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Old 08-07-2017, 01:16 PM   #15
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2:38AM; walmart number three of the night; just finally dozed off and some numbskull drove thru the RVs honking and screaming "wake up old people!"

first walmart off I-81 near Radford had a big we don't want RV or trucker business sign

second one in radford was quiet until shift change when the workers decided right behind our rig was a good spot for a loud beer and vaping party. when i heard one of them say something about @@@@ing RVs, we decided to leave

now we're in Christiansburg which si far is decidedly not.

VA used to be for Lovers, perhaps a new catch phrase is due?

We have run into the "numbskulls who drive thru the parking lots honking and screaming" also. But the funniest one was one cold snowy winter evening. Driving was getting a bit scary on the mountainous West Virginia interstate and then we saw a Walmart sign up ahead. We decided to call it a night. We parked the rig right where the evening Walmart manager said would be a good spot and proceeded to get some rest. All night long we heard truck noises and saw headlights flashing through the windows as snow plows were keeping the parking lot clear of the snow.

In the morning when I looked out the windshield I was surprised to see a mound of snow almost as high as the coach! I open the door and realized snow had been piled up all around us basically putting us in a hole. There was a small walkway left through the snow bank and Sharon and I took it to get to the Walmart. Once inside Sharon went to find the manager and I found a small group of "good old boys" laughing and slapping each other on the back at covering that poor RV'er in snow. I cleared my throat and announced I was driving that "poor RV" and would appreciate help in getting her out of the lot.

About then the manager showed up with my wife in tow and was about to lower the boom when I announced to my wife "honey these good old boys are volunteering to use their plows to get us out of the lot, isn't that great!" The good old boys not only plowed the path for us to get out, but they plowed the side street all the way to the main highway then they all blew their horns as we departed.
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Old 08-07-2017, 01:54 PM   #16
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You know I don't quite understand the staying at Wal-Mart. We all drive expensive toys and want to feel safe. I think most can afford to stay at a campground. Now if you are just wanting a few hours of sleep I can understand that. Rather see you stop than fall asleep at the wheel. But all of us old guessers can afford to stay at a campground. We can't take it with us.
Staying at WalMart isn't a matter of cost. Most of us paid many thousands of $$ to have a rig that is self contained. When we traveled we were both working and had limited time to get to our destination. Early up and late to bed, no need for the campground amenities so a WalMart lot was great. Now that the DW died and I've retired I still don't need the amenities when in travel mode. When I reach my destination I'm find a campground that fits my needs.
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Old 08-07-2017, 01:54 PM   #17
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Wally Docking.........FREE
So no complaining

Pay for a CG.......then you can complain cause SAME kind of antics can & do happen



I have NEVER Wally Docked (or Cracker Barrelled, Cabelaed, etc.)
Parking lots are not my thing.

Back when TIME was an issue I have shut it down at Rest Areas.
Then again.........FREE so no complaining

Course I have NO issues sleeping. Learned skill----from long hours, rotating shifts, working straight thru until job done. Time to sleep---I sleep!
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Old 08-07-2017, 02:26 PM   #18
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Last month, we did a 4,000 loop to Yellowstone and back. Stayed at Camp Wally one night out of the 10. It was getting late and we were in middle of nowhere Nebraska. DW finds a city campground just off the interstate. I plead fatigue because it didn't cross my mind that it was Friday of July 4th weekend. We pulled in and the park was full of rednecks already deep into their cups and playing with fireworks. We backtracked a couple miles to a Walmart that we'd passed earlier and parked behind the fireworks tent. Except for a few loud-mufflered pickups, it was a good night's sleep.

Wasn't my first choice, but I'm glad it was there...
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Old 08-07-2017, 02:37 PM   #19
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VA walmart challenges

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You know I don't quite understand the staying at Wal-Mart.


In my case, it's (apparently not so) common courtesy.

I usually drive till midnight, then I'm back on the road at zero-dark-thirty. And I do mean dark, I usually watch the sunrise as I start my drive.

I would no more consider pulling into, and back out of, a c/g at those hours than I would flapping my arms and expecting to fly off. People in c/g are on vacation, I respect that.

Now, having said that, there are a few c/g that are dedicated to exactly that, only a couple of hours shut-eye while trying to put miles behind you, but with electric and access to water and dump and a bath house. The one that used to be on I-75 just south of the FL / GA border is a perfect example.
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Old 08-07-2017, 02:43 PM   #20
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For some strange reason, I find this humorous.
as did I.

we dont wallly dock either, so much better at a park with the dogs than walking across the parking lots, and they dont go crazy all night with trucks or cars going by.
we only drive 4-6 hrs and stop, with 6 being the most. get up around 8 and on road by 9 or 10 and off at 3-or 4.
now if we have to get somewhere quick, we may drive longer and get a short nap at a rest area.

if are rushed to get to a destination...we take the suv and leave bus at home.
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Old 08-07-2017, 02:50 PM   #21
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You know I don't quite understand the staying at Wal-Mart. We all drive expensive toys and want to feel safe. I think most can afford to stay at a campground. Now if you are just wanting a few hours of sleep I can understand that. Rather see you stop than fall asleep at the wheel. But all of us old guessers can afford to stay at a campground. We can't take it with us.
1. There is a wide range of incomes represented here. That would leave me thinking that was an absurd statement.

2. A lot of folks use Walmart's, Casino's, and similar places to balance off the high cost of the other destinations they want to stop at.

3. If you get into the off season Walmart type stops are the only option because the campgrounds are closed.
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Old 08-07-2017, 02:58 PM   #22
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so if its an alternative to campgrounds and some people cant afford the campgrounds rather have money for gas or to far away from interstate look for wally worlds to have hundreds of campers every night by that silly logic
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Old 08-07-2017, 03:25 PM   #23
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so if its an alternative to campgrounds and some people cant afford the campgrounds rather have money for gas or to far away from interstate look for wally worlds to have hundreds of campers every night by that silly logic


Really?
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Old 08-07-2017, 04:43 PM   #24
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so if its an alternative to campgrounds and some people cant afford the campgrounds rather have money for gas or to far away from interstate look for wally worlds to have hundreds of campers every night by that silly logic


You don't think so many municipalities banned overnight because they got fed up with all those million dollar DP's stacked up Wally Docking do you?

But yes, when I'm on the road it's amazing that every single Wally or other 'big box store' parking lot I pass has multiple RV's parked there.

Heck, go to Google Earth and randomly pick a town in the USA and look at the parking lots next to the interstates, it's hard to find one without campers in it.
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Old 08-07-2017, 05:15 PM   #25
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We stay at Walmart pretty much every night while traveling from Point A to Point B. It's easy, convenient, has everything we need (so we can restock the fridge, rent a movie from Red Box, pick up a new sewer hose, whatever), and it's free.
100% agree...We usually arrive 10-11 at night. Just a place to park and sleep. I'll pre-route which Wally-dock location I plan to stop at. I'll mark down what side of the exit it will be located on.

Has anyone ever tried to hunt down / call a "open" campground 8-9 at night, drive down a narrow country road in the dark hoping you don't pass up the un-lit entrance sign. How many campgrounds have an open office or phone line after night fall?

Planning a trip to Shenandoah NP. shortly, debating if a should put a Wallydock stop in between, instead of a long one day hard drive. May leave after dinner time, drive 4 hours to Western PA. or WV. to break up the drive. I'm trying to avoid the PA. Turnpike as they charge crazy amounts for RV's.
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Old 08-07-2017, 08:06 PM   #26
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Planning a trip to Shenandoah NP. shortly, debating if a should put a Wallydock stop in between, instead of a long one day hard drive. May leave after dinner time, drive 4 hours to Western PA. or WV. to break up the drive. I'm trying to avoid the PA. Turnpike as they charge crazy amounts for RV's.
$85 for the truck and trailer - a couple of months ago when we tried it.

We *tried* doing side roads instead, and that was even stupider from a time perspective...
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Old 08-08-2017, 06:41 PM   #27
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finding a safe and quiet place can be a challenge

Walmart, Truck Stops, regardless of the spot, finding a place that is free, safe, quiet can be a challenge.

Many of those places can get quite cramped with rigs coming in at all hours and drivers being tired I almost had a very bad experience when a semi came within inches of my drivers side mirror. And I think he would have hit me and moved on had I not got up, hit the horn and stopped him in time. His turn was really tight.

Needless to say, that had me move on down the road with perhaps a hour of sleep at the most.

There is something to say about pulling into a campground where you are safe and don't have to worry about being hit in the night. I think of how that truck almost took out my mirror and that cost vs the cost of a campground spot.

Not that I am against free camping. Just finding safe and quiet places can be a challenge.
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Old 08-08-2017, 07:34 PM   #28
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Walmart, Truck Stops, regardless of the spot, finding a place that is free, safe, quiet can be a challenge.
When I read that, I thought, "Free, safe, quiet - pick two..."
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