We are taking a winter trip along the southwestern border of the United States in our T@G MAXL camper. Stop number one was in Mississippi.
Natchez State Park
Natchez State Park was the first stop of our first long trip in our teardrop camper. Our longest prior trip was seven days and we expect this trip to last about four weeks. We don’t really know what to expect as we have never spent so much continuous time in our tiny camper and have not driven in most of the areas. Lastly, although we will be south of most of the country, we will be traveling in the winter. Exciting—but scary!
One of the trip goals was to limit driving hours to 3-5 hours each day. Natchez was a five hour drive and on the long end of our goal, but it gets us well on our path. The post regarding how we planned this trip follows.
It was our first time to camp in Mississippi. We reserved site 46 through Reserve America. It was pretty inexpensive, only $16.05 for the night. The campground was nice with typical state park facilities. Fishing and hunting are big activities in the area and it is my understanding that the fishing is especially good at the lake in the campground.
Rain was expected that night, so we did not really set up camp. Therefore, we just moved items that were in our camper to a picnic table and plugged in the electric cord. We had a couple of places to visit and were having dinner out, so it would be dark when we returned.
Items removed from our bed
Long wood
Natchez is a city with a very interesting past. I was surprised to learn that before the Civil War, more than half the millionaires in the entire country lived in Natchez. Consequently, there are an abundance of very elegant mansions that still exist from that time.
Longwood, an Oriental Villa, is the largest octagonal house in the United States, designed by famous Philadelphia architect, Samuel Sloan. Construction began in 1860 and it was to provide 30,000 square feet of living space. It had been under construction for about eighteen months when it was halted in 1861 as tensions rose regarding the Civil War. The owners, Haller and Julia Nutt, had the basement area completed early and were living in it while the remaining construction was occurring. The owners never completed the remaining interior levels.
LongwoodPlan for First FloorInterior roomView of upper floors through the dome
Longwood’s wealthy owner became sick and died while in his 40’s, but his wife and their children lived in it for many decades in this unfinished status. Longwood was often referred to over the years as Nutt’s Folly. The Pilgrimage Garden Club acquired Longwood in 1970. It was designated a historic landmark in 1971.
The estate has many beautiful live oak trees such as the one below. A link to the Longwood website follows.
Another amazing architectural design in Natchez is St Mary’s Basilica. The See of the Roman Catholic Church in Mississippi designed the church and began construction in 1842. Most noteworthy, it is the only church built as a cathedral in Mississippi and designated a minor basilica.
St. Mary’s Basilica
It is a beautiful building. Unfortunately, we arrived at a time when mass was just beginning, so we did not get to take photos of the interior. I would have loved to be able to just sit quietly in all that beauty and splendor for a few minutes. Our schedule did not allow for a return to the basilica on this visit, but we want to see it again if we are in the area.
Main entrance with papal coat of arms on the left
Roux 61 Seafood and Grill
Dinner was at the highly-rated Roux 61 Seafood and Grill and it lived up to its reputation. We arrived at approximately 4 p.m. and the parking lot was full. We had some incredible chargrilled oysters! Our favorites were the oysters, slaw, hush puppies, and bread pudding. We shared a seafood platter and the fish and seafood were also good. This was a very,very good meal!
Roux 61 Seafood and Grill
After dinner, we returned to our camper and watched a movie. It was raining, but we were dry and cozy and the temperature was perfect.
There is still much more to see in Natchez and we hope to return.
Next stop, Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass, Texas!
This upcoming trip will last almost a month and cover over 5,000 miles. Previously, our longest trip was only one week and just a few hundred miles. This post covers how we tackled the planning for this much longer trip.
This long trip in our teardrop begins along the U.S. southwestern border. Our return back east is along a bit more northern path. It is a cool weather trip and therefore, our desire is to camp in areas with milder weather.
Long Trip Planning Framework
Limit driving to approximately three to five hours a day.
Extend the trip all the way to California with camping in the path of our destination primarily near the southwestern border to minimize the impact of cold weather.
Travel a slightly more northern route on the return home to visit other states.
Stay overnight in as many states as possible. We have a goal of camping in all the lower 48 states and we have a long way to go to reach that goal.
Travel early in the day to avoid driving at night and having to set up in the dark.
Campsites will be simple without the use of a lot of outdoor amenities as we will not be staying long in any single spot. We purchased a smaller side tent for this trip as it is easier to use.
Cooking will be minimal as well, with most breakfasts at the campsites and a late lunch out in the local area. We want to avoid chain restaurants and experience some of the better cuisine in each area. Very small snacks such as fruit or popcorn will be our dinner. We hope to lose a little weight on the trip or at least not gain any.
Visit a couple of special areas that are off the path: Moab, Utah and Alabama Hills, California. I was blown away by photos posted by some campers of those spots and we determined it was worth driving extra miles to visit. If it later becomes too much, we can omit one or both of these stops.
Expect to do laundry and buy groceries. This means that packing will not have to include many more clothes than packed on previous trips. Food initially packed will be breakfast and snacking options. Below is a link to our post on packing for teardrop camping.
Once we had a framework, defining the stops on the trip was just finding places on the map that offered good camping options within the miles we would travel in a day. We wanted to stay near towns and cities with a priority to those we have never seen or have wanted to visit.
Reservations
One big question: to reserve or not to reserve? We have read about campers who just find overnight places as they go along. This is appealing because on a long trip with many stops, you may want to stay more or less time than you would plan. I also worried that if everything is reserved and something happens to your plans, it could be quite costly. Additionally, reservations would remove that stay longer or leave early option. Ultimately, we did a hybrid. We reserved the first few sites close to our departure date because we were fairly certain of how long we would be at those stops. After those few stops, we are winging it!
A written document details all our planned stops. As time permitted, I would work on a new location. This included researching camping options, restaurants, and activities in the area. I also put our stops on a map. This has helped to make this trip come alive for us before we left. I think it has also helped to make us more prepared.
Additional Long Trip Considerations
Mail: Our neighbor normally gets our mail when we travel, but we did not want to ask for such a long trip. The Postal Service will put a hold on your mail and we are using this option.
Medications: We had to do some advance filling of prescriptions to ensure an adequate supply over several weeks.
Indoor plants: We have requested a family member to assist with this task.
Avoid Water Issues: Turn off hot and cold water to washing machine while away to avoid leaking hoses. This recommendation was from a member of a Facebook camping group.
Bill Paying: Extra concern has be taken to ensure that critical bills do not go unpaid while we are not be seeing our mail. We paid up as many bills as we could prior to leaving. We also set a few reminders to ensure that those expected to be issued while we were gone were handled.
Set travel notices: Notified bank and credit company when and where we will be traveling.
Tow Vehicle and Camper Maintenance: Oil changes, tire rotation, and replacement wiper blades were part of our preparation. Also, overall safety checks of both camper and vehicle.
Supplemental Heating: As this is a cold weather trip with many unknowns, we needed more than our usual electric blanket option. We purchased a small ceramic heater for our travels.
Clothing for Various Weather: Typical expected weather is highs in 60s and lows in the 30s. However, warmer days and cooler nights may occur. Layered clothing , plus coats, hats, and gloves are part of our preparations.
A lot of planning has gone into this trip. Let’s hope that it helps it to go smoother. We will post our adventures along the way and assess how well this plan works. We are excited, but just a teeny bit apprehensive as we have only been camping about eighteen months and this is very new territory for us.
Our first year of retirement has been so much better than expected in many ways. Living life to its fullest while healthy enough to enjoy it is so important. Carpe diem!
For many years, I did not consider retiring because I really loved working. Without work, it was a mystery how I would fill my time. But I gave it serious thought as I approached sixty-six, full retirement age for Social Security. That rather big number gets you thinking about how many healthy years you may have left. My husband was totally on board with retirement and preceded me by four months. I retired on December 31, 2016.
Retirement Party
My plan for retirement was to continue ballroom dancing, which we have done for several years, and to travel while still healthy enough to enjoy it. The problem with travel, as we have done in the past, is that it is quite expensive. We could take a few trips during the year, but there would be lots of down time at home. When we discovered that we liked teardrop camping, it enabled us to fill the time with a cool activity. As an inexpensive way to travel, it would allow us to go as much as we wanted. I was actually excited about taking the retirement plunge.
This first year of retirement has gone by quickly. I feared that I would be bored and I have been at times. I have certainly not felt as productive as when I was working, but overall, it has been good for me.
My Greatest Fear
I love my husband dearly, but must confess: I had concerns about us being together 24/7. When we first married, we got along great until it was time to take a vacation. For the first few years, we had a lot of arguments while vacationing. That leveled out after a few years and we usually had great vacations. Being together all the time, though, was a little scary.
Now that we have a year under our belt, I can honestly say that it was much easier than expected. We do annoy each other occasionally, but I can’t think of anyone with whom I would rather spend time. I think our success comes from my need to express my irritation as it arises and his willingness to hear it. Can’t you imagine what a joy it is being married to me?
A Change in Income
I believe all who think about retirement worry about whether they will have enough money. My first employer had a retirement plan in place and it provided a beginning of retirement funding at a young age. As I changed employers (a few times in my career), I saved a significant portion of my salary in the retirement plans offered. I was fortunate to work for organizations that also made generous contributions to their plans. Still, you worry about abandoning that steady paycheck. I have been relieved to see that we have been financially comfortable this year. We were able to do everything we wanted without having to worry about money. It helps that we have a relatively simple lifestyle and have always preferred to live below our means.
We did spend a good bit more than anticipated on healthcare. My husband and I had much more illness this year than ever before. An October 2017 post, “Retirement: in Sickness and in Health” describes some of our challenges.
My concern going forward is the financial stability of our current sources of income. The stock market has been good for us for several years now, but that is certainly no guarantee for the future. Social Security and Medicare are also important to our financial stability they are to all Americans.
Time with Family
Retirement has enabled us to have more time available to be with family, which is important to us. We feel that we can be there as much as they need or want us to be. We have a son who lives several hundred miles away that we were able to see more because we have more time to travel. We attended a grandchild’s soccer events that we likely would have attended anyway, but it would have been more challenging while working. Our daughter had surgery. We would have been there anyway, but not working made it easier.
We have always strived to make time for family, so we have not greatly exceeded the amount of time that has occurred in the past. Our children love us, but they don’t want or need to spend a ton of time with us because they have busy lives of their own. I think they like that we are keeping busy and not just sitting home waiting for them to visit. My hope is that we can stay healthy and not be a burden to them.
Loss
My much younger sister passed away suddenly this year. She had lupus for many years, but it was still a shock. We were not as close as I would have liked. There was a large difference in age and we had different mothers, but I wish I had made more of an effort. It does give me some comfort that we got together for a family lunch not long before she died. It saddens me that she left a husband and two sons who are young adults. Her passing is a stark reminder of how fragile our lives are.
Recreation—Our Dance Groups
Ballroom dance is well represented in our area and we are members of a dance club, and two dance groups. This has given us abundant opportunities to dance to live bands and associate with wonderful people. We have been dancing for approximately five years but, I am sad to say, our skills have been declining. My husband has a bad knee, which limits our activity. We also may go several weeks with no dancing and what you don’t use, you lose. I think that goes double for dancing! It is still fun to dress up and spend an evening with great friends dancing—as best we can.
Let’s dance!
Recreation—Travel
We were blessed with an abundance of wonderful trips this first year. We took a cruise with friends to the Western Caribbean in January. What a great way to begin retirement in that cold, dreary month!
Most of our travel was in our tiny trailer and each trip was special in its own way. The teardrop camping was more than just travel though. It challenged us to adapt to new circumstances and ways of doing things. It offered us a way to actively work toward the common goals of figuring out how to do this type of camping and to have good trips.
For me, the planner in our family, time was spent researching where to go and what to do when we got there. Blogging about our adventures offered technology challenges and a creative outlet. There is also a bit of work before and after each trip.
Road trips were also a part of our year with trips to Houston, Texas; Redington Shores, Florida; and Monroeville, Alabama. They were great fun as well.
Redington Shores
Healthy Lifestyle Efforts
One thing that I adore about retirement is the ability to get enough sleep. I believe I was sleep deprived for most of my working years and to be able to sleep as long as I want is such a luxury.
We go to the gym most weekdays and it sets a bit of a routine for us. I have been doing Body Pump and Spin classes for many years and have been able to add a session or two a week in retirement. The exercise helps so much to keep my back from hurting and my energy level up. Also, exercise is a great stress reliever, which I think has helped to make us both easier to live with.
We try to eat healthy and succeed a good bit of the time, but significant weight loss eludes me. Perhaps next year.
Projects
Our yard was devastated last year by poor weed control by our lawn service and drought. We must have pulled a million weeds! There has also been a lot of soil erosion because of flooding from neighboring yards. Though mostly ignorant to gardening methods, I designed and we installed a rain garden. It was moderately successful. I have a post prepared, but have not yet published it. I was definitely out of my element!
We also had our family room painted and replaced some of the furnishings. Though we are Maw Maw and Paw Paw, we don’t want our house to look the part.
Rain Garden
A Missing Piece
I would like to find some way to do something on a routine basis to help others. I do not want a job that would limit our flexibility to travel, but it would be nice to find a way to use my skills and abilities in a way that benefits others. I know there are many ways a person can volunteer, but I would love to find something for which I could feel passion. I worked for years and felt I was really making a difference in my small piece of the world and want to feel that same sense of fit in my retirement efforts. I will have to search for that answer.
We decorated our camper for Christmas this year at a Tiny Christmas Campout, an event that was held at Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola, Florida.
‘Tiny Christmas Campout
This was one of the first camping trips we booked after becoming teardroppers. Since mid-January, we have been looking forward to a camping trip with lots of teardrops decorated for Christmas. The campout was scheduled for early December in Pensacola, Florida at Big Lagoon State Park.
The Campout also featured a decorating contest. Decorating is not our forte, but we gave it our best efforts. Our T@G is blue and grey, so we went with blue Christmas decorations. On this trip, our 10x 10 screen room was much needed for two reasons: it gave us a heated area to hang out in and was an area we could decorate.
Our Santa tables
We had a very small Christmas tree. The presents below were for the Dirty Santa gift exchange at the potluck dinner later that evening.
Tiny Christmas tree
We did not do much with the inside of our camper, but we did have a Christmas pillow.
Inside of camper
My friend Trish painted some wine glasses with our camper on them and some coasters with a tiny camper. We really love them.
Teardrop wine glasses
We placed lights on the front of the camper, which did not do much for daylight viewing, but it looked pretty cool at night.
Our decorated campsite
The Decorating Contest
Sadly, we did not have the best decorated site. There were several sites much better than ours, but it was still a good experience. We actually put far more effort into decorating our camper than we did in our house. We also met a lot of really nice people and it got us into the Christmas spirit.
This was the first ever event of this kind and there will likely be one again next year. I highly recommend it! For those who are interested, I did a write up for the event this year and it is expected to appear in the January issue of Cool Tears magazine.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a new year filled with wonderful camping adventures!
Update
I wrote about this event and it was included Cool Tears, Cool Tears Magazine. Check it out, if interested.
This is a very basic guide for first-time users. The Jensen TV and DVD player work much like what you have at home. The biggest difference is that you must scan for channels when you move to a different location.
Our Jensen TV
Our T@G teardrop camper, which we purchased a year ago, came equipped with a Jensen TV and DVD player. We have used it, in some fashion, on every trip we have taken. However, we are not experts. I know that some campers have very sophisticated equipment and powerful antennas and that is not us.
I am writing this post because I occasionally see questions about this topic. Also, I try to think about what I would like to have had as a resource when we began camping. If this is too basic, I apologize.
TV Input
The input for reception is located near the water and electrical outlet on the camper. It is the open circular receptacle at the top left and is used for both cable and antenna input.
Cable/antenna input
Step 1, Antenna
For television viewing, the first step is to connect to a source for reception.
Much of our camping has been in State Parks or U.S. Corps of Engineers campgrounds where cable is often not provided. However, it has been my experience to find cable in commercial campgrounds. The set up for cable and air antennas is similar.
For cable, you need to have your own cable to attach to the campground cable block. It is generally found on the power pedestal. Your cable links the campground cable source to the cable receptor on your camper.
If no cable is provided, you can use a variety of air antennas. We purchased one at our RV dealership. It was over a hundred dollars, bulky, and did not work any better than one my husband devised. It is based on one he saw on one of the Facebook camping groups. A photo of it,which I used for this demonstration is below.
Air antenna
Step 2, Jensen TV Input
Next, the input for the TV should be set to “TV”. This can be done by selecting source on your remote or the source button on the bottom of your TV.
You are now ready to scan for available channels. Select menu on the Jensen remote or by press the menu button on the bottom of the TV to do this.
Jensen Menu Screen
Step 3
Use the right arrow on the remote to highlight “Channel” and press enter to select it.
Arrow down to “Air/Cable” and select the option you need. The photo above shows air, but you can also select cable in the top line. Once you have selected the appropriate option, arrow down and hit enter to begin “Auto Scan”.
Channel scan in progress
We did the scan for this demonstration in our basement and found nine channels. Once the scan ends, the first channel that was found is tuned to your television. As you can see from the photo below, the reception was not bad.
One of the available channels
As long as you remain in the same location, you will have access to the channels identified in the scan, even after turning off the TV. When you move to a new campsite, you will have to perform the scan function again.
Jensen TV and DVD Basics
We often would rather watch movies than regular television. We either pick up Redbox movies or bring movies from home.
Jensen DVD
We were sad to learn that our player does not play Blue Ray and our newer movies at home are Blue Ray. Be sure that you rent or bring regular DVDs if you do not have a Blue Ray player.
Set the input to AV to play a DVD.
A positive aspect with DVDs, is that you are able to use the speakers installed in the cabin.
A special Jensen Remote is required for DVD operation.
The DVD player will play music via Bluetooth. I have music on my phone and it works well with the player.
AM\FM is available on the player.
There is also a clock and an alarm, but we have never used it.
Apple TV
We sometimes watch Netflix on Apple TV. Apple TV also connects to other options, such as HULU.
We connect the Apple cable to the HDMI plug on the back of the TV.
To watch Apple TV, you must be connected to a network. We use the hotspot on our phone for the network. Don’t do this if you don’t have available data as overages can be costly. We increased our data package recently, so this is an available option.
Set the input source on the TV to HDMI.
You must have the Apple remote as well.
Input Source
Below is a photo of the input options. We have not used all of them, but I will summarize the ones we currently use.
TV, for cable or air antenna television viewing
AV, for DVD viewing
HDMI, for Apple TV, when plugged into HDMI receptacle on TV
Henson input options
Remotes
Below is a photo of Jensen TV remote and the DVD remote. For us, Apple TV brings a third remote. It can be a bit much, but we do like to be entertained.
Jensen remotes
Jenson TV Support
Below is a link to Jenson RV Direct. It could be handy to have if you need additional information or if you have any issues with your Jensen TV.
We received information on the operation of our camper at the time of purchase. Also, they briefly covered the Jensen TV. However, a month later in our first trip out, we were a little fuzzy on what to do with the TV. First Camping Trip We managed to get things going, but there was some trial and error. I hope this post is helpful to new campers.
In Conclusion
If you would like to read about other things we have learned during our camping adventures, we now have a resources page for new campers. Also, we recently dropped our cable services at home and purchased Roku devices for streaming. Our monthly cable costs were $114, but now the streaming costs are $40, a savings of $74. So, if you are interested in converting to streaming, check out our post Cable Cutting, A Retirement Cost Savings Strategy
Update
Would you like to be able to watch shows and movies on your television when in remote areas with no cell or Internet service. If yes, check out my latest post, How to Use Your Phone to Watch TV. The input source would be HDMI for this option.
Our very first camping trip in our trailer was last October with friends who are long-term campers. This trip to Hiawassee was with most of the members from the same group and also planned by my good camping friend, Peggy.
Herman’s Hermits
A few of us arrived a day early to visit the Georgia Mountain Fair and see Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits perform. I must admit, I did not have high expectations. I have seen several bands from my youth perform and am not usually impressed. The Hermit’s were amazing and Noone is an excellent entertainer. He still sounded pretty good and did all the band’s hits, as expected. Surprisingly, he was also very funny. He did a Johnny Cash song too, which sounded just like the man in black. The performance was in a heated building with seating and was included in the $12 price of admission to the fair. I am so glad we were able to make that performance. We had hamburgers at the fair before the concert. It was a great start to our trip.
Peter Noone
We were at Site #39 at Bald Mountain Camping Resort for four nights. Our site was beside a babbling brook, so we were able to sleep with those wonderful water sounds. The site was shady with full hook ups, cable, and very slow WiFi. The rate was $45 a night, but they do offer a 10% Good Sam Discount. It is a pretty campground and we really enjoyed our time there. The park has a swimming pool, paddle boats, and a mini golf course. It was too cold for swimming, but we did play putt putt and the course was pretty nice.
A small lake with paddle boatsPutt putt golf course
Evenings at the Campground
Dinner our last three nights was at different campsites with everyone contributing. We had some very fine meals! After dinner, we played games a couple of times in a friend’s Class A camper. It was very roomy and it was nice to be able to play inside. We do appreciate the amenities of the large rigs!
One couple in our group was having their Airstream renovated during the trip and they rented one of the cabins. They are really cute, basically like a tiny house. It was very compact, but would easily sleep a family of four.
Our friends and one of the tiny cabins
Brasstown Bald
Day two, we visited Brasstown Bald, a National Forest and Georgia’s highest point at 4,784 feet. We were hoping our trip would include the turning of the leaves, but most were still green. It was still quite lovely. From the top, you can see four states, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. There are stuffed black bears and animated Android park rangers in the Visitor Center. It was a little bit of Disney special effects in the forest.
Brasstown Bald Observation TowerThe TowerView from the topThe only bears that were sightedAnimated park ranger reminiscing about the good ole days
Helen, Georgia
We visited nearby Helen, Georgia, on our last day. Oktoberfest was in full force. There was live music and lots to see and do. We had a delicious German lunch at Holfbrauhaus.
Lunch at Hofbrauhaus, a local German Restaurant
This trip was very special because we were there with good friends. We were also blessed with great weather. We were able to sleep with the window slightly open, warm under our electric blanket and listen to the sounds of the water behind our site. Camping in Hiawassee was very good for us. It doesn’t get any better than this!
Year one of camping is under our belts! We bought a new T@G MAX XL and it was pretty much good to go. However, we have made a few modifications.
First Year in our T@G
We purchased our teardrop, a T@G MAX XL, in September 2016. So, it has been a year now since we became teardroppers. Being new to camping in general and never previously having owned any type of camper. We learned a lot in this first year and have implemented T@G modification. Additionally, in the past year, our camper has been towed 3,430 miles on eight camping trips to five different states (AL, GA, FL, TN, & AR).
There were not any exceptionally long trips this first year for two reasons: 1) we had to figure out what we were doing and 2) we are actively working toward a knee replacement for my husband and it precludes long trips planned well in advance. Our longest trip lasted a week. We expect much longer trips next year.
Our T@G is really well-designed and is comfortable and functional, despite its size, but we did make a few minor changes.
1) Removal of the Headboard:
We had our dealer remove the headboard at the time of purchase. My husband is 6’3″ and he really needs the extra space. The headboard was nice, but comfort trumped utility in this instance. He is able to sleep very comfortably with this T@G modification.
T@G without headboard
2) DVD Light-Blocking Panel
My big guy cannot stand any light while sleeping and the light on the DVD player is quite bright. One of the first things he did was to make a panel to block the light. It attaches with Velcro and works very well. This T@G modification may appeal to those sensitive to light while trying to sleep.
Light-blocking panel
3) Head Protection, Cabin and Galley
My husband’s height has caused some pain on a couple of occasions because the open shelving over the head of the bed had some hard edges. Bumping his head motivated him to look for a solution. He installed foam padding attached with glue strips. There have been no injuries since this was done.
Padding on the Shelf
He also shortened the length of the hex studs on the galley door. They were longer than necessary and he had scraped his head on them before the mod.
Modified studs
4) Greywater Drain Access
Having to crawl around on the ground to attach the hose to drain water from the sink was not one of my favorite things. A lady on one of the teardrop Facebook groups posted that she has a solution to provide easy access and I immediately requested the modification for our camper. Her solution was lower to the ground. We raised ours upon the recommendation of a plumber so it would be less likely to get caught on a curb or on uneven terrain.
Greywater Drain Access
5) License Plate Holder
The original way the holder was mounted was flimsy and hung low to the ground. One of the first things we did was to purchase a black plastic tag holder and mount it appropriately 1 1/2″ higher to the lower frame using the existing screws.
6) Naming the teardrop
We had no idea how camping would be for us and did not have a name for the trailer initially. After a little experience, we named it Endeavor and had the name installed on the back. There is an older post that describes the naming process and installation.
7) Inexpensive and easy air antenna
We purchased an air antenna at the time we got our camper and tried to use it several times. It did not do a great job, but we were often not in high reception areas. I saw a post on a Facebook teardrop group a where a gentleman was using a co-axel cable about 6″long to attach to the cable receptacle with the outer insulation stripped off by about 2.5″. It worked fairly well the one time we tried it and is more compact than the one we purchased. I am not sure how useful it will be as reception is not usually strong at campsites, but I like its simplicity.
Inexpensive TV Antenna
8) Memory Foam Cover
As many campers have suggested, we installed a memory foam cover over the mattresses Ours is a 2″ cover and we also use a mattress pad for comfort and an added layer of separation from the memory foam itself for allergy reasons. It has made our bed quite comfortable. I don’t think the mattresses alone would have been adequate.
T@G Modification Reversal
We had a diffuser over the air conditioner because the constant blowing of air directly on us was annoying. It was a plastic traylike apparatus that was rather flimsy and stuck out quite a bit. However, we seemed to have more issues with condensation using it and it was an obstacle to be avoided. I managed to knock it down and break it the second trip it was used and we decided to not replace it.
Under Consideration
My tall husband has to stoop when under the galley. We checked with our dealer about the possibility of adding the Outback wheels to raise the overall height. This would get us electric brakes as well. It is a little pricey, but the bigger issue was a concern about the width and getting it into our garage. We still may do this at a later date.
Summary
In conclusion, our first year in Endeavor was wonderful and we have not make a lot of changes. We are happy with our T@G modification. Looking forward to year two!
As a relatively new camper, I want to be a good neighbor to my fellow campers. I posted a request for dos and don’ts on a couple of large camping groups on Facebook and received many comments. Most are on existing lists, but there are a few that I have not seen published.
Camping Etiquette
My background is in accounting and auditing and I am very much a rule-follower, but my husband is just the opposite. He, on the other hand, is very charming and gets away with a lot. 😏 Camping etiquette, however, is about being a good neighbor, which we both want to be.
The list below is not in the order of importance. I think if you had ten people rank the list, you would get many variations. I have tried to organize the information into just a few categories. Also, remember to observe and obey the rules at your particular campground.
Respect Your Neighbor’s Space
This was the area where I received the most feedback. Do not run, walk, or bike across an occupied site. Also,do not allow pets or children to invade the area. Lastly, do not block access to the site. These were all mentioned multiple times in the feedback I received. Park in the middle of your campsite or in such a way that you allow neighbors on both sides adequate space.
Control Noise
Respect quiet hours, generally from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Run generators only in the daytime. Keep music at low levels that extend only to your campsite. Use quiet voices, especially when arriving late. Don’t leave outdoor TV on when not there and don’t leave outdoor speakers on when inside. At night, don’t slam doors and double click remote door locks if horn beeps. Don’t let diesel engines idle unnecessary.
Fires
Always thoroughly put out fires before going to bed or leaving. Be sure to have enough water to ensure fire is out. Do not leave fires unattended. Do not burn trash, plastic, or styrofoam as this creates very unpleasant odors. Build fires only in designated areas and not where it will allow smoke to drift to open windows. Do not allow cigarette to smoke go into campsites of others. (In the responses I received, it was acknowledged that controlling where the smoke goes can be difficult.)
Don’t bring firewood from other areas as this may bring non-native insects that can devastate an area. I did not previously know the reasons for this; it is always good to know the why.
Clean and Tidy
Keep hoses, power lines, and sewer lines as close to your rig as possible for groundskeeping. Keep your campsite neat and tidy and don’t let trash accumulate around your site. Don’t use the fire ring as a garbage can. Clean up after yourself in bathrooms.
Leave your campsite clean for the next camper. Do not leave garbage or cigarette butts behind. Put everything back to original spots if moved.
Water Issues
Don’t wash dishes in the bathhouse. Don’t take longer than necessary showers if others as waiting. Appropriately dispose of grey water.
These next items are a bit unfamiliar to me as we have a teardrop, but I am including for those who have a black water tank. Don’t dump at campsite that does not have full hook-ups; use dump station. Don’t dump while neighbors are eating. Don’t leave black water tank valve open at full hook-up site as it can result in a “pyramid of poo”. I don’t know exactly how that works, but it sounds really bad.
Lights
Turn off lights when going to bed, generally during quiet hours. Do not leave outside lights on overnight. Many people mentioned lights left on at night as an issue, though often they specified bright or LED lights.
When arriving late or departing early, use lowlights. If setting up or tearing down in the dark, use flashlights.
Children
Teach children to be respectful of others and their camping space. Teach them to not leave bikes, toys, etc. in the road. Don’t let them over utilize the bandwidth by excessive use of the Internet.
Don’t use bad language that children can hear. Also, keep in mind that children are there to have fun.
Pets
Keep pets on a leash and limit barking. Clean up after your pets and do not allow them into the campsites of others. Don’t leave a barking dog at a campsite. Do not walk your dog during quiet hours, which causes all other dogs in the area to bark. Don’t wash pet bedding in public washers unless you intend to clean them after you have used them.
Interactions with Neighbors
Greet neighbors and be friendly and polite. With new arrivals, give them time to set up before going to talk to them. However, do offer help if it appears it is needed. Be friendly, but do not overstay when talking as walking by. Leave any leftover firewood you may have for the next camper or give it to a neighbor. Share excess goodies if you have them.
Wildlife
Lastly, don’t feed the wildlife. They remember where they have been fed and will come back for more. The results can be a nuisance to others and may also be dangerous.
Summary
Many people mentioned the Golden Rule and just being considerate and respectful of others, which is at the heart of camping etiquette. We are all in very close proximity in a campground and our behavior can significantly impact others and their ability to enjoy their vacations. I prefer to know the things that can irritate others so I can be as considerate as possible.
The items in this post originated from comments from camping groups and multiple camping etiquette documents. I hope you will find this post above camping etiquette useful! If you would like to read about our camping adventures, please follow this link.
The smaller the camper, the more important it is to be organized and have needed items in a place that is predictable and easily accessible. We have now been on several camping trips and have a process that works for us.
Packing for Camping
Approximately once a month, we take a camping trip. To simplify our packing for camping, we try to keep as much equipment as we can packed in some manner so it is always ready to go. For example:
Under the Bed-Extension cords, co-axiel cable, television antenna, awning, a few long tools that will not fit in our toolbox, charcoal, umbrella, 30/50 amp converter, nylon cord, and extra flashlight are kept under the bed in the camper and are always ready to go.
Inside the Cabin-Hanging shoe bags are attached to the wall on each side of the bed. A laundry bag and manuals are in a cabinet. A flashlight for getting up in the middle of the night is in the space between the bed and wall. These items are always there and ready to go.
In the Galley-The galley always has some basic items: dish cloths and towels, salt and pepper, basic spices, olive oil, a small coffee pot, toaster, small garbage can and trash liners, small flashlight, lighter, wet wipes, Saran Wrap, aluminum foil, bug spray, dish drainer mat, scrubber, tire gauge, wet wipes and hand sanitizer. We also keep our 30/15 converter on a shelf in the galley because we always hook our camper up to our home power before trips.
In a Footlocker- All the dishes that we might use for cooking are stored in a large plastic footlocker. This includes plates, utensils, glasses, bowls, skillet, pan, etc. The only extra we sometimes bring is a crockpot or small grill, but that is only if there is a specific plan to use it.
Galley Storage
Overall View of GalleyGalley ShelfUnder the Sink
When leaving for a trip, we use the galley area to store items needed to hook up. We put the electrical cord and water hoses there, plus the hand tool for the camper stabilizers. We also strap gallon containers of water to the cabinet and store a foam rubber that rug we always use behind the galley. Those items are readily available when we arrive at our campsite.
Cords and hoses transported in galley
Cabin Storage
We always transport the footlocker, rectangular table, small blower bucket, and small folding table in the cabin of the camper.
Items Transported in Cabin
Tow Vehicle Storage
We use the back of our SUV to store food, chairs, a rug and whatever optional equipment we are taking. We have a 10×10 screen room, EZ tent, porta potty, and privacy tent. If the trip is more geared to sightseeing or we are at a site for less than 2-3 days, we do not set up a tent or screen room. If we are very near a restroom, we leave the porta potty at home.
With most camping items pre-packed, I spend most of my trip preparation on determining what food to bring and what clothes to pack. We store food that does not require refrigeration in three covered bins. One bin is always prepacked with dishwashing liquid, a small bottle of laundry detergent, tablecloths/clips, and coffee filters and the other two have specific food for the trip. There is also a bin for tools–my husband likes to be prepared.
We each pack a small suitcase and take a pre-packed bath bag with toiletries. We have found that it works better to use the backseat of our SUV for personal items. They are always in the same spot, therefore, it is easier to locate needed items. My husband’s items are on one side of the backseat and mine the other. We each use the floorboard for extra shoes, hats, etc. Also, we generally transport a small ice chest in the middle and a couple of lanterns in the floorboard.
Back Seat of SUV
Length of Trip
Our longest trip so far has been a week. We have discussed much longer trips and the plan for those is not very different from our packing for camping today. For those longer trips, we would just do laundry and buy groceries while traveling. I can’t wait to try out this theory! (This link is to a post for planning our first long trip)
Packing for camping takes effort, but for me, prepacking and organization makes it easier. I am sure that most seasoned campers have methods that work for them and may be quite different from what I have described, but this is what works for us.
This was my first trip to Arkansas and it was as much about seeing the sights as camping. We were lucky enough to score a site on the lake very near the bathhouse at Lake Catherine. It was very hot during our stay with highs in the mid-nineties. Because of the heat, we stayed away from camp most of the time during the day.
We loved our site at Lake Catherine. It was #29 on loop B, right on the lake with lots of shade and only about 50 feet from the bathhouse. Loop B is for smaller rigs and our teardrop fit nicely in the spot. There are two other loops to accommodate larger rigs. Being able to fit in a smaller spot enabled us to get a nice place to stay without a lot of lead time. Check in was pleasant and we were given a 25% senior discount (only available for weekdays). There is horseback riding nearby and canoes, kayaks, water bikes, and pedal boats are available for rent.
As we have experienced with many campsites, there was not room for our 10 x 10 screen room to attach. We could have set it up away from the trailer, but chose not to because we would be away for much of the daytime. Our only issue was that the water connection was too far for us to attach our hose.
Site 29 at Lake Catherine
The wildlife were very friendly; we had mallards, squirrels, and birds visiting us. They were accustomed to being fed and my husband really enjoyed seeing them.
Feeding the Mallards
Two days were allocated to see the sights in Hot Springs. We visited Garvan Woodland Gardens the morning of our first day. It is a 210 acre botanical garden that was donated to the University of Arkansas School. The gardens were utterly beautiful, but it was very hot. Much of the area is shaded, but walking in heat that rose to a high of 95 was quite challenging.
Garvan Woodland GardensGarvan Woodland GardensOne of Several Peacocks at the Gardens
The Chipmunk Cafe is on site at the gardens and we had an excellent lunch there. It offers fresh lemonade and a variety of sandwiches. My husband raved about his hamburger! We highly recommend the Gardens and the Chipmunk.
Within the gardens is the Anthony Chapel, Arkansas’ premier wedding venue. It features 55-foot tall glass and has a complex truss system designed to mimic trees. It is a stunning structure.
Anthony ChapelAnthony Chapel InteriorPavilion
After lunch, we checked out Bathhouse Row and the historic district. It was interesting to learn that one side of the street that held shops, tourist attractions, and restaurants is in the city, but across the street is within Hot Springs National Park. The buildings along Bathhouse Row are owned by the park service and many are leased to private businesses. The Visitor Center in the Park is a beautiful old building that was once a bathhouse.
Our evening was spent being entertained by The Magic & Comedy of Maxwell Blade. He is a Hot Springs staple and put on a very entertaining show. We arrived back at our campsite at around 10 pm, cranked up the A/C, and slept like babies!
Day 2 started early at the Buckstaff Bathhouse. The bathhouse is right above the natural hot springs and has been in operation since 1912. We each had the traditional bathing package, which included individual whirlpool mineral bath, hot packs, sitz bath, vapor cabinet, needle shower, and 20 minute Swedish massage. The building and the services are much the same as they were over 100 years old. It was quite an experience and very relaxing.
Buckstaff Bathhouse
We had breakfast for lunch at The Pancake Shoppe, fresh-squeezed orange juice, pancakes loaded with fresh blueberries, and an amazing omelette.
Our afternoon included a Duck Tour of the city and Lake Hamilton and then a movie to get out of the heat. We saw “Dunkirk” in our first experience with recliner seating. The movie was good and the seats were very comfortable!
Dinner was at the historic Ohio Club, established in 1905. It was once one of many illegal casinos in the city. During prohibition, it was a popular place of movie stars, celebrities, and gangsters. Mae West, Al Jolson, Babe Ruth, Teddy Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Al Capone, and Bugsy Segal are all listed as former customers. We loved the great service, the Ruben sandwiches, and the fabulous live music. An excellent blues band was playing the night we were there.
Ohio Club
We drove to Little Rock the next day and visited the Clinton Presidential Center and Park. It is one of thirteen presidential libraries and we plan to visit all of them. We had a guided tour, which made the visit more interesting. Of particular interest were reproductions of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. A temporary Bug Exhibit showing how the insect world works together was on site. You can take photos inside the building, but can’t publish them, so my shots are all outside. The building is designed to look like a bridge. The grounds were very nice with an very interesting-looking bridge that crosses the Arkansas River.
Clinton Presidential CenterPortion of the Bug ExhibitView from the Bridge
In the afternoon, we rode the River Rail Electric Streetcar for a tour of the city. Our driver was very knowledgeable and gave us a running commentary of the city, past and present. It is free for the summer and very enjoyable.
Old State House, Circa 1842
We drove back to Hot Springs late in the afternoon and had dinner at Deluca’s, a pizza restaurant. We were back at camp at around 6 pm, our earliest time back by far. We had observed several people swimming in the lake, so we went in for about 30 minutes. It was very relaxing and the water was a perfect temperature.
While we were gone during the daytime on this trip, we did enjoy the peacefulness of nature in the mornings over breakfast. The wildlife were the most abundant and willing to come close that we have seen thus far on a camping trip. We also enjoyed the great rates ($16.50 per night with senior discount). Lake Catherine is a great campground!
Lessons Learned:
Research the weather before booking trips! We were in Branson a few summers ago and it was cool and comfortable. I foolishly thought that Hot Springs would not be too hot because it is relatively close to Branson and in the mountains. This was flawed thinking!
If it is very hot, it is nice to have an outside fan. We purchased an inexpensive box fan our first night and it helped a little with the heat and the bugs.
Our mini blower purchased at Marvin’s was nice to tidy up the campsite. Though very small and inexpensive, but does a decent job.
If you are not spending a lot of time at a site, you don’t need a lot of stuff. Our set-up and takedown for this trip was very quick and easy because of this.
