, they are corrosive and can destroy your paint.

Secondly, I had a bad experience with chiggers. They bit my ankles and I had major bumps and itching. I think I also transferred some to my arms and legs for additional bites. I had no idea chiggers could be such a big deal! Hypochondriac that I am, I imagined much more serious possibilities for my bites until my son talked me down.

Ybor City

We also visited Ybor City, a fascinating neighborhood in Tampa that was founded on the cigar industry . On another trip, we had dinner at the wonderful Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and wanted to eat there again.

I am so glad we also decided to check out the Ybor City Museum State Park. The neighborhood has a most interesting history. We toured the museum with Mitzi, a lovely docent from Venezuela who has lived in the U.S. for forty years. She provided a tour of a replica of the homes during the 1800s. She made the 1800s and early 1900s in Ybor City come alive for us. All this for just $4 each. I won’t spoil it for those who might want to visit, but encourage everyone to check it out. It was great!

Family Time

Of course, our favorite time in Tampa was visiting family. Our son and his girlfriend prepared a delicious steak and lobster dinner for us. The interesting thing about the lobsters is that they caught them. They are both experienced divers and our son has just become a certified Divemaster. We are very proud of their accomplishments.

Favorite Restaurants on Trip

Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City on the way to Tampa was awesome. Surprisingly, their Gator Bites with horseradish sauce was great. The best thing there, however, was the goat cheesecake with gingersnap crust. We also liked The Great Catch in Zephyrhills. Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad and the White Chocolate Bread Pudding were also wonderful.

In Conclusion

This, our first camping trip of 2019, was everything we could have wanted. We were blessed by wonderful weather and soul-soothing closeness with nature. Our time with friends and family was priceless. This trip was retirement at its very best. Florida campgrounds rock!