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heySkippy · 05-30-2020, 02:33 PM

I've approached learning to RV sort of like a space program. Start small but try something new each time, build on your successes, learn from your mistakes. Back in January and February we made a couple trips in our new (to us) camper to state parks and one to an RV resort with friends, but all within a day's drive from home. I had plans, though. Big plans.

Which all got cancelled. We stayed home and I pulled weeds in the yard. Finally we got out again in mid-May. 11 nights this time with 3 campsites (2 more state parks and a KOA all out of state) and it went without a hitch. We've now logged 30 nights in our camper.

So tomorrow we're leaving again. The big difference this time is we don't know when we're coming back. In fact, we're hoping to be gone all summer. It's too frik'n hot here.

My wife has family in far northern Maine, and if the pandemic restrictions permit, we want to be up there by early August. I've got the next 2 weeks planned/reserved but after that I've only got a vague idea. I'm going to make it up as we go along. That's probably old hat to many of you, but it goes so far against my nature and instincts that I'm really quite anxious. Gonna make myself to it, though. I know I can.

Coming out of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas are open for camping. Will probably head for the Cherokee NC area and see if we can find a place to park for a month. Wish us luck! Tell me about your open-ended trip experiences.

A32Deuce · 05-30-2020, 03:11 PM

Mine have all gone well in the past, but with what's going on now, it A Crap shoot. I booked about a week ago and the place I booked for this Monday, I got the last slot. I usually wing it! Glad I didn't for the trip home. 4 nights and 4 CGs booked! Just my thoughts.

Triangle Drifter · 05-31-2020, 05:50 PM

Nothing wrong with winging it. If plan A does not work out plan B is only a few miles up the road. Just be sure that you have yourself secured somewhere every Thursday & stay put till Sunday.

Just a suggestion for the Cherokee Gatlinburg area as both are high demand. In nearby Kodak TN is Dumplin Valley CG. Nothing fancy & no fancy level price tag either but never full, except bluegrass festival week, & a pleasant enough place to be.

twogypsies · 05-31-2020, 10:58 PM

No reservations; no plans. That's how we traveled for 16 years. Your last part of the trip comes when the kids are back in school so things open up at lot.

I'd recommend getting to your campsite by Thursday and plan to spend the weekend. Don't try to move around on a weekend. Monday morning is a good time to leave again for the next spot.

For one-day stops, plan to stop driving by 3pm to be an early bird at the campground. Relax and have a nice dinner and plan your next day's drive.

Have 2 or 3 campgrounds in mind for your stops. As you're driving give them a call to see if you can spend the night.

The 'resorts' near popular attractions will be the most crowded and reservations will be needed. If you drive secondary roads there are county and city parks which are very nice along with 'plain Jane' RV parks.

It just depends on what kind of places you want to go.

You'll have Labor Day weekend to contend with so that would be a good time to lay low and stay away from popular places. During those big weekends we would always pick a campground away from any type of water activities such as a river, lake or pool. We let those weekenders have their fun. We'd find a nice quiet campground to relax.

Have a good trip!

momdoc · 06-01-2020, 08:29 AM

After nearly 4 months of self isolation in a beautiful park in the Hill Country we are moving on to Plan B,C,D,E,F...X,Y,Z... in a couple of weeks. Winging it all the way to where????

heySkippy · 06-28-2020, 08:29 AM

Today begins week 5 and we’re doing great so far! We have camped in FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, and are now in WV.

MSHappyCampers · 06-28-2020, 09:44 AM

Man, you've got more guts than we have, wandering around in these uncertain times! We're just hunkering down, waiting for things to hopefully get better!

If you have problems finding a place in Cherokee you may want to cross over the mountain to Maggie Valley. There are several large parks there.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Gary RVRoamer · 06-28-2020, 10:31 AM

Excellent advice from twogypsies. We traveled like that for 16 years, 4-6 months/year.

When visiting a high demand area, e.g. Yellowstone or Pigeon Forge, it usually avoids frustration to plan ahead and reserve a spot as soon as you know your travel plans. Whether that's a few days or a few weeks ahead. Otherwise, picking the next stop the night before or during the day of travel is likely to be fine.

heySkippy · 08-19-2020, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heySkippy

Today begins week 5 and we’re doing great so far! We have camped in FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, and are now in WV.

Middle of week 12 now and we're still going great. We spent a month in Rhode Island and Connecticut to be close to in-laws. Because of that, we're good to travel into New York, so we're headed now for the Niagara area.

Neither of us is really wanting to go home. We're looking now at who we can get to mail our prescriptions to us.

heySkippy · 09-11-2020, 09:01 PM

We passed 100 days on the road early this week.

We're in Kansas now. Spent a week on Grand Island and visited Niagara Falls then made our way down thru Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri to get here. We have settled into a pattern of traveling a maximum of 250 miles per day and spending a minimum of 2 nights at each stop.

Anyway, I have family in Kansas so we're probably here for 3 or 4 weeks. Then we gotta go home to Florida. Nobody is anxious to, but we have a home there and responsibilities. Looking to be home mid-October after logging over 1/3 of a year away.

I know this is old hat to some experienced RVers and not something others would ever want to do, but it's been a fantastic education for us. There was some risk when we invested in an RV and a truck to pull it. I was as certain as I could be that I would enjoy it, but would my wife, who's never camped before? As it happens, she does. Discussions around the campfire these days often turn to what to do with that Florida home.

I won't do this forever, but for this year I have made a little photo album for every campground we've stopped in. I know, it's dumb, but that's how I do. Check it out.

Camping 2020

momdoc · 09-12-2020, 07:57 AM

Glad to hear your trip went well.

We are now almost 9 months into our Covid escape trip, still unable to return to our home in the Dominican Republic. We have spent our time in TX, UTah, CO, NM and now moving east. We plan on being on the road for at least the next 6 months.